Back to Basics: Determining Ministry Needs
As with any other discipline, skill and competence in biblical counseling rest on a firm grasp of the essential elements of discipleship. Formal biblical counseling involves utilizing six key elements: Data gathering, building a relationship (involvement), determining ministry needs, ministering the Word, communicating hope, and implementing homework. In this series of articles, we will go “back to basics” to review these fundamental core skills needed in counseling. In this article, we will look at the craft of determining ministry needs.
Determining the “Need of the Moment”
In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul exhorted believers to speak to one another in a way that is “good for edification according to the need of the moment” (Ephesians 4:29). In other words, a conversation that honors Christ must aim to build up others and be appropriate or timely regarding the person’s spiritual need. In formal counseling, a counselor must take time to build a relationship of trust with the counselee. He must listen well, ask good questions, and get to know the person and his unique situation. From there, the counselor must then analyze the data and determine “the need of the moment.” At this point, counselors can become overwhelmed or uncertain how to proceed. How does one determine the ministry need? Where do you start?
Pitfalls to Avoid
In my ministry experience, I see two common mistakes that counselors sometimes make at this juncture. First, a counselor may choose one of the “presentation problems” and begin addressing that particular issue. For example, she may hear her counselee speak of feelings of depression or anxiety, so she begins to address those topics from the Scriptures. While this strategy may be helpful and seem relevant to the counselee, further analysis may be needed before forming a counseling plan. Is the person’s depression the main problem, or is it merely a symptom of the real issue? Are there other challenges that the counselee faces that are of a higher priority or a more urgent nature? So the counselor should not simply “pick” something she hears in the first session and begin addressing that issue without a more thorough analysis.
Second, counselors may overlook the need for a thorough analysis of the situation and begin a Bible study of general topics with the counselee. For example, a couple went to their pastor seeking counseling for their marriage. They were struggling with typical marriage issues, like communication and forgiveness. Though the pastor was willing to spend time with them, he did not attempt to analyze their situation and form an appropriate ministry plan to address their specific martial challenges from the Scriptures. Instead, he started doing a Bible study with them. While the study of God’s Word is essential, the pastor did not attempt to minister the Word to the couple regarding their specific marital difficulties. His lack of analysis and determination of the “need of the moment” led to ineffective counseling ministry.
Six Steps for Determining Ministry Needs
How can a counselor begin to analyze the data to determine the counselee’s needs and form a strategic counseling agenda? Here are six steps:
1. Remind yourself of biblical normality. To determine the “need of the moment” and establish a helpful counseling plan, a counselor must have a clear understanding of “biblical normality.” In other words, he needs to know what the Bible teaches as “God’s will” regarding the topics in counseling. For example, Scripture reveals the “fruit of the Spirit,” which constitutes Christlike character (Galatians 5:22-23). These character qualities exemplify God’s will for all Christians and thus form a picture of the “biblical normality” that all believers should strive to achieve. Scripture also reveals biblical norms regarding marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33) and communication (Ephesians 4:25-32). The Bible teaches how a believer ought to respond to various life challenges, such as fear (Psalm 56), anxiety (Philippians 4:6-9), or conflict (James 4:1-10). Since there are many popular cultural and psychological views of what is “normal” and “healthy,” biblical counselors must have a firm grasp of the biblical view of spiritual health.
2. Prayerfully compare the data with the standard of God’s Word. Next, the counselor should compare what he has learned about the counselee against the backdrop of God’s Word. It may be helpful to think in particular categories to accomplish this goal. For example:
What behaviors and responses are present?
What are the counselee’s thoughts, attitudes, and interpretations of his situation?
What desires, values, expectations, and motives are evident?
To whom or what is the counselee turning to for help?
As these questions are explored, it is helpful to remember that sin and suffering may be present. In other words, counselors will want to look for both ways the counselee is not responding biblically to life and ways the counselee may be experiencing actual suffering.
