Level 1-3 Gospel Counselors

How Can I Serve in Sojourn Counseling?

There are a variety of ways you an serve in Sojourn Counseling:

1.    Single or married persons can serve as an Individual Counselor working with men and women (IC-M/W).  At Sojourn, men counsel men and women counsel women, following the guidelines of Titus 2:1-8.

2.    Couples married more than five years are eligible to serve first in Pre-Marital Counseling (PMC).  PMC serves as a great first step to prepare for marriage counseling.

3.    Married couples who have been tested through ministry experience in PMC and other counseling experience can take the next step into Marriage Counseling (MC).

4.    A couple trained in PMC can also serve as a Counseling Coach working with Groups, Seed, and Student & Family ministries caring for and equipping Sojourn members in community.

What Are the Differences in Level 1-3 Gospel Counselors?

Sojourn Counseling will offer three levels of gospel counseling certification.  Each level requires different levels of counseling curriculum training, observations, and supervision.  We believe God calls each of His children to gospel ministry so each level strives to develop the character, skill, and gifting of each person on the counseling team.  See the Level-1-3 Certification table to see the detailed requirements.

Level 1 Gospel Counselors-those trained in the basics of gospel living, gospel relationships, and gospel change so they will be better able to live out the gospel with God and others.  Level 1 gospel counselors are equipped to serve as: (1) mentors and/or (2) Individual Counselors for basic issues.

Level 2 Gospel Counselors-those trained in more advanced issues associated with life in a fallen world.  Level 2 gospel counselors are equipped to serve as: (1) Individual Counselors, (2) Pre-Marital Counselors, (3) Marriage Counselors, (4) Family Counselors, and/or (4) Counseling Coaches.

Level 3 Gospel Counselors-those trained at the most advanced level and have demonstrated a God-given gift in counseling others.  Level 3 gospel counselors are equipped to serve as trainers for Individual Counselors, Pre-Marital Counselors, Marriage Counselors, Family Counselors, and/or Counseling Coaches.

Why Offer Certification and Who Certifies?

Each person who expresses a desire to serve in Sojourn Counseling will be required to go through standardized training that flows from the gospel message, is consistent with gospel mission, and involves gospel community.  This is why the elders require every Sojourn gospel counselor to go through the same required curriculum, observations, supervision, and continuing education as outlined in the Level 1-3 certification program.

Sojourn Counseling offers a certification process for the following reasons: (1) to ensure standardized training, (2) to delineate training requirements for the various ministry positions, (3) to offer ministry servants tangible milestones and goals for training, and (4) to provide a means for the elders to approve ministry leaders for service.  The elders in Sojourn Counseling certify gospel counselors only at Sojourn since they have primary responsibility to lead, shepherd, and feed those God has entrusted to their care; therefore, outside agencies or organizations do not get involved in the certification process.