2010
Rovaniemi, Finland
We use a Biblical Counselling model called the Institute of Biblical Counselling Model developed by Dr. Larry Crabb in the early 1980s. After gaining permission from him, we adopted the name Institute of Biblical Counselling International and became registered as a Canadian Registered Charity. IBCI’s mission is to teach this Biblical counselling model in the more remote communities of the north, and endeavours to teach and train people to help their own people. The training provides an introductory course (15 or 30 hr versions) called Healing the Pain of the Heart. The demand for this kind of teaching grew, and a Ten Course Program was developed in 1997 which was adapted from courses taught at Providence Theological Seminary in Manitoba. IBCI teachers are not evangelists and evangelism is not part of the teaching curriculum, however the material is based on bible content and as such the teaching can be view as a discipleship program.
Our aim is to help students talk about painful events (victim stage), forgive, repent, accept and change from a reactor (reactor stage) to taking responsibility (responsible agent) for their lives. To do this they can more fully depend upon God, regardless of what happens/has happened to them (eg. Job)! We want to see them set free from their negativity and sinful styles of relating. We want them to see the truth about themselves as a dependent agent. We aim to help people live in freedom and take responsibility before God and others in their lives, marriages, parenting, social contacts, workplace and in the church fellowship.
God is so persistent. He seeks the searching of our heart. He used people to do that. He wants to use us to reflect His glory.
Amos Esh
Geoff Clarke
Heather Johnson
Ida Marie Miller
John Johnson
Rosie Boskoyous