In today’s episode of The BCC Podcast, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Jeff Piatt, pastor of Lakeside Bible Church in Mobridge, South Dakota. Jeff has served in pastoral ministry in this rural community for more than twenty years, faithfully seeking to equip his church to minister God’s Word to those who are hurting and struggling.

In this conversation, we’ll hear how a commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture has shaped Jeff’s pastoral ministry, his church, and their approach to helping people. Jeff shares how growing counseling needs led Lakeside to intentionally equip church members to come alongside one another and how biblical counseling increasingly moved beyond formal appointments into everyday relationships and conversations throughout the community.

Kevin and Jeff also discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of rural ministry, including bivocational ministry, pastoral discouragement, the temptation to withdraw or measure ministry by visible results, and the importance of examining one’s own heart while remaining faithful to the work God has given. They also consider how equipping church members to counsel one another can strengthen the entire church while actually reducing, rather than increasing, a pastor’s counseling load.

Whether you serve in a rural community, a small church, or a large metropolitan area, this conversation will encourage you to consider how ordinary believers can be equipped to notice those around them, listen well, love them faithfully, and help them apply the wisdom and hope of God’s Word to everyday life.

You can reach Jeff at: [email protected]

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In today’s episode of The BCC Podcast, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Dr. Ernie Baker, Chair of the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling at The Master’s University and Director of Training for Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide (BCMW). With nearly five decades of ministry experience spanning pastoral ministry, theological education, counseling, and global missions, Ernie reflects on God’s providential leading from Florida back to California and shares how the Lord continues to expand opportunities for equipping the next generation of biblical counselors.

Kevin and Ernie discuss the historic role of The Master’s University in the biblical counseling movement and the exciting developments taking place within its graduate program. Ernie introduces two new Master of Arts emphases—Biblical Counseling and Missions and Biblical Counseling and Mediation—designed to prepare students to faithfully apply Scripture in cross-cultural ministry and conflict resolution. Together, they highlight the importance of equipping counselors who are grounded in God’s Word and prepared to serve both the local church and the global mission of Christ.

The conversation also explores the work of Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide, which trains pastors and church leaders in more than 60 countries while providing counseling resources and theological education around the globe. Ernie explains how the partnership between BCMW and The Master’s University seeks to identify and equip faithful leaders who can return to their own nations to strengthen churches through biblical counseling and discipleship.

Rooted in Romans 11:33–36, Ernie closes the conversation by reflecting on the beautiful truth that all things are from God, through God, and to God. Whether in counseling, ministry, education, or everyday life, believers are reminded that Christ is both the source and the goal of all they do, calling His people to live for His glory alone.

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Support 15:14 – A Podcast of the Biblical Counseling Coalition today at biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/donate.

In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Janet Aucoin, Director of Women's Ministry at Faith Church in Lafayette, Indiana, and host of the Joyful Journey Podcast. Janet shares how the podcast began during the COVID era, her passion for providing women with biblically rich, practically helpful content, and the lessons she has learned over six seasons of ministry.

The conversation explores the heart behind Joyful Journey's tagline—"When you choose truth, you choose joy"—and highlights Janet's commitment to helping listeners move beyond merely knowing biblical truth to faithfully applying it in everyday relationships and circumstances.

Janet also offers a powerful discussion on biblical love, drawing from John 13 and the Old Testament concept of hesed. She explains how Christ's sacrificial love becomes both the foundation for our identity and the model for how we love others through suffering, sin, and life's difficult challenges.

Janet is ACBC certified, teaches at Faith Community Institute, coordinates the Faith Bible Seminary Wives Fellowship, and serves as a retreat and conference speaker. She holds a B.S. in Human Resources from the University of South Florida. 

As you listen, pay special attention to this incredible quote: "We love because He first loved us. Before we focus on what we need to do, we need to stand under the waterfall of Christ's love for us." 

You can listen to the Joyful Journey Podcast here.

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In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Jonathan Holmes, the new Executive Director of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF). Jonathan brings years of experience serving in pastoral ministry, counseling ministry, and organizational leadership through Parkside Church and Fieldstone Counseling, along with a deep commitment to strengthening the church’s ministry of personal care.

