Chapter 4

​CHAPTER 4
 
IMPLEMENTATION
 
            By examining the historical context of biblical counseling, reviewing the literature that has shaped the movement, and considering the Project Director’s ministry context, it has become clear that the creation of a training course in biblical counseling is both necessary and beneficial. The historical context revealed certain strengths within the ministry that bode well for the project’s successful execution, while highlighting a few challenges to navigate. The review of literature underscored the sufficiency of Scripture to provide counsel and the mandate on God’s people to offer it with a greater theological depth than most currently possess. Furthermore, the Biblical Counseling Movement was revealed to be an equipping movement eager to develop biblical counselors, in contrast to the values purported by secular psychology. The final section applied these findings to the Project Director’s ministry context, concluding it is ripe for the opportunity the project provides. 
            This chapter presents an overview of the details and strategy involved in implementing the ministry project. After reviewing the project’s purpose statement, the chapter will articulate the project and professional objectives and goals, outline the plans, estimate expenses, and present the assumptions and limitations related to project implementation. 
 
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this project is to develop and teach a course that will train select members of Country Bible Church (and other local churches) in biblical counseling. As a result, the entire congregation will have access to resources to better assist those in need. It will also position biblical counseling as a normative and essential means of discipleship and evangelism in and through the church. 
 
Project and Professional Objectives and Goals
Project Objectives:

1. The Project Director will cultivate an understanding of biblical counseling and its value among select members of Country Bible Church (and a few others). 

 
Project Goals to Reach This Objective:
 

1. Enroll at least twenty participants in a twelve-week biblical counseling course, including in-person and online. 

 

1. Assess the participants’ knowledge about and perceived value of biblical counseling through pre-project and post-project surveys.

 

1. Present a clear definition of biblical counseling and position it as an antithesis to the secular model. Cast vision for its potential to offer loving support to our church and community. 

 

1. Identify and motivate five members to pursue advanced training in biblical   counseling for ministry purposes.

 
 

1. The Project Director will equip church members for Great Commission living by cultivating within them a desire to make disciples, using introductory-level biblical counseling as a practical tool for disciple-making.

 
Project Goals to Reach This Objective:
 

1. Teach a curriculum on introductory-level biblical counseling, equipping them with foundational knowledge and practical applications.

 

1. Present Jesus’ Great Commission mandate to make disciples throughout the curriculum.

 

1. Encourage students to foster personal growth as disciples by applying their training in biblical counseling.

 

1. Promote the assistance of unbelievers in their hardships through biblical counseling that directs them to Jesus as the all-sufficient Savior and Guide.

 
 

1. The Project Director will equip select lay people with the theological understanding of concepts necessary for counseling effectively. 

 
Project Goals to Reach This Objective:
 

1. Instruct select church members on essential theological doctrines, including sin, salvation, and sanctification, ensuring they grasp Scripture’s sufficiency and authority as foundational for addressing personal and relational challenges.

 

1. Train members in foundational biblical counseling methods, including careful and compassionate listening, effective data gathering, and applying Scripture to everyday life challenges.

 
 

1. The Project Director will seek long-term effects from the ministry project. 

 
Project Goals to Reach This Objective:
 

1. Seek out three biblical counseling certification organizations that would best fit Country Bible Church as an aid to developing biblical counselors in the ministry context.

 

1. Seek approval from the church for the addition of a budget category to the operating expenses to fund the development of biblical counselors and support the continuation of a biblical counseling ministry at Country Bible.

 
C.Plan an annual training program that builds upon and expands the ministry project to continue equipping others in biblical counseling.
 
 
Professional Objectives and Goals
 

1. The Project Director will enhance his skills in creating and teaching a twelve-week biblical counseling curriculum. 

 
Professional Goals to Reach This Objective:
 

1. Research and compile the content needed for the curriculum from various biblical counseling sources.

 
B.Create teaching objectives to guide each lesson.
 
C.Utilize student review periods during class to reinforce learning.
 
D.Create a teaching evaluation worksheet for students to complete periodically over the twelve weeks. 
 
