Michael interviews Tim St. John about his “Freedom in Christ” session, “Building Churches that Honor and Protect,” concluding a hidden abuse track focused on identifying abuse in churches and then rebuilding healthy culture. Using a termite-damage metaphor, St. John explains that removing abuse isn’t enough; churches must reinstall “beams” like sound theology of suffering and identity in Christ to promote healing and exalt Christ. He defines church hurt as unrepentant sin normalized or protected by leadership and describes three waves of pain: the direct wound, failure to address it, and loss of community. Discussing his book After Church Hurt, he addresses both sheep hurt and shepherd hurt, urges looking to Christ as the Good Shepherd, and offers practical steps including diagnosing what happened, seeking legal counsel when crimes are involved, finding experienced counseling, easing back into church, planning conversations, and evaluating church accountability and culture.

00:00 Conference Intro

00:41 Meet Tim St John

01:24 Workshop Overview

03:11 Church Hurt Defined

06:11 Three Waves of Pain

08:16 After Church Hurt Book

08:34 Sheep and Shepherd Hurt

11:30 Hope in the Good Shepherd

14:53 Practical Steps Forward

18:11 Closing and Resources

Episode Resources
After Church Hurt - Tim St. John 

Michael interviews Kevin Dau, pastor for discipleship and counseling at Hespeler Baptist Church in Cambridge, Ontario, and a practicum instructor for Heritage College and Seminary’s master’s level biblical counseling certificate. Dau contrasts professional counseling with pastoral counseling, where caring becomes more personal and multifaceted because counselees are also part of church life, increasing stress and highlighting human limits. Using Galatians 6:1–3, Exodus 18, and themes from Psalms, they discuss bearing one another’s burdens while watching for temptation, pride, and burnout, and the need for accountability, peer support, and sometimes personal counseling for counselors. They emphasize proactive self-care, ordinary means of grace, recognizing stress signals (affect and effectiveness), building a church culture of vulnerability, and regularly asking trusted observers what they see and acting on it.

00:00 Podcast intro and guest

00:59 Kevin ministry roles

02:10 Training counselors at Heritage

03:38 Pastoral burdens and stress

07:24 Needing care and counseling

12:00 Accountability for shepherds

18:12 Asking for help early

20:34 Stress and means of grace

24:55 Galatians warnings and humility

26:28 Practical steps and closing

Mike welcomes Jeemin Moon to discuss an eschatological perspective on mental health, trauma, and resurrection hope. Moon shares updates about directing the biblical care and counseling studies program at Heritage College and Seminary, implementing ABC Level One (Equip to Counsel) for fourth-year students, and completing PhD comprehensive exams at Southern Seminary while writing a dissertation on a biblical theology of shame and God’s covering. He explains why he taught on resurrection for a forthcoming book project, then reads Hebrews 2:5–18 and connects it to trauma, distinguishing traumatic events from being “traumatized,” and emphasizing Jesus’ resurrection ministry to sufferers. They encourage trauma sufferers to interpret painful narratives through Scripture’s meta-story, citing Isaiah 43 and Psalm 84 about God redeeming wilderness and valleys of tears into springs.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:22 Meet Jeemin Moon

01:26 PhD Work on Shame

03:01 Training Counselors at Heritage

05:07 Why Focus on Resurrection

06:06 Reading Hebrews Two

08:40 Trauma Defined Light and Darkness

11:40 Traumatic Events vs Traumatized

14:46 Resurrection Hope in the Valley

17:15 Redeeming the Past Story

19:56 Host Reflection and Encouragement

22:41 Final Thanks and Sendoff

Recording on the road at the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition in Oakville, Ontario, Michael interviews biblical counselor Alysia Whiteside of Deep Roots Biblical Counseling. Whiteside shares her conversion in 2018, her interrupted plans to pursue medicine amid severe ulcerative colitis, multiple surgeries, and a permanent ileostomy, and how God redirected her into biblical counseling training and certifications. Her breakout topic, “Held But Not Yet Healed: Christ in the Midst of Physical and Mental Suffering,” frames chronic illness as “embodied suffering” that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual burdens and raises the question of who God is when healing does not come. Using Psalm 13, she explains a lament framework—turn, complain, ask, trust—leading to praise, emphasizing the “already but not yet” tension of hope amid suffering and encouraging sufferers and caregivers to write their own laments to rehearse God’s character and respond faithfully.