In this conversation, Kevin and Jonathan reflect on the historic role CCEF has played within the biblical counseling movement and discuss Jonathan’s vision for the next season of ministry at CCEF. Jonathan shares how CCEF’s mission to “restore Christ to counseling and counseling to the local church” continues to shape the organization’s priorities, particularly the desire to equip ordinary believers in churches for wise, personal ministry. Together, they discuss the importance of connecting the riches of Scripture to the troubles of everyday life and helping churches cultivate meaningful, relational care.

Kevin and Jonathan also explore the balance between theological depth and relational warmth in counseling ministry. Jonathan emphasizes that biblical counseling is not merely the transfer of information or expertise, but a ministry of presence, compassion, wisdom, and faithful conversation rooted in God’s Word. Drawing from the influence of the late David Powlison and longtime CCEF faculty such as Ed Welch, the conversation highlights the importance of patient, church-centered ministry that walks with people through suffering and sanctification over time.

Additionally, they discuss the opportunities and challenges facing biblical counseling organizations today, the need for accessible training for pastors and church members, and the growing global impact of biblical counseling ministry. Jonathan shares his hope that CCEF will continue serving as a trusted voice that mines the treasures of Scripture for the struggles of life while strengthening the local church’s role in soul care.

Rooted in a shared love for the local church and confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture, this episode encourages pastors, counselors, and church members alike to pursue faithful, compassionate ministry that brings the hope of Christ into the realities of everyday life.

You can learn more about CCEF at https://www.ccef.org.

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In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Nathanael Logan, a US Army Chaplain and certified counselor, for part two of their conversation. Captain Nathanael Logan serves as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army, with over two decades of service across active and reserve components, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He has also served as a Drill Sergeant and a pastor. He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Baptist Bible Theological Seminary and is a certified biblical counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He serves on the advisory board for Fallen Soldiers Ministries and is committed to the faithful application of Scripture for the care of souls and the glory of God.

In part two, they continue their conversation by focusing on the counseling side of military chaplaincy. Chaplain Logan opens a window into what happens when soldiers step into his office carrying burdens of suffering, relational conflict, fear, and confusion. He explains how he listens carefully, looks for spiritual indicators, and seeks to bring the wisdom of Scripture to bear in moments that often feel urgent and complex. The conversation also explores why military counseling often begins as triage, how chaplains differ from mental health professionals, and what young people should know if they are considering chaplaincy as a calling.

You can reach Chaplain Logan at this email address: [email protected]

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In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Nathanael Logan, a US Army Chaplain and certified counselor. Captain Nathanael Logan serves as a Chaplain in the U.S. Army, with over two decades of service across active and reserve components, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He has also served as a Drill Sergeant and a pastor. He holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Baptist Bible Theological Seminary. He is a certified biblical counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He serves on the advisory board for Fallen Soldiers Ministries and is committed to the faithful application of Scripture for the care of souls and the glory of God.

In this first conversation, Chaplain Logan explains how the Lord led him into military ministry. He shares his journey from early struggles in college, to military service after the September 11 attacks and ultimately to discovering that the military itself had become a unique mission field. Together, they discuss what Army chaplains do day-to-day, why their presence among soldiers matters, and how biblical counseling serves men and women facing pressures that many civilians never experience. Chaplain Logan also explains how he ministers faithfully in a religiously diverse environment while remaining clear and consistent in his commitment to Christ.

You can reach Chaplain Logan at this email address: [email protected]

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Dave Deuel | Entrusting the Treasure: Preventing Drift Through Faithful Word Ministry

In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Dave Deuel, Senior Research Fellow with the BCC. Dave brings decades of experience in church planting, theological education, international missions, and research, with a longstanding focus on equipping pastors and strengthening the church through faithful handling of God’s Word.

