In Honor of Birmingham Theological Seminary’s FIRST GRADUATING CLASS in Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling.
Mark E. Shaw started his seminary training as a BTS extension student in 2001 while living in Mobile, Alabama, by traveling weekly to Montogomery for Tuesday evening classes. He then moved to Montgomery in order to be mentored in biblical counseling under Lou Priolo and attend more BTS extension classes at Eastwood Presbyterian Church. Mark then succeeded Jeff Lawrence (BTS M.DIv graduate 2003) as Montgomery extension coordinator, and continued his seminary studies while working for the counseling ministry at Eastwood. Mark received his Master of Biblical Studies from BTS in 2003.
The Lord then called Mark to the counseling ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in December of 2003, first as a part time and then as a full time staff member, which enabled him to be mentored by Dr. Howard A. Eyrich and to pursue the Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling at BTS. It was Dr. Eyrich who encouraged Mark to publish his first work, now part of the Hope and Help series booklets published by Focus Publishing. THis booklet on marriage helped Mark launch a very fruitful writing initiative now having authored The Heart of Addiction, The Heart of Addiction Workbook, Divine Intervention:Hope and Help for Addicts, Hope and Help for Gambling, Hope and Help for Self-Injurers and Cutters, Hope and Help for Men as Husbands and Fathers, Hope and Help for T.V., Internet and Video Game “Addiction”, and Hope and Help Through Biblical Counseling.
Mark has recently resigned from the Briarwood Counseling Ministry to launch, as Founder and President, Truth in Love Ministries, Inc, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization reaching out to local churches all over the worl to assist them with biblical counseling, ministerial staff and lay training, and biblical reconciliation. Mark plans to offer B.T.S. students in biblical counseling a practicum experience by using a team approach to biblical counseling and discipleship through Truth in Love. You may lear more about this initiative by visitng www.histruthinlove.org **
We are so proud of all the HARD WORK and EFFORT Mark put forth in attaining this degree. May God richly bless his efforts in Truth in Love as he continues to serve Him.
Dr. Shaw you are an inspiration and we at Truth in Love are so glad to have you as our Servant Leader!
The Lord is Great and Greatly to be Praised!
-Jason
**Taken from the Graduation Program of BTS Students at Briarwood Presbyterian Church May 9th, 2008.