00:00 Welcome and Road Update
01:30 Meet Alysia Whiteside
02:26 Her Health Journey and Calling
04:30 Training and Narsegesis
06:14 Held But Not Yet Healed
06:34 Reading Psalm 13
08:29 Embodied Suffering and Hope
12:18 Lament Framework Explained
14:57 Trust and Gods Hesed
19:05 Counseling the Stuck
20:57 Write Your Own Lament
23:26 Singing Joy in Suffering
26:12 Encouragement for Chronic Pain
27:16 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Episode Mentions
Deep Roots Biblical Counseling 

On the Speak the Truth podcast recorded at the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition conference, Michael interviews Matt King about his ministry Broomtree and his conference session on mental health in the church. King explains Broomtree’s growth, including increasing requests for counseling, conferences, and free online resources on topics like anxiety, marriage, and thought life, with a podcast launching soon. They discuss why Christians should lead mental health conversations, noting an estimated $280 billion spent annually in the U.S., and ground the topic in Genesis: God’s good creation, the Imago Dei, and how the fall fractured relationships with God, self, others, and creation. They highlight God’s pursuit in Genesis 3, the covering of animal skins as foreshadowing Christ’s atoning blood, and encourage believers who feel inadequate to engage with hope through the Spirit and adoption as God’s children.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:29 Broomtree Update

02:41 Conference Banter

03:02 Why Mental Health Matters

04:01 Genesis and Goodness

07:16 The Fall and Fracture

11:34 Covering and Atonement

15:06 Church on the Front Lines

16:25 Hope for the Wounded

18:00 Chick-fil-A Stories

19:11 Final Thanks

Episode Mentions
Broom Tree
EP. 173 Finding Light in the Darkness W/ Matt King 

Michael welcomes CCEF faculty member and counselor Mike Emlet, who has served at CCEF since 2001 and previously trained and worked in family medicine before attending Westminster Seminary. Emlet and the Michael discuss how mental health concerns have grown in prominence in the church, influenced by factors like the pandemic and social media, and why a biblical approach must be holistic, recognizing humans as embodied souls affected by the fall in both body and heart. They warn against extremes of over-spiritualizing mental illness or reducing it to biology, and they challenge the church’s tendency to abdicate care to outside experts while affirming the need for professional help in severe cases. Emlet commends a hopeful yet humble posture, careful listening beyond diagnostic labels, and using the “saint, sufferer, sinner” framework to move toward and care for people.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

01:00 Meet Mike Emlet

02:55 Mental Health Landscape

05:46 Embodied Souls Balance

08:42 Church Role in Care

10:46 Hopeful Humble Posture

12:57 Saint Sufferer Sinner

14:34 Why He Wrote It

16:44 Meeting Suffering First

19:41 Listen and Move Toward

21:22 Closing Thanks

Episode Mentions
CCEF
Saints, Sufferers, Sinners: Loving Others as God Loves Us 

In this Speak the Truth podcast episode recorded at the 2026 Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition conference on mental health in the church, Michael interviews Kevin Carson, pastor of Sunrise Church (planted in 2002 in Ozark, Missouri) and newly appointed executive director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition (three months into the role). Carson shares his background teaching biblical counseling at Mission University and serving other seminaries, and describes cultivating a “church of biblical counseling” shaped by mutual care, sanctification, and one-another ministry, influenced by Steve Viars and guidance from David Powlison. Addressing how the church should respond to mental health, he emphasizes that labels change but people and God’s call do not, urging compassionate, patient, long-term discipleship rather than quick fixes, integrating care across preaching, life groups, and counseling. He invites listeners to learn about and support the BCC’s global resourcing and partnership program at biblicalcounselingcoalition.org.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:19 Conference Road Trip
00:56 Meet Kevin Carson
01:49 Pastor and Church Planting
02:31 Leading the BCC
03:26 Teaching and Seminary Work
04:17 Church Culture and Care
06:57 Mental Health and One-Anothering
08:19 Elder Team and Counseling Ministry
09:49 How Churches Should Respond
11:23 Slow Patient Discipleship
15:55 Saint Sufferer Sinner Framework
18:17 Practical Encouragement for Leaders
20:24 Equipping the Church to Care
21:35 Support the BCC Mission
24:01 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Episode Mentions
Biblical Counseling Coalition 