In this conversation, Kevin and Dave discuss 2 Timothy 2:2 and 1 Timothy 4:16, exploring the responsibility of entrusting the truth of the gospel to the next generation while maintaining personal faithfulness in both life and doctrine. Dave highlights how this pattern of generational discipleship serves as a safeguard against theological drift, emphasizing the importance of carefully transmitting the “treasure” of Scripture to faithful individuals who will continue the work.

They also address the critical connection between knowing and living the truth, warning against the danger of unapplied theology. Drawing from ministry and counseling experience, Kevin and Dave underscore the necessity of grounding every aspect of counseling in Scripture, resisting the pull to rely primarily on personal insight, experience, or secondary resources.

Rooted in the call to “watch your life and doctrine closely” (1 Tim. 4:16) and to entrust the truth to faithful people (2 Tim. 2:2), this conversation encourages pastors and counselors to remain students of God’s Word, to apply it personally, and to faithfully pass it on as a precious and life-giving treasure.

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To learn more about an undergraduate degree in biblical counseling, go to BoyceCollege.com/1514. For more information on the Biblical Counseling and Master of Divinity degree in 60 months, go to BoyceCollege.com/five.

In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Lamar Eifert, the Assistant Pastor of Valley Forge Baptist and Director of Valley Forge Biblical Counseling Center. Lamar brings decades of ministry experience in both his local church and in biblical counseling, and his church hosts an annual “Competent to Counsel” conference. He is certified with the Association of Certified Biblical Counseling. 

In this conversation, Kevin and Lamar discuss biblical counseling, heart-level change, the church’s responsibility to care for the hurting with God’s Word, and the upcoming counseling conference. Lamar shares his journey from a secular career into pastoral ministry and biblical counseling, highlighting the sufficiency of Scripture to address the deepest struggles of the human heart. Lamar also emphasizes the need for trained biblical counselors in the Northeast as well as the vision behind the annual “Competent to Counsel” conference.

Rooted in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, this conversation emphasizes that biblical counseling is not driven by technique alone, but by love for Christ and faith in the transforming power of His Word.

Competent to Counsel Conference

 Key speakers include:

Learn more or register at: vfbcc.org/conference

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Support 15:14 – A Podcast of the Biblical Counseling Coalition today at biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/donate.

In today’s episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson, Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, is joined by Jeff Christianson - pastor, leader, and Executive Director of the International Association of Biblical Counselors, also known as IABC, and a valued member of the BCC Council Board. Jeff brings decades of ministry experience, including pastoral leadership, radio broadcasting, counselor training, university professorship, and organizational leadership within the biblical counseling movement.

In this conversation, we’ll hear about Jeff’s journey into biblical counseling, how the Lord used key influences and relationships to shape his path, and the mission and distinctives behind IABC’s training and certification work. We’ll also hear about cooperation and unity in biblical counseling, the importance of Scripture’s sufficiency in soul care, and how churches can wisely develop counseling ministries in today’s ministry landscape.

Whether you’re a pastor, counselor, or church leader, this conversation will encourage you and give you helpful perspective on the ongoing work of biblical counseling in the local church and beyond.

You can reach Jeff at [email protected].

You can reach the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC) at www.iabc.net.

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In this episode of 15:14, Kevin Carson sits down with Sacha Mendes at the 2025 Biblical Counseling Coalition Global Summit. Together, they reflect on the message Sacha preached at the Summit and discuss its impact on their thinking, leadership, and ministry. The conversation is thoughtful and grounded, focusing on how biblical truth shapes the way counselors and leaders listen, respond, and serve others. This episode offers encouragement and insight for anyone involved in biblical counseling, pastoral ministry, or leadership within the local church.

Alexandre “Sacha” Mendes serves as one of the pastors at Maranatha Baptist Church in São José dos Campos, Brazil. He is the Director for Vision and Expansion for the Brazilian Association of Biblical Counselors and serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. Sacha holds a degree in Economics from the University of São Paulo. He has received theological training from Word of Life Bible Seminary in Brazil, earned a Master’s degree in Biblical Counseling from The Master’s University, a Master of Divinity from Faith Bible Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Expository Preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Ana, have three children: Pedro, Tito, and Marina.

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