3. Look for patterns and themes. As the data is organized into the categories above, the next step is to look for and identify patterns and themes. Scripture often refers to a person’s “ways” or “manner of life” (Psalm 119:9; Ephesians 4:22). These terms speak to the regular practices and behavioral tendencies of the person. For example, a couple struggling in marital communication might regularly employ blame-shifting instead of first dealing with their own sins (Matthew 7:3-5). Someone struggling with anxiety over his finances might habitually turn to alcohol as a “false refuge” to seek relief or peace. As these behavioral patterns are identified, it may be helpful to deduce spiritual habits in the counselee’s situation:
What is his view of God?
What is his view of himself?
What is his view of his circumstances?
Who or what is he living for or who is he seeking to please?
What seems to be a typical motivation?
4. Label and describe the problems using biblical terminology and concepts. Next, the counselor should explain what he observes using biblical terms and ideas. For example, it is confusing and potentially unhelpful to use the term “alcoholic” with a counselee who struggles with drinking too much, since the term “alcoholic” often implies a disease-model view of addiction. This approach may undermine the personal responsibility of the counselee, overlook the actual spiritual dimension of addiction, and miss the hope that the transforming gospel of Jesus can bring. While psychological terms may be helpful to summarize complex behaviors into a convenient label, counselors should be careful in using such terms so as not to create unnecessary confusion. Biblical counselors should strive to use biblical concepts and descriptions for the dynamics that undergird human behavior. For example:
Emphasis on the “heart” or “inner man” as the source of behavior (Proverbs 4:23).
The importance of worship and idolatry as fundamental dynamics in behavior (Romans 1:25).
The interplay of thoughts, beliefs, and desires.
The biblical change process in sanctification.
The practical role of the gospel in the change process.
In the example above, a counselor might conclude that his counselee worships comfort and peace more than the Lord Himself. He has convinced himself of lies, such as, “I deserve some peace after such a hard week.” Further, he may believe deceitful thoughts about God: “Surely God would want me to be happy and comfortable. There’s nothing wrong with having a good time.” In this paradigm, the buzz of alcohol becomes a “false refuge” where the counselee can receive the idolatrous state of ease and peace. Though professing faith in Christ, the counselee does not see or seek the “peace that surpassing understanding” found in Christ’s provisions for anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7). Over time, the counselee becomes enslaved, constantly turning to alcohol, regularly irritable without it, and progressively drinking more and more.
5. Use biblical categories to determine the ministry need. Scripture not only provides the perspective and information needed to counsel others competently, it also provides categories to better direct counseling care. For example:
The counselee may be a believer or an unbeliever.
The counselee may be unruly (and needs admonishment), fainthearted (and needs encouragement), or weak (and needs help) (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Likely, Paul does not intend this list to be exhaustive but illustrative. In other words, counseling care should be appropriate to the type of person and the uniqueness of her struggle.
The counselee may be mature or immature in his faith (Hebrews 5:12-14).
The counselee may be naïve and foolish, or may be prudent and wise (Proverbs).
When the Bible provides categories like these, it also reveals particular dynamics, instructions, or perspectives that aid the counselor to better minister to the person. For example, the Bible warns to not “answer a fool according to his folly,” meaning a counselor should not engage a counselee who is acting foolishly by going along with or engaging similarly in the person’s perspective. Instead, the counselor should respond in a way that exposes the foolishness and calls him to repentance and a better way of living (Proverbs 26:4-5).
6. Form tentative conclusions for prayerful consideration. The counselor should form a tentative conclusion about the counselee and his situation from these steps. This effort should be tentative, as the counselor should always be open to new information or needed correction regarding the case. However, this preliminary evaluation informs and directs the counselor’s initial care plan for counseling. When done wisely, the process clarifies the “need of the moment” and allows the counselor to engage in careful, thoughtful ministry that rests on a solid, biblical evaluation of the situation.