Sonrise Biblical Counseling Ministry earns NANC Certification

Ozark, MO:  Sonrise Biblical Counseling Ministry received certification from the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC) at the organization’s annual conference held in Spartanburg, SC on October 6, 2009. This culminates several years of effort for SBCM.  Those attending training through SBCM may now earn NANC certification. One of the highlights of the NANC annual conference was Sonrise member Brandon York receiving his NANC certification as well. He also completed the Master of Arts Biblical Counseling this year from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.

SBCM highlighted during plenary session

On Wednesday morning of the annual conference, Pastor Kevin was asked to talk about why certification is important. He stated, “NANC certification is a natural fit…: Biblical, Quality, and Global.”

Biblical: Certification recognizes two key elements in training. First, a formal agreement with NANC highlights SBCM’s commitment to the sufficiency of the Scriptures. Any person receiving training through SBCM can rest assured that SBCM will not only teach him the fundamental truths necessary to live a godly life, but will also build confidence in that student’s use of the Scriptures in the lives of those to whom he will minister (2 Tim 3:15-17; 2 Pet 1:1-11). Secondly, certification acknowledges the passion to teach students accurately what the Bible says (meaning) and how to appropriately and consistently apply the meaning of a particular Scripture to not only his own life but also to another person’s in a specific life situation. Life is full of acknowledged complexity; however, the Bible completely and comprehensively speaks to the both the problems and solutions necessary for pleasing God.

Quality: The certification process is a rigorous process and took five full years to complete; however, it demonstrates the commitment to quality training through SBCM. To be certified the curriculum had to meet NANC standards for both content and quality. Additionally, a minimum of seventy-five percent of teaching faculty in the biblical counseling training must be NANC certified. SBCM surpasses this minimum standard as all teaching faculty are certified. SBCM enjoys the services of Bill Piatt (NANC Fellow), Bob Smith (NANC Fellow and Academy member), Tom Zempel (NANC Fellow), Kevin Carson (NANC Level 2), Dale Davidson (NANC Level 1) and Brandon York (NANC Level 1). Plus over the certification process some have passed the NANC exams with the highest commendations. One grader remarked, “This work could be rubric from which all other work is graded.” Another grader commented, “I can always tell when I am grading a [student from your program’s] exam because the quality far exceeds what is typical.” So the student receives the knowledge and corresponding skill necessary to minister the Word with distinction.

Global: Since NANC is an international organization, there is a natural fit with SBCM’s mission of sending the Gospel all over the globe with the hope of Jesus Christ. The first priority of biblical counseling is to determine whether or not a counselee knows Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. If the counselee is not saved, it is the privilege and solemn responsibility of the counselor to witness. Change is only possible as the counselee becomes a true follower of Jesus Christ. Several missionaries with the BBFI are now trained in biblical counseling and are implementing biblical counseling philosophy and strategies in their ministries.