Equipped: Encouraging, Correcting, and Caring for One Another

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Romans 15:14: “My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.”

Sometimes when someone comes to us with a difficult situation, a struggle, or a need for wisdom, it can feel like we simply don’t have what it takes to help. We may feel unprepared, unsure of what to say, or afraid of saying the wrong thing.

And yet, throughout Scripture, believers are called to encourage, admonish, restore, comfort, teach, and care for one another. At Equipped, our upcoming conference, we want to see that God has not only called His people to care for one another, but has also equipped us to do so. Through Christ, His Spirit, His Word, and His church, God has given us what we need to faithfully walk alongside the people He has placed around us.

This conference is not about turning everyone into a professional counselor. It is about helping ordinary Christians grow in wisdom, confidence, and faithfulness as we encourage one another, speak truth to one another, and care for one another through the everyday joys and difficulties of life.

What You’ll Learn

Together, we will look at how Scripture equips believers to better care for the people around them. We’ll consider what it looks like to listen well, offer biblical encouragement, lovingly correct one another, walk alongside those who are struggling, and point one another toward the hope and truth found in Christ.

Whether you are a parent, spouse, friend, small group leader, ministry volunteer, or simply someone who wants to become better equipped to care for others, we believe this conference will be practical and encouraging.

Our Speaker

We are excited to welcome Dr. Greg Gifford, author, professor, and biblical counselor, for this two-day conference. Dr. Gifford is a certified biblical counselor and Fellow with Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). He holds two degrees in biblical counseling and has written and published widely in the field of biblical counseling. He started counseling in 2012 and has been counseling either full-time or part-time since then. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Amber, and they have three wonderful sons.

Dr. Gifford will help us think biblically and practically about what it means for Christians to counsel and care for one another and how we can faithfully apply the truth of Scripture to real-life situations.

Cost

Registration is $25 per person and includes the full two-day conference as well as dinner on Friday evening and breakfast and lunch on Saturday.

Our hope is to make the conference affordable and accessible while also giving us plenty of time to learn, eat, fellowship, and encourage one another throughout the weekend.

Conference Schedule

Friday, October 2
5:30pm // Registration and Dinner
6:30pm // Worship and Session 1 with Dr. Gifford: Lies My Therapist Told Me
7:30pm // Prayer and Dessert Fellowship

Saturday, October 3
8:00am // Welcome and Breakfast
9:00am // Worship and Session 2 with Dr. Gifford: Equipped to Counsel
10:00am // Prayer and Break
10:30am // Worship and Session 3 with Pastor Caleb: Preparing Your Heart to Counsel
11:30am // Prayer and Lunch
12:45pm // Worship and Breakout Session
2:00pm // Worship and Session 4 with Dr. Gifford: A Practical Guide to Offering Biblical Counsel
3:00pm // Q&A with Dr. Gifford
3:45pm // Closing