Counseling is really fulfilling for me because I’ve seen some wonderful things happen for people. As you can see below, I have experience in the secular arena of counseling, but I have chosen to take a biblical approach because I’ve seen such powerful results.
In a sense, the biblical approach is about transformation instead of symptom management. It is a spiritual model rather than a medical model. I provide counsel as an ordained, experienced pastor, not as a licensed secular counselor.
Here’s a snapshot of my history. You might also want to see this ministry’s statement of faith.
Ministry
I was ordained by a very special church, Grace Bible Church of Diamond Lake, in Newport, Washington. While a small group, they know the Bible and love God. That love spilled into my family’s life as well, for which I am forever grateful. I served them in a pastoral role (one of four pastoral elders) for twelve years.
Many years before that, in the 1980s, I helped establish a home fellowship in Chehalis, Washington. That group continues to this day. My wife and I also spent some time ministering in Siberia, Russia.
For eight years, starting in 2005, I was with The King’s High Way Ministries and began doing biblical counseling there. That was an invaluable experience. It was also an honor to know Nancy Missler; her passing was a real loss. I’m very glad Debbie Holland continues the work (visit KingsHighWay.org).
Since 2014, I have been working with Koinonia House in a variety of roles to advance the ministry’s work. I have enjoyed working with this great team. (I did have a stint during this time working with Men’s Ministry Catalyst, as well.)
Vocational Work
My professional vocation for over 20 years was in social services with Washington State: juvenile justice, and children and family services. I have also worked as a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist.
In the early 1980’s, part of my work at a juvenile institution was to help with group counseling of juvenile sex offenders. In the 1990’s, as a social worker for the State of Washington, I provided family reconciliation services for parents and teenagers in conflict, among other duties. In my last position with the state, I oversaw foster home and group home licensing in most of eastern Washington.
In the 2000’s, my work with a private agency involved individual and marriage counseling, as well as skills training as a psycho-social rehabilitation specialist. In early 2005, I completed classes in Coeur d’Alene with the National Christian Counselor’s Association and then provided biblical counseling with The King’s High Way Ministries.
Education and Training
I have a B.A. from a Christian school, Seattle Pacific University. I had two majors: Sociology, with a social welfare emphasis, and Psychology. Along with the usual required courses, my degree included Bible classes, special topical seminars by national and international Christian speakers, and small group studies.
Family
My family includes a wife, three sons, three daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. We are all believers, and the time we spend together is the best part of life for my wife and me. I feel I still have much to learn about being a father to adult children, and being a grandpa…but it’s all good. We have extended family, although our parents have all passed away from this life.
My lovely wife and I have been married for over 40 years.
If you would like to get started, please make your appointment by clicking here. I’ll be in touch soon afterwards.