Equipped to Counsel, Part Four: Equipping Sojourners for Gospel Care

Note: You’re reading Part Four in a multi-part series on how to equip biblical counselors in the local church. Read Part One by Pastor Deepak Reju, Part Two by Dr. Bob Kellemen, and Part Three by Pastor John Henderson. Today’s post is written by Pastor Robert Cheong, Pastor of Care and Counseling at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

Equipping One Another

God brings glory to Himself as He builds up His church in love and advances His kingdom in the world. He accomplishes His redemptive work primarily through His living Word and people—the church—by the power of His Spirit.

By His grace, God is developing a culture at Sojourn where we comfort and challenge one another in gospel community so that we all mature in Christ (cf. Col. 1:28-29). God calls us to engage one another with gospel intentionality because He knows that the enemy wants to turn us away from Jesus as we struggle with the shame associated with our suffering and the sinfulness associated with our wicked and glory-seeking hearts.

The goal for all Sojourn training is that we will grow in our love for Jesus and be changed by His love. We train so that we can be found faithful to His call to equip one another while fighting for each other’s souls (cf. Heb. 3:12-14). In August 2011, we launched the Campus Shepherding Training for our campus leaders and servants so that we can more effectively serve in God’s mission of redemption (cf. Eph. 4:11-16).

A Three-Step Training Process

This training is not “counseling training” per se, but training that equips our people in how to care for one another with the gospel. The training is led by leaders from every ministry area from each of our four campuses and is open to all leaders and servants so that they can learn and grow in the face-to-face ministry of the word.

We believe the best way for you to learn how to care for others is not by sitting and learning concepts and techniques, but by learning how to live out the gospel in your own life while in community. Once you see how the gospel connects with the issues of life, you will be better equipped to help others to do the same.

The three steps of this training are (1) Gospel Basics, (2) Redemption Groups[1] and (3) Pre-Marital Counseling. Each of the three phases builds upon the foundation of the previous step. Participants receive helpful feedback designed to help them grow in the grace of the gospel during each phase.

An Intentional Process

Training and developing leaders requires a balance of knowledge, experience, and reflection. The campus shepherding training uses a three-prong approach that can be understood by visualizing two parallel rails connected with cross-ties similar to a railroad track.[2]

The first rail represents any input through training that affects our thoughts, emotions, desire/will, and experience. The second rail represents the experience found in life and ministry. The cross-ties represent ongoing reflection, both personal and supervised. Lastly the bedrock on which the railroad track lies represents the developing character and skill of the person being equipped. When any of these rails or cross-ties are missing, or not fully addressed, the equipping process suffers.

Step 1—Gospel Basics

Gospel Basics (GB) can be equated to swimming lessons in the shallow end of the pool, where you get used to being in the water and you learn basic strokes. In this step you will be given the basic knowledge and skills needed for gospel ministry.

Porterbrook provides the basic knowledge of how the gospel calls you to live, how it impacts your relationships, and brings about change. Gospel Skills teaches you how to listen well, explore and draw out the heart through questions, and speak the truth in love. Then you will be shown how the gospel addresses your anger, fears, and fantasy/escapism. Sojourners who complete step one will be better equipped to minister the gospel to one another in community.

This foundational step takes place on Wednesday evenings for nine consecutive weeks. During these evening meetings you are given the opportunity to care for one another with the gospel in a small group setting with six participants and two co-leaders. Your journal reflections from your weekly readings serve as the basis for sharing and caring for one another.

Step 2—Redemption Groups:

Redemption Groups (RG) can be equated to swimming in the deep end of the pool, where you apply what you learned in Gospel Basics to the struggles of life. In this step you experience the gospel in community as you see the depths of your sinfulness, the height of Christ’s love through the cross, and the power of the gospel to change you and others. You also see how your story fits into God’s story of redemption as you deal with suffering and sin.

The Redemption Group takes place in a one-week format that includes a short teaching time followed by a small group session with six participants and two co-leaders. In this intense gospel community, Sojourners will have a chance to pursue each others’ hearts with loving intentionality while applying the gospel to suffering and sin. The overall goal is to experience Jesus and his gospel in more personal and compelling ways and be changed by his redeeming love as a gospel community.

Step 3—Pre-Marital Counseling

Pre-Marital Counseling (PMC) Training is designed to equip married couples to see how the gospel gives shape and purpose to the marriage relationship, to include issues associated with biblical manhood and womanhood. Throughout this third step, couples grow in their own marriage through the gospel so that they will be able to minister more effectively to other couples.

You are given access to six actual pre-recorded PMC sessions on Vimeo. After viewing all six sessions and completing the observation and reflection forms for each session, you attend a training weekend. Once training is complete, each couple will have the opportunity to begin equipping engaged couples for a life-long covenant of marriage.

Bottom-line

Sojourn’s Campus Shepherding Training aims to equip every member to care for one another with the gospel in the midst of suffering and sin so that we can bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

Join the Conversation

What can you apply to your equipping ministry from what Pastor Cheong has shared from equipping in his congregation? What would be similar in your congregation? What would be different and unique in your setting?