In this episode of Speak the Truth, the hosts are reporting from Ontario at the Biblical Counseling Coalition Canada Conference. They highlight the pioneering efforts of individuals spearheading biblical counseling initiatives in Canada. Emily introduces Betty-Anne Van Rees, a biblical counseling pioneer from Cambridge, Ontario. Betty-Anne shares her journey into biblical counseling, originating from her personal trials and need for help after her husband's death. Her story speaks to the importa...
Jun 23, 2025•22 min•Ep. 171
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' the team is joined by special guest, Dr. Jeemin Moon, professor and director of the Biblical Care and Counseling Ministry at Heritage College and Seminary in Cambridge, ON. The conversation focuses on Heritage College's new bachelor's degree program and graduate certificate in biblical counseling, their partnership with the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC), and the implementation of the Equipped to Counsel (ETC) curriculum. They also highlight the im...
Jun 16, 2025•16 min•Ep. 170
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Michael engages in a profound discussion with Mark Vroegop about his latest book, 'Waiting Isn't a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God and the Uncertainties of Life.' Vroegop explains his motivation behind writing the book, emphasizing his struggle with waiting and the spiritual growth that comes from it. The conversation touches on the biblical importance of waiting, its role as a spiritual discipline, and how it can transform frustrating life gap...
Jun 07, 2025•17 min•Ep. 169
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Michael interviews author Jonathan Holmes at the Biblical Counseling Coalition Canada Conference. They discuss Jonathan's latest book, 'Grounded in Grace,' which provides insight into helping children build their identity in Christ. The conversation covers the importance of parents proactively discipling their children in an age where external influences often shape identity. Jonathan emphasizes the significance of grounding identity in biblical truth, espec...
May 30, 2025•20 min•Ep. 168
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' hosts Michael and Shauna are joined by special guest Paul Tautges at the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition Annual Conference. They discuss the themes of identity, sanctification, and counseling within the Christian faith. Paul shares insights from his latest book, 'Remade,' which emphasizes the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ through three lenses: saint, sinner, and sufferer. The conversation covers the apostolic pattern of disciple...
May 23, 2025•26 min•Ep. 167
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Michael is live from the Salem Heights Made to Minister Conference in Salem, Oregon. Joined by guest Beth Claes from New Heights Church, Vancouver, Washington, they discuss the common inquiries they receive regarding biblical counseling. Claes shares her experience transitioning from a secular psychology background to biblical counseling and addresses questions on educational pathways, certification options, and career prospects in this field. They emphasize...
May 16, 2025•25 min•Ep. 166
Exploring Union with Christ: Implications for Counseling and Beyond In this episode of Speak the Truth, Michael engages with Jason Kovacs from the Gospel Care Collective at the 2025 Made to Minister Conference. They discuss the transformative power of knowing Christ, focusing on the foundational truths of Biblical Counseling, particularly the doctrine of Union with Christ and its implications for counseling. Kovacs shares insights about his ministry, the importance of Christ's presence in our li...
May 10, 2025•24 min•Ep. 165
In this episode of Speak the Truth, Michael welcomes Tim St. John, the counseling pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, California. Podcasting from the Made to Minister Conference 2025, they discuss the prevalent issue of church leadership failures and the deep wounds they leave. Tim shares insights into his work in a church with a robust biblical counseling ministry and offers gospel-centered strategies for addressing church hurt and spiritual abuse. Highlighting the importance of ...
May 01, 2025•25 min•Ep. 164
Exploring Biblical Approaches to Coping Strategies In this episode of Speak the Truth, the host joins Kristin Silva Linder at the 25 May to Minister Conference in Salem, Oregon. Kristin discusses her breakout session on coping strategies and the importance of understanding God's character to replace flawed coping mechanisms. The conversation covers how biblical counseling can help individuals navigate their struggles by recognizing God's common grace and ultimate providence. They also explore pr...
Apr 25, 2025•31 min•Ep. 163
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' listeners are invited to register for the upcoming ABC Call to Council conference. Mike is joined with Justin Greene and Mary Young, both cancer survivors, discuss their newly launched Cancer Care Ministry at Salem Heights Church. They share their personal journeys with cancer, the unique challenges faced by cancer patients, and how the new ministry aims to provide practical support, emotional comfort, and spiritual guidance. Key topics include the importanc...
