DMIN 748 - Biblical Counseling
This practical course is based upon Dr. Gregory Jantz’s 40-year vision of whole-person care for mental health issues. This course will incorporate emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual factors into long-term recovery. Issues covered include abuse (physical, emotional, spiritual), addictions (sexual, digital), codependency, anxiety, depression, and suicide, as well as an introduction to the origins of psychological distress and the whole-person recovery model. Foundational biblical teachings are woven throughout, making this course applicable for those in the church confronting individual, marital, and family counseling challenges.
Primary faculty Dr. Gabriella van Breda. Also Adam and Jenny Finley.
Reading Summaries
"Five Pathways to Wholeness" by Roger Hurding
"Grace-Based Counseling" by Richard A. Fowler
"Treating Trauma in Christian Counseling" by Heather D. Gingrich
"Theology for Better Counseling" by Virginia Holeman
Final Project
As you consider the whole-person approach in the various topics presented in the course (e.gs. crisis, anxiety, depression, suicide, emotional abuse, technology and sexual addictions, childhood abuse, co-dependency, toxic shame), choose 2 of these topics as the basis of your project and respond to the following questions:
1. In what ways does the culture in which you live support and/or conflict with biblical wholeperson concepts and components through national, ethnic, societal, or familial traditions and values concerning the topics you have chosen? (40% of the grade).
2. Identify how the Bible and/or Christian principles can be used to provide specific and practical guidance in counseling people who are living in the contexts of the topics you have chosen. (60% of the grade).
DCL 740: A Missional Approach to Suffering
This course, DCL 740: A Missional Approach to Suffering: The Experience of Job, takes the form of a symposium, a dramatic dialogue between a man, who, though righteous, has been subjected to extreme suffering. This course examines how the Hebrew Bible addresses the question around human suffering. The course provides a context for participants to consider how their own experiences of suffering, life, and ministry connects to God’s mission in and to the world that asks the question “why does God allow suffering.” This understanding will equip the student to be able to minister more effectively to a hurt and dying world.
Primary faculty Rev. Dr. Derek Talbot.
Reading Summaries
"Walking with God through Pain and Suffering" by Timothy Keller
"Trusting God in the Darkness" by Christopher Ash
"I Know that My Redeemer Lives" by Ronald Hesselgrave
"The Absence of Justice" by Paul Leightner
Final Project
The following question is often posed by Christians and non-Christians, "Why do bad things happen to good people?” How would you respond to this question from a biblical and theological perspective, offering biblical support for your answer?
DMIN 762: Mentoring
This course is an in-depth study of the informal training model called mentoring. Mentoring is an important means of training leaders. It is a flexible model that can be used in organizations, faith-based institutions, and with individuals. Mentoring is a relational experience. This course will consider the life of the mentor, explore the dynamics of three basic categories of mentors and the nine mentoring relationships subsumed in them, and look at the factors one must consider when mentoring across cultures. Two frameworks for mentoring will be considered during this course: a constellation model and a situational leadership model. This course will benefit anyone who anticipates training leaders in a personal manner.
Primary faculty Rev. Dr. Alistair Bates.
Reading Summaries
"Managers as Mentors" by Chip R. Bell
"Mentoring 101" by John Maxwell
"The Fine Art of Mentoring" by Ted Engstrom
"The Mentoring Church" by Phil Newton
Final Project
Describe your strategy for growth as a mentor and a plan for mentoring.
DCL 723: Servant Leadership
This course focuses on the personal call, spiritual formation, character development and leadership growth of the leader. Starting with the paradoxical teaching of “servant leadership” found in the life and words of Jesus Christ, this course will show how these principles are demonstrated in Peter Drucker’s Self-Management principles, as well as other global models of servant leadership. This course will help students identify their own leadership calling and passion, gifts/talents, limits, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges. This course will also demonstrate the connection between the servant leader and building an organizational culture of customer service. Students will learn how to better lead themselves and others in an increasingly multi-cultural and complex world.
Primary faculty Rev. Dr. Derek Talbot.
Reading Summaries
"Servant Leadership in Action" by Ken Blanchard
"The Coach Model for Christian Leaders" by Keith Webb
"The Quest for Biblical Servant Leadership" by KeumJu Hyun
"Leadership in Christian Perspective" by Justin Irving
Assessment
Final Project
"For leaders today, identify and practically apply key aspects of the apostle Paul’s leadership style in which he demonstrated elements of being a servant leader. Provide evidence from the New Testament."
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