The Crisis at Hand

Yes, we believe there is a crisis at hand.  It is not just an opportunity, or a challenge, or a situation needing adjustment.  We are convinced that there is a huge need that should be biblically and compassionately addressed here in Metropolitan Phoenix.  Here is what we see: 

•  Metropolitan Phoenix is now the fifth largest city in the nation, yet there is no valleywide Biblical (nouthetic) counseling ministry to serve the whole body of Christ.
•  The Church largely has confidence that the gospel saves, but not that the gospel will sanctify (make holy) a struggling believer.
•  Secular approaches to counseling fail to intentionally glorify God or bring lasting joy to His people
•  The Pastor is too often viewed as a professional rather than a shepherd involved with the lives of his flock.
•  Therapeutic philosophies subtly, yet pervasively influence and guide Christian thinking. We need a biblical worldview that informs our counseling.
•  Unfortunately, the church is typically the last resource hurting people approach with serious life problems. 

How can we Begin to Address this Issue?

We believe the Lord Jesus Christ has raised up Compassionate Counselors, Inc. (CCI) to strengthen the local church and help people glorify God in their lives.  We have four areas of focus and concentration as a ministry: 

1. Biblically Counsel with compassion and mercy to hurting individuals
2. Supply Training for the local church, organizations and individuals
3. Offer Chaplaincy services to Christian-owned businesses
4. Provide Resources to find books, materials and other media services

The Convictions of Compassionate Counselors

Why do we believe this ministry is important and needed?  Here are our convictions and beliefs on each of the above four points:

1. A Ministry that will Counsel people Biblically and emphasize compassion and mercy to hurting individuals

•  A need exists for counseling that believes in the complete sufficiency of the Scriptures to solve any problem of living (2 Tim 3:16-17).
•  There is a need for mercy with truth; truth without love is too hard, love without truth is too soft. (Micah 6:8; Gal 4:16)
•  Counseling needs to occur that sees the Holy Spirit as the most important person involved in counseling.  It is not the counselor or the counselee that is most important (Jn. 14:16-17; 16:7).
•  Counseling needs to aim at glorifying God, not just solving problems (Eph 1:6, 12, 14).
•  Many of the unsaved will not turn to the local church for help with their struggles, but they will turn to a ministry like CCI (Acts 26:18).
•  God is sovereign over our lives and desires us to become more like Jesus Christ through our trials and difficulties (Rom. 8:28-29) 

2. A Ministry of Training the Church in Counseling

•  The goal of this training is to equip the local church (and individuals) to do ministry that is a biblical imperative (Eph 4:12).
•  CCI has as its goal to come alongside and strengthen the Church since counseling is an integral part of being a shepherd. (Acts 20:28-32; 14:22; 15:32, 41; 16:5).

  3. A Ministry that will provide Chaplain resources to businesses and organizations

•  Many Christian business owners see their role as not only providing employment for their employees, but also a stewardship to care for them compassionately (cf. Eph. 6:9).
•  It is difficult for these same owners or leaders to exercise this kind of care that their employees need due to issues of discretion, comfort, and logistics.
•  Many of these employees are unaffiliated with any church, or are at best loosely connected with a church.
•  A Chaplain ministry where regular contact is made with these employees can bring compassionate care to those who are suffering and either have nowhere to turn, or are turning to the wrong resource.

4. A Ministry that will provide Resources in Counseling

•  Churches and ministry organizations need printed material, books and other media services that will present a distinctly God-centered view of counseling.  They need to know where to look to find them.
•  Research and creation of topic specific materials that will address any problem of living from a distinctly biblical worldview.

Background on our Executive Director,

David D. Edgington:

•  Ten (10) plus years of experience as an ordained full-time Senior Pastor
•  Master of Divinity with honors (cum laude). 
•  Master of Arts in Theology with High Distinction and Doctorate in Theology with High Distinction.
•  A theologian with a pastors heart who strives to be a scholar-shepherd
•  Known and networked in the Valley across denominations since 1992.
•  Kingdom-minded and desirous of working transdenominationally and seeing God glorified throughout the body of Christ.
•  Certified with NANC (National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (www.nanc.org) and IABC (International Association of Biblical Counselors (www.iabc.net).
•  Counseling those who struggle with:  Marital problems, Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, Suicide, Anger/Bitterness/ Forgiveness, Anxiety and Fears, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), Panic Attacks, Abortion, Mental Health, Parenting, ADHD, Sexual Immorality, Homosexuality, Self-injury/cutting, Gods Sovereignty/Mans Trials, Addictions, Role of Husband and Wife, etc. (2 Pet 1:3-4: 1 Cor. 6:9-11)
•  Has trained over 100 church leaders around the world in Biblical Counseling through missions work in Eastern Europe (Poland and Czech Republic ), Russia (Moscow/Samara) and Belarus (Minsk)

  Please send your tax-deductible donations to:

Compassionate Counselors, Inc.

1110 East Missouri Ave. Suite 760,

Phoenix, Arizona 85014

(602) 384-4417

  Compassionate Counselors, Inc. is an approved 501 (c) 3 organization registered with the IRS and the state of Arizona .  All contributions are tax deductible

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