Apr 18, 2025•30 min•Ep. 162
Embracing Biblical Hope: Navigating Suffering with Faith In this episode of Speak the Truth, the hosts discuss the transformative power of knowing Christ, featuring Pete Potloff, a recurring guest since 2019. Recorded at the Made to Minister Conference 2025 in Salem, Oregon, the conversation revolves around Pete's breakout session on discovering practical ways to help others experience and live out biblical hope in their daily lives. Highlighting themes from 1 Peter 1, they talk about the distin...
Apr 11, 2025•21 min•Ep. 161
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Mike is Recording live at the Made to Minister Conference 2025, the episode highlights a conversation with Aaron and Angi Greene, experienced marriage counselors. They discuss their journey in marriage counseling, the importance of gospel-centered strategies, and practical tools for resolving conflicts in marriage. The Greene's share insights on transforming relationships through a deeper understanding of the gospel and how it impacts everyday life, emphasiz...
Apr 04, 2025•25 min•Ep. 160
The Future and Hope of Biblical Counseling: ABC's Vision for Growth and Impact In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Michael, Shauna, and Jeremy provide information about the annual ABC Call to Council conference, showcasing its themes, plenary speakers, and specialized tracks including mental health and trauma. They reflect on the history and heart of the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) and discuss the future direction of ABC, focusing on expanding the reach of biblical counseling and ...
Mar 29, 2025•24 min•Ep. 159
The Heart of ABC: Mobalizing the Local Church in Equipping the Saints for Ministry In this episode, the hosts discuss the upcoming ABC Call to Council conference, highlighting its unique track-based structure featuring plenary sessions by renowned speakers such as Paul Tripp, Jeremy Pierre, and John Henderson. They explain the heart of ABC, focusing on its mission to enlist, equip, enrich, and encourage believers to apply the gospel to all aspects of life. Distinctives of ABC's certification pro...
Mar 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 158
The Origins and Evolution of the Association of Biblical Counselors: A Journey of Faith and Resilience In this episode of Speak the Truth, Michael, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss the history, growth, and guiding principles of the Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC). The conversation delves into the inception of ABC in 2003, spearheaded by a vision to provide a dedicated association for biblical counseling distinct from existing bodies. Founding member Jeremy elaborates on the early challenges, ...
Mar 07, 2025•29 min•Ep. 157
In this episode of 'Speak The Truth' podcast, hosts Michael and Jeremy, without their partner Shauna, engage in an enlightening discussion with beloved author and esteemed Sister in Christ, Elyse Fitzpatrick. They dive deep into her latest book, 'Unloved: The Rejected Saints God Calls Beloved,' exploring its profound themes. Elyse enlightens listeners on the common struggle among Christians to accept God's unconditional love, pushing against the merit-based mentality(meritocracy). She reflects o...
Mar 01, 2025•23 min•Ep. 156
If you've been wanting to become a biblical counselor or want to grown as a disciplemaker, you can enroll in our class. It begins March 29th. The viritual class will be interacting with live training and teaching – learn more Also, the ABC National Conference is just around the corner, May 1-3 register now Cultivating Spiritual Rhythms: Praying the Bible In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Mike, Shuana and Jeremy continue their mini-series on discipleship and counseling by discussing the impor...
Feb 14, 2025•23 min•Ep. 155
--If you have been wanting to become a certified biblical counselor, Truth Renewed's next virtual certification training enrollment is now open-- Click HERE to begin the enrollment process! Class begins 3/29/25. Email training@truthrenewed.org with any questions. In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' hosts Michael, Shauna, and Jeremy discuss the importance of cultivating spiritual rhythms in counseling and discipleship. They introduce and explain different Bible study methods like TAP (Truth, Ap...
Jan 31, 2025•18 min•Ep. 154
This episode focuses on discipleship in counseling, emphasizing the importance of cultivating spiritual rhythms in these practices. Hosts Michael, Shuan, and Jeremy discuss their personal updates and the significance of Scripture in developing spiritual disciplines. They share practical methods and scripture references to help counselees establish and maintain spiritual rhythms. The conversation includes addressing the challenges counselees face, such as motivation and busyness, and the importan...
Jan 25, 2025•22 min•Ep. 153
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' host Mike welcomes Brian Walker, Operations Director at Anchored Virtual, to discuss the services and mission of Anchored Virtual Biblical Counseling. Brian shares the origins of the ministry as an offshoot of Mark Inc. and its evolution into a virtual counseling service providing biblical and clinical counseling support. Listeners will learn about the methodology, counselor qualifications, and the importance of local church integration in the counseling pro...
