The BCC Podcast

Lucas Leite is a PhD student in biblical counseling at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Bella are preparing to head back to their home country of Brazil to work in spreading the gospel through theological education in biblical counseling. They will work at the Seminário Biblico Palavra da Vida in São Paulo, the most populous state of Brazil with over 45 million inhabitants. Their focus is on training pastors, missionaries, and counselors to do the work of biblical soul care, equipping them to bring the reality of the good news of Christ to the whole of life. You can find out more about them and support their ministry here.

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

Alexandre “Sacha” Mendes serves on the Board of Directors for the BCC. Sacha graduated from the University of Sao Paulo with a degree in Economics. He has received training in theology from Word of Life Bible Seminary (Brazil), 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. Sacha currently serves as a senior pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church in Sao Jose dos Campos and is a leader of the Brazilian Association of Biblical Counselors. He and his wife, Ana, have three children, Pedro, Tito, and Marina. Sacha joins us to share about his life, testimony of faith, calling to ministry and biblical counseling, as well as lessons learned along the way.

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

Dr. Steve Viars has served as a pastor and biblical counselor for over 30 years at Faith Church and Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries in Lafayette, IN. Steve serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He also serves on the boards of Vision of Hope, a faith-based residential treatment center for at-risk girls, and the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Steve is a frequent speaker at conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the United States and abroad. He and his wife, Kris, have three children: Bethany, married to Rob, Karis, married to Austin, Andrew, and three grandchildren. Steve joins us for this episode of 15:14 to share about his upbringing, testimony of faith, journey to biblical counseling, and valuable lessons he’s learned from ministry.

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

Scott O’Malley is Executive Director of Twelve Stones. Twelve Stones is a biblical counseling ministry focused on counseling retreats for individuals or couples. They have ministered to more than 2,300 individuals from around the world. Scott joins us for this episode of 15:14 to discuss the history and philosophy of Twelve Stones and to walk us through their unique counseling format.

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

Meet Dr. Rob Green. Rob is a BCC Council Member who serves as Pastor of Counseling and Seminary Ministries at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN. On today’s episode of 15:14, listen and learn how Rob went from athlete to engineering student to biblical counselor. He also shares some highs and lows of biblical counseling ministry and how the Lord preserves him in ministry.

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

Lauren Whitman joins the 15:14 podcast today to discuss her book, A Biblical Counseling Process: Guidance for the Beginning Middle, and End from New Growth Press. Lauren holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. She serves as a Staff Counselor at Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF). In addition to serving as a counselor, Lauren also works as the developmental editor for the Journal of Biblical Counseling and has authored numerous JBC articles.

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

Deepak Reju is a member of the Board of Directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He serves as the Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Families at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. Deepak does individual and couples counseling, leads groups, develops the vision for the counseling ministry, and supervises the counseling team. He did his theological training at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv, PhD). Deepak and his wife, Sarah, have been married since 2001 and have five children. He is the author of On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church, The Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need, She’s Got the Wrong Guy: Why Smart Women Settle, and Pornography: Fighting for Purity. Deepak joins us for this episode of 15:14 to share about his upbringing, journey to faith, and lessons learned in biblical counseling.

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

Check out our most downloaded episode of 2021! Margy Tripp is an author, biblical counselor, teacher, and speaker. She and her husband, Tedd Tripp, minister alongside one another through Shepherding the Heart Ministries. Margy joins us for this episode of 15:14 to discuss her most recent book It’s Not Too Late: Restoring Broken Relationships with Teenage and Adult Children.

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

Ed Welch (Ph.D.) joins Curtis to discuss his book, A Small Book about a Big Problem. Dr. Welch brings years of wisdom gleaned from counseling many who struggle with sinful anger to this very accessible book. It is written for all people, whether they think they have a problem with anger or not, and it is written in short bites intended to be chewed on throughout the day for 50 days.

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

This episode of 15:14 is unique. Our guest, Steve Viars, joins us to inform you and ask for your help regarding a direct attack against biblical counseling in West Lafayette, Indiana. Faith Church in Lafayette is an historic church in the modern biblical counseling movement. One of their campuses is in West Lafayette and would come under the jurisdiction of Ordinance 31-21. This ordinance claims to ban “Conversion Therapy” but expands the definition of this therapy beyond its original meaning and includes any attempt at altering a person’s sexual expression/identity/preference/desires/practice in any way, even if the person is seeking help to change. In addition, this ordinance targets non-licenced counselors with fines of $1,000/day for violating this ordinance. 

LGBTQ advocates have been working to ban all attempts to help anyone turn away from the lifestyle they wish to promote and live in accordance with God’s design for human sexuality. This map shows the advancement of the LGBTQ movement to accomplish its goal on this particular issue. 

Individuals and churches in the area started a non-profit organization called Lafayette Citizens for Freedom. You can find out more about the organization and how you can support their efforts at the website freedomlafayette.org. 

In this episode, Dr. Viars shares how this legislation came to be, how Faith, and others have responded, and how you can learn from their example to address similar legislation in your community. 

Previous episodes with Steve Viars:

Loving Your Community

Steve Viars

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