2.The Project Director will deepen his understanding of biblical counseling theology and methodology to help develop and teach a curriculum of introductory biblical counseling. 
 
Professional Goals to Reach This Objective:
 
A.Become capable of defining and defending the sufficiency of Scripture for all counseling needs. 
 
B.Research and identify biblical diagnostic tools used in biblical counseling.
 
C.Research and identify methods of application of the Scriptures to people in need.
 
 
3.The Project Director will enhance his leadership skills while implementing the ministry project and overseeing students and personnel. 
 
Professional Goals to Reach This Objective:
 
A.Recruit volunteers to embrace the vision and assist in the execution of the ministry project. 
 
B.Address issues or challenges that arise during the implementation of the ministry project to achieve a quick resolution.
 
C.Demonstrate preparedness in the training and oversight of the ministry project.
 
 
Project Plans
Project Methodology
            The ministry project will utilize an equipping strategy as outlined in the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Professional Doctorate Guide. The intent is to train select members of Country Bible Church in biblical counseling to enhance their ability to counsel from the Word of God. They will receive training in introductory biblical counseling theology and methodology. 
Before the course begins, the Project Director will administer a pretest to assess the participants’ current understanding of biblical counseling, evaluate their level of acceptance of it, measure the influence of secular psychology on the students, and examine each participants’ confidence level in providing biblical counsel. Upon completion of the class, a posttest will be given to evaluate the amount of growth in knowledge or application that has occurred and its benefit to the participants. The Project Director will lead the training sessions, primarily using the didactic method of teaching, and utilizing presentation software and distributing handouts. 
 
Participants
Participants in the course will be recruited primarily from Country Bible Church in Wallace, Michigan, as well as some from nearby churches. The majority will attend the class in person, held at Country Bible; however, an online streaming option will also be offered. The minimum goal for project participation is twenty students, while the maximum class size will be fifty between in-person and online participants. Students must be at least eighteen years old to ensure that the ministry project does not compete with the youth group gathering. Participants will need to register on the Country Bible Church website. During registration, class members must complete the class expectations and commitment form (Appendix A) and the pretest (Appendix B). 
 
Process
            The ministry project will be conducted in two phases. Phase one involves recruiting assistants and participants for the course, while phase two entails carrying out the course. Phase one will begin on August 3 with the recruitment of volunteers to assist in implementation. Multiple assistants will be needed to support the ministry project: a team of two to manage the audio and video needs; two administrators to take attendance, print and distribute handouts, oversee registration, and manage communication with remote participants; and a volunteer graphic designer to create digital slides and bulletin inserts. Once surfaced, the Project Director will meet with these assistants to plan the implementation phase.
Recruitment for class participants will occur during the announcement period of the worship service at Country Bible Church, through church bulletin inserts at Country Bible and nearby churches (Appendix C), via personal invitations from the Project Director, as well as text and email invitations. 
An explanation and invitation for the class will take place in person during worship at Country Bible Church on the following Sundays: August 3, 10, 17, and 24. Additionally, this information will be shared with other local churches in the area through church bulletin inserts on the following Sundays: August 10 and 17. Text and email invitations will be sent to those listed in the Country Bible Church communication directory on Thursdays: August 7, 14, and 21. The deadline to register for the class is August 27, 2025, or when the class reaches capacity, whichever comes first. 
Phase 2, the actual classes, will begin on Wednesday, September 3, and will take place over twelve consecutive Wednesday evenings, concluding on November 19. Each lesson will be ninety minutes long, starting promptly at 5:45 p.m. to allow ample time for an introduction, the teaching segment, examination of a case study, and a conclusion. The introduction will include prayer, a brief review of previous content, and an overview of class objectives. The conclusion will highlight a biblical counseling resource, feature recommended reading, and, if time allows, a question-and-answer session, ending with prayer. The class will finish at 7:15 p.m. The curriculum outline is presented in Appendix D (see Table 1). 
 
