If you are only able to attend one conference in the coming year, mark your calendars now and plan to attend the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference September 28 - October 1 of 2005.  If you are a professional or lay counselor this conference is an absolute must.  'Round about the church had the opportunity to attend and review the last conference held in 2003 and can not recommend it highly enough!  We would like to thank Nate Wagner for attending and reviewing this essential opportunity for learning how to serve more effectively.
 

 

The American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference explodes in Nashville.  The largest Christian counseling event in history took place September 25-28, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee.  The fifth annual world conference had well over 6500 professional counselors, pastors, teachers, students, lay counselors, speakers, and exhibitors in attendance.  The conference theme was helping people "Live the Life" and was so successful in accomplishing that, that AACC president Tim Clinton called it "a movement of God!"  While attending the conference I had the incredible privilege of interviewing Dr. Clinton.  He said his vision for this conference was to offer the best practical, up to date training available in the breakout sessions and inspirational speakers in the plenary events.  He wanted those who attended to walk away motivated and inspired personally as well as better equipped professionally.   Speakers included Larry Crabb, Dallas Willard, Beth Moore, Philip Yansey, Gary Bauer, T.D. Jakes, and George Barna.

    As a pastoral counselor and life-long student the conference was an incredibly beneficial experience.  The networking opportunities were endless and the training sessions were varied; with some of the most accomplished experts in the fields of pastoral counseling, youth counseling, family therapy, and the integration of theology and psychology sharing their wealth of knowledge and expertise with the thousands in attendance.  I would highly recommend this conference to any professional clergy or counselor as well as those involved in lay counseling and helping ministries.  It is a time of refreshment, encouragement, training, and spiritual renewal.  Don't miss this opportunity when it returns in 2005.

    The greatest joy for me while attending the conference was the incredible thrill of interviewing the Spiritual Director of the conference, Dr. Larry Crabb.  (Dr. Clinton asked Dr. Crabb to serve in this capacity, referring to him as a mentor, shepherd, and friend.)  Dr. Crabb and I talked about how his personal views have "evolved" over the years.  He was quick to point out that he hasn't changed his perspective on many of the issues he wrote about early in his career, though from his words, "If I were to write those books now, I would communicate more clearly what I was trying to say."   We talked about his detractors, and he was incredibly gracious.  He holds men like Jay Adams and John MacCarther in extremely high regard stating, "The Christian community needs each of us doing what we are doing to the best of our abilities."  He believes if he had been able to better communicate, much of the difficulties many have had with him would have not surfaced.

    We spoke about his current ministry focus as the director of New Life Ministries.  He is passionate about equipping those in the local church to care for each other and equipping pastors to create small group ministries within the church where people can find the intimacy and encouragement they are so desperately longing for.  Dr. Crabb has been a mentor and teacher from a distance for me personally.  It was an incredible privilege to personally interact with one who has offered so much to Christian counselors and lay people for so long.  Thanks, Dr. Crabb for your heart, commitment, humility, and pilgrimage.

    Once again, we can not recommend highly enough that you plan to attend this conference.  Check out their web site at www.aacc.net and register as soon as possible as this conference is one that will definitely fill up very soon.  Thank you AACC, Dr. Clinton and Dr. Crabb for the opportunity to review the conference and interview people who are making a true difference in the lives and ministries of so many!