biblical counseling

We want to know Jesus and make Him known through compassionate, Scripture-centric counseling and equipping. 

What is Biblical Counseling?


Biblical Counseling is intensive, focused discipleship that provides compassionate Christ-centered care to address the challenges of a fallen world, broken relationships, suffering and sin by applying truths from the Bible that bring peace and transformative change through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

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Why do we offer it?

At Pennington Park Church, we want to love and walk alongside people who are hurting by helping them see God’s promises, hope, and direction in the midst of personal struggles. Biblical counseling is an aspect of discipleship that shares the same biblical convictions, principles, and goals, while providing more focused and personal care for those navigating sin, suffering, or difficult circumstances. Ultimately, our desire is to help people know Christ more deeply, grow in their relationship with Him, and experience lasting hope and change through the truth of God’s Word.

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What We Believe

We believe God’s Word is sufficient to speak into every area of life and godliness, offering truth, wisdom, and direction for the struggles we face. Jesus Christ is our ultimate source of hope, and lasting change happens through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. We see biblical counseling as an important part of discipleship within the local church, a way to walk alongside one another with truth, grace, and compassion. Because every person is created in the image of God, we are committed to treating each individual with dignity, care, and love as we seek to point them toward the hope found in Christ.

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Core Values

Our core values shape the way we approach biblical counseling and care for those we have the privilege of walking alongside. Rooted in Scripture and centered on Christ, these convictions guide how we counsel, encourage, equip, and point one another toward lasting hope and growth in Him.

  • The Bible is the authoritative and sufficient resource for our discernment, counsel, and care for any counseling issue. 

  • He is the one who brings about true change through the Word, transforming thoughts, desires, and actions as we pursue holiness and perseverance.  

  • God dictates the type of love and care we demonstrate to glorify Him when we come alongside individuals with biblical truth, compassionate love, and clear hope in Christ.  

  • The best counsel includes understanding a person well, building trust, offering hope, and providing specific biblical instruction and pertinent application for personal growth in Christ.  

  • This is the primary context for soul care, made up of fellow strugglers who bear each other’s burdens and are equipped to speak truth in love into all the realities of sin and suffering.  

  • We intentionally take steps to multiply ministry by equipping and sending others to provide faithful biblical counsel and care. 

What to Expect

  • Submit a Request

    01: Submit a Request

    Complete the counseling request form.

  • Setup a consultation

    02: Setup a consultation

    We'll reach out to learn about your situation and determine the best next step.

  • Meet with a Counselor

    03: Meet with a Counselor

    You'll meet regularly with a trained biblical counselor who will listen carefully, open God's Word, pray with you, and walk alongside you.

  • Grow in Christ

    04: Commit in Christ

    Our desire is not only to help you through your current circumstances but to equip you to continue growing as a disciple of Jesus.

Common questions

  • Currently, we are only counseling people who have committed to PPC as their church home due to the size of our team. We have plans to provide counseling to the community. Please reach out if you need help finding biblical counselors within the community.   

  • We do not charge for counseling. However, we welcome donations for resources and future provisions. You can give to the ministry here.

  • Counseling usually takes 10-16 weeks to sufficiently help each person with their personal struggle.  

  • No, but you have to be willing to listen to God’s Word and heed His counsel. You will only find true help and hope by submitting to Christ as your Lord and Savior. Our counsel will explain and emphasize the need for Christ throughout your counseling time. 

  • Biblical counseling focuses on discipleship for people who feel overwhelmed or stuck in a particular area of life. You should plug into other discipleship areas of PPC if you have a healthy walk with Christ. You can also contact [be Allen] if you want to know more about having a relationship with Jesus Christ.  

  • Biblical counselors receive special training in using the Bible to counsel people. Counselors have an approved certificate, certification, or college degree to provide proficient biblical counseling. The counselors are not licensed as psychologist, psychiatrist, or professional mental health care provider.  Biblical counselors understand the complexity of people, life, and problems; therefore, they are cautious not to provide overly simplistic answers. 

  • Yes, God created people as embodied souls consisting of a physical and spiritual nature. Counselors consider the whole person during counseling and recognize trained medical professionals in treating physical problems people may be facing. Biblical counselors are not licensed professionals or medical doctors but are trained in using the Bible as the authority to provide explanations and hope in Christ for life’s greatest struggles. 

  • Confidentiality is an important aspect of the counseling process. For more details, please see our Consent to Counsel, which provides a thorough description of our confidentiality policy.  

  • PPC relies on the Bible to provide understanding and direction in all matters of life, including suffering and sin. We will not utilize secular methods or principles to help people.  

You Don't Have to Walk Alone

Whether you're facing a major crisis or simply need someone to help you apply God's Word to your circumstances, we'd love to walk alongside you.

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Ways to Get Training & Serve 

The biblical counseling ministry is committed to bolstering the one-another ministry of the whole church.We offer regular Equip Classes to train people for counseling in everyday life situations. Check out what is available. 

Counseling is a wonderful opportunity to serve the body of Christ. If you are interested in becoming deeply trained in the principles of biblical counseling, please check out these ACBC-certified training centers for opportunities.  

There are many diverse opportunities to serve within the ministry.

  • Alongsiders are devoted helpers to the counselee who provide support, encouragement and accountability. Find out more about the role of the alongsider in this description.

  • Administrators help coordinate counseling, organize resources, and aid counselors with organizational needs.

  • Counselors in training have completed ACBC foundational training and want to grow in their understanding and desire to have supervised experience in biblical counseling. Find out more about the role of the Counselor in Training in this description.

  • We are always looking for people who have a passion for God’s Word and want to be devoted to helping people with the help and hope of Christ. For example, you can have extensive biblical understanding and experience to help someone who needs financial budgeting help.

Contact Naomi Snyder or Chad McKinley to volunteer within the ministry.  

Our Counseling Team

Questions?

Please contact Chad McKinley

Pastor of Biblical Counseling