Logistics of the Sessions
The ministry project will take place in the sanctuary of Country Bible Church and will be livestreamed on a private YouTube channel. Attendance will be recorded both in person and during the livestream through digital check-in. The class will run concurrently with our midweek youth and children’s ministries, doubling as childcare for parents who need it. The sanctuary has a seating capacity of two hundred, affording ample space for the course. It is equipped with Wi-Fi, a sufficient sound system, projectors for displaying digital presentations, and audio and video equipment for livestreaming and recording each session. Each participant will receive a handout that will serve as a guide to the teaching material and a resource for review and further study. 
 
Measurement Devices
Pretest and Posttest
            The pretest (Appendix B) and posttest (Appendix E) will be administered to measure the efficacy of the ministry project. These tests will focus on students' viewpoints regarding biblical counseling and secular psychology, their understanding of the biblical call to make disciples, their grasp of the Bible and how it addresses human needs, and their comprehension of how to apply the Bible to real life. 
 
 
Presentation Review
            The Presentation Review Survey (Appendix F) will be distributed to ten class members who are willing to assess the Project Director as he presents the curriculum. These volunteers will complete the review form three times during the ministry project: after the first, sixth, and twelfth classes. This review will include an evaluation of the class content, the material delivery, and an overall assessment of the pace and elements of the session. 
 
Project Expenses
            The budget for the ministry project is divided into six categories: printing costs, binders and folders, pens, water, and resources. Each student will receive Samuel Stephens’ booklet, A Call to Counsel and Care: The Distinguishing Qualities of Biblical Counseling. The church will provide the facility, including audio and video equipment and software, free of charge. The Project Director will have access to the church's communication software at no additional cost. Google Forms will provide registration and measurement tools at no cost. The estimated budget based on the maximum number of students is as follows (see Table 2): 

 
TABLE 2
PROJECTED EXPENSES
Item
Description
Cost

Printing
1,800 color pages printed at $0.25 each
$450.00

Folders
Five packs of 12 folders at $40 each plus 8% tax
$216.00

Pens
Two boxes of 60 pens at $8 each
$16.00

Bottled Water 
12 cases (1 per class) at $7 each
$84.00

Booklets & Shipping 
50 booklets at $5 each plus $25 estimated shipping
$275.00

Total
Total
$1,041.00

 
 
 

Assumptions
1.The Project Director assumes participants registered for the ministry project will voluntarily attend each session and complete the assigned pre and posttests. 
2.The Project Director assumes that everyone will approach the class with diverse perspectives and differing values regarding biblical counseling versus secular psychology. 
3.The Project Director assumes class members will come with a low-to-moderate understanding of biblical counseling. 
4.The Project Director assumes participants will comprehend and apply the materials effectively. 
5.The Project Director assumes participants will complete the pre and posttests with integrity. 
6.The Project Director assumes the assessment tools will accurately assess the effectiveness of the ministry project. 
7.The Project Director assumes the training schedule will proceed without interruption.
 
Limitations
1.The ministry project is limited to a maximum of fifty participants from Country Bible Church, other local churches, and online.
2.The ministry project is limited to twelve weekly sessions from September 3 to November 19.
3.The ministry project is limited to the topic of biblical counseling training. 
4.The ministry project is limited to David Buckley, the Senior Pastor and Project Director, as the sole communicator of the curriculum.
5.The ministry project is limited to the mental and physical abilities of the selected members.
 
Conclusion
            The Project Director is eager to see this ministry project come to fruition at Country Bible Church. Chapter 4 detailed the implementation plan for the ministry project, based upon the biblical rationale from chapter 2, the research and discovery in chapter 3, and within the ministry context of the first chapter. Chapter 4 outlined all the factors involved in the project, starting with the purpose statement, listing the project and professional objectives and goals, detailing the project plans (including the methodology, participants, process, logistics, and measurement devices), laying out projected expenses, and describing assumptions and limitations. As the ministry project is strategically designed and meticulously planned, it has a good chance of accomplishing its mission of equipping select lay people in the ministry of biblical counseling.
            Chapter 5 will serve as a report on the implementation plan, summarizing the completed ministry project and evaluating whether the intended results were achieved. The results of both direct and indirect measurements used during the ministry project will be detailed. Finally, unanticipated events, including unforeseen causes and effects, will be documented.