Nov 22, 2024•24 min•Ep. 152
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Mike explores Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) from a biblical counseling perspective with special guest Beth Claes. The discussion differentiates between the DSM-5 definition of NPD and cultural perceptions of narcissism. Key characteristics such as self-absorption, desire for admiration, and lack of empathy are analyzed alongside biblical teachings, framing narcissism as idolatry. The conversation highlights the challenges and importance of reconcil...
Oct 25, 2024•16 min•Ep. 151
This episode of the Speak the Truth podcast, with special guest, Beth Claes, focuses on understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) through a biblical framework. They discuss the prevalence of anxiety in modern culture and how GAD is often a catch-all diagnosis for persistent anxiety not tied to specific situations. The hosts emphasize the importance of engaging with people who have these psychological labels and how to think about anxiety from a Christian perspective. Beth introduces the s...
Oct 11, 2024•15 min•Ep. 150
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth,' Michael and special guest Beth Claes, a Counseling Director and biblical counselor, delve into the topic of codependency. Beth shares her insights from a background in psychology and biblical counseling, discussing how codependency manifests in relationships and how it is not a diagnosable disorder in the DSM. They explore the biblical framework for understanding codependency, identifying it as a form of 'fear of man' and misplaced identity. The conversation...
Sep 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 149
In this episode, Mike is joined by special guest, Robert Cheong from Gospel Care Ministries to discuss various gaps in church discipleship and ministry, emphasizing the importance of personal and communal abiding in Christ. They highlight the 'faith gap' where individuals lack confidence in living out the gospel, and how it affects church programs, community, and leadership. Robert outlines personal challenges categorized into gaps in people's stories, hearts, and wants, which contribute to thes...
Aug 16, 2024•24 min•Ep. 148
In this episode, host Mike discusses a unique opportunity for listeners to join Truth Renewed's hybrid Level One Certification class. He introduces a special guest, Rob Rodriguez from Encounter Ministries, who elaborates on his new eight-week marriage program. Rodriguez, a doctoral student and Director of Biblical Counseling, shares insights about his book and workbook that focus on fostering hope, influence, and fidelity in marriages. He also highlights the upcoming marriage encounter event in ...
Aug 02, 2024•16 min•Ep. 147
In this episode, Mike announces an invitation to participate in Truth Renewed's hybrid certification class and introduces special guests Michael Snetzer and Brett Smith. They discuss the Gospel Recovery Network and its 'Steps' program, a comprehensive discipleship and recovery curriculum. Michael shares his journey in developing the program, its roots in Celebrate Recovery, and its eventual transformation. Brett adds his personal experiences with 'Steps' and its impact on his faith and ministry....
Jul 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 146
In this episode of 'Speak the Truth', Mike is joined by guest Robert Cheong from Gospel Care Ministries, as he delves into his meditations on Psalm 25. They explore themes of trusting God, experiencing His steadfast love and faithfulness, and the importance of scripture in personal spiritual growth and church leadership. They emphasize the significance of abiding in Christ, sharing biblical insights with others, and finding comfort in God's Word through life's challenges. 00:00 Introduction and ...
Jul 01, 2024•21 min•Ep. 145
In this episode Michael interview's Richard and Shelly Wenschlag, founders of Encounter Ministries, at the ABC Conference 2024. They discuss their ministry's journey from its origins, aimed at fostering deep relationships and connecting individuals with Christ, to becoming a nonprofit organization. The conversation covers the challenges faced in sustaining the spiritual high post-retreat, the importance of vulnerability in fostering connections, and the expansion of their ministry to multiple st...
Jun 24, 2024•33 min•Ep. 144
In this episode of Speak the Truth, recorded at the 2024 Called to Council Conference at Doxology Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, Michael joins biblical counselors David and Krista Dunham from Michigan. David, a pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church, and Krista, a private practice biblical counselor, discuss their journeys into ministry and counseling. They delve into topics including the theological perspective on addiction, the concept of worship disorders, and their book 'Table for Two' whi...
Jun 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 143
In this episode of the Speak the Truth, Michael interviews Josh Conwell, Executive Director of Counseling at DOXA Collective in Southeast Portland. Josh shares his personal journey from growing up in a Southern Baptist household to discovering a transformational biblical faith through significant life challenges. He discusses his educational experience at Southern Seminary, his decision-making process for finding a local church, and his transition to Portland. Josh touches on his passion for bib...
Jun 10, 2024•27 min•Ep. 142