Michael interviews Adam Westlake, a worship leader and biblical counselor, about using music and singing as a growth assignment in counseling. Westlake describes singing as “integrative work” that aligns what believers know and feel, citing Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5 on singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and discussing James’ connection between suffering, prayer, and cheerful singing. They argue singing is often under-practiced outside Sunday services yet can help sufferers express truth “slant,” foster solidarity, and provide “portable theology” the Spirit brings to mind. They address concerns about emotional manipulation, emphasizing tethering emotion to what is true about Jesus, and note the value of varied song forms. Westlake shares a daily text-based devotional, “Sing,” and the episode ends with him leading the doxology.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:37 Meet Adam Westlake
01:04 Why Singing Matters
04:53 Singing in Suffering
07:39 Worship Leading and Counseling
09:56 Emotion and Worship
13:26 Music as Homework
17:22 Daily Sing Devotional
19:41 Doxology and Farewell

Episode Mentions
Register Now for the 2026 Called to Counsel Conference
All My Questions - Bethany Bernard (Spotify)
Sing - Daily Devotional with the Worship Initiative
Adam Westlake Counseling 

Michael previews a 2026 “Understanding Emotions” track with track leader Brad Hambrick, focused on anger, bitterness, and pride. Hambrick shares his roles as pastor of counseling at The Summit Church and assistant professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and introduces the track team: Jeremy Pierre, Shannon MCCoy, and Andrew Dealy. The track aims to provide deep, practical biblical theology, emphasize how sinful emotions distort good God-given purposes, and help counselors cultivate self-awareness in those who deny their struggles. Session topics include Pierre on flesh and spirit and how distortions occur; Dealy on counseling pride and developing humble confidence; Hambrick on recognizing sinful anger and pursuing “constructive displeasure of mercy”; MCCoy on identifying bitterness and moving toward healthy lament; and a concluding Pierre-led discussion with possible audience questions.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:03 Meet Brad Hambrick
02:49 Why This Emotions Track
03:02 Anger Pride Bitterness Framework
04:46 Session Lineup Overview
07:01 Conference Details and Wrap

Episode Mentions
Resister Now 

Michael interviews track leader Greg Wilson about the “Hidden Abuse” track at the ABC (Called to Counsel) conference at Doxology Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Wilson, a Dallas–Fort Worth biblical and licensed counselor who leads Soul Care Associates, introduces the track team: Chris Moles (PeaceWorks), Kirsten Christianson (Bethlehem Baptist Church), and Tim St. John (counseling pastor in Southern California). The track’s objective is to help attendees recognize coercive control and other abuse that is often hidden in relationships, and to respond in ways that honor the Lord and help both victims and perpetrators. Wilson outlines eight sessions: fear in hidden abuse; identifying coercive behavior patterns; helping victims; two sessions on perpetrators and God’s kingdom; two sessions on how coercive control thrives in churches and how churches can resist it; and a concluding Q&A panel. The track will use a case study (“Sarah”) from the Peace Interrupted podcast.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:19 Meet Greg Wilson
01:29 Hidden Abuse Track
01:52 Greg's Background
02:56 Track Team
06:23 Why Hidden Abuse
08:45 Who Track Helps
10:37 Eight Session Overview
15:35 Q and A Panel
16:38 Sarah Case Study
18:34 Register and Closing

Episode Mentions
Register for the ABC 2026 Called to Counsel Conference
When Home Hurts: A Guide for Responding Wisely to Domestic Abuse in Your Church - Wilson & Pierre

The Heart of Domestic Abuse: Gospel Solutions for Men Who Use Control and Violence in the Home - Moles
Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse: A Guide toward Protection, Refuge, and Hope - Moles, Christianson, Wilson, and Others
The Path to Peace: A 90-Day Journey from Control to Christ-Like Love - Moles (Men of Peace Devotional) 

Sarah's Story - Peace Interrupted Youtube Channel

Chrismoles.org