Everything we do at Truth in Love is in TEAMS. We believe in teamwork, partnerships, and working in the body of Christ with other “body parts of His body.” Words like “alliance, unity, conjunction, combination, togetherness, and fellowship” are words that we love to use with other Christians at Truth in Love Ministries.
In a previous post in our blog, I mentioned that one benefit of our team approach to ministry is that it benefits the counselee(s) who are receiving twice the wisdom, knowledge, and experience from two biblical counselors who are often very different from each other. Their diversity is a strength when they are unified in Christ.
A second benefit is the added accountability and protection for both parties: the counselee and counselor. Having two counselors also sets a more serious tone for the session. We have already found that disciples/counselees come to the sessions more prepared and cancel appointments less frequently as “no shows” in this model for biblical counseling because our team approach is more serious. We are giving people 2 surgeons who are there to perform spiritual heart surgery! It is something we value greatly.
Unfortunately, we live in the most litigious society known to mankind, therefore, a third positive benefit is that the likelihood of being misunderstood or misrepresented by either party is decreased in this model. This model affords protection to the counselees from improprieties and predatory counselors who are wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. Likewise, there are fewer misunderstandings for both the counselee and the counselors in this model. We want our counselees to feel safe when they come in to biblical counseling because they are already hurting and have often been traumatized by their circumstances.
We also want our staff and volunteer biblical counselors to feel safe as they minister God’s Word and His Love to others. Unfortunately, in a broken and fallen world, we all must be wise and take necessary precautions for protection.
God is our Protector and Provider at TIL and I want to be a wise and faithful steward of His ministry.
Psalm 91:1-2: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” – The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (electronic ed.). Good News Publishers: Wheaton.
-Mark (thankful that Christ is in the center of this ministry’s vision and that He is protecting us and those that we are privileged to serve!)