A CONTEXTUALIZED, ONE YEAR BIBLICAL COUNSELLING COURSE

Introduction

SMTI exists to promote excellence in Biblical Counselling in the local church in South Africa by training and equipping pastors and other Christians in the theologically accurate and practical use of Scripture in understanding and solving the problems of people and thus promoting growth in and usefulness for Christ in the Church and the world. Strengthening Ministries Training Institute (SMTI) was established in 2011 by Dr Wayne Mack and was then entrusted to Dr Sybrand de Swardt in 2022.

One Year Training

SMTI is the only ACBC training centre in Africa that enables individuals to pursue certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors (ACBC). In fulfilment of the ACBC certification requirements for Phase One, SMTI will now be offering a One-Year Biblical Counselling Training Course (SMTI-ONE). This course has painstakingly curated and streamlined the essential Biblical Counselling principles for their optimal application to the South African context.

We believe this training will equip students to effectively use Scripture in one another ministries in the church and among family and friends. Students will learn to engage with various counselling issues, working to identify both the causes and biblical solutions to resolve them. It will give students confidence that the Scriptures are sufficient, understandable, and practical in the achievement of their intended goal.

Our Standards of Doctrine

You can access our Standards of Doctrine here.

The Doctrines of the Sufficiency of Scripture and Common Grace

SMTI has recently joined leading scholars, authors, practitioners, and pastors in signing a document that clarifies the confusion surrounding the doctrines of the sufficiency of Scripture and common grace. You can access that document here. Mischaracterizations of these doctrines have threatened to lead many astray within the Biblical Counselling world. Therefore, teaching the essentials of these doctrines will form an integral part of the SMTI-ONE course.

Course Lecturer

Doctor Sybrand de Swardt has been the pastor of Lynnwood Baptist Church since 2009, and is married to his wife, Beth. Together they have two children, Carol-Marie and Thomas-Wayne.

Dr. de Swardt is an expositional preacher who also ministers through extensive counselling and teaching on counselling related issues. Dr. de Swardt has received a Master of Arts in Biblical Counselling from The Master’s University. He also obtained a Doctor of Educational Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His doctoral project developed a thirty-hour contextualised Biblical Counselling course. Dr. de Swardt has been a certified ACBC counsellor since 2018, and he is now serving as the director of SMTI, which offers advanced training in Biblical Counselling.

He has extensively trained many in counselling related issues through SMTI as well as independently in Ireland, Holland, Italy and Africa. Furthermore, Dr. de Swardt is a guest lecturer at Mukhanyo Theological College in South Africa, as well as an adjunct faculty member of Brookes Bible College in St Louis, Missouri. He has also been a speaker for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselling (ACBC) annual conferences.

Course Content

A general introduction to the distinctives of Biblical Counselling. The focus will be on:

1. 1. An Introduction to Biblical Counselling,
   2. Methods of Biblical Change,
   3. Theology of Biblical Counselling,
   4. Marriage and Family Counselling and Topics,
   5. Problems and Procedures and
   6. Observation and Practicum.

Course Outline

Introduction to Biblical Counselling. This section will introduce the ministry of Biblical Counselling and discipleship by showing its roots in Scripture, its theological support, its historical alternatives, and its philosophical presuppositional departure point. It will also show how the Bible is sufficient to equip the saints for one another ministry in the local church.

Methods of Biblical Change. This section will provide a biblical understanding of change. It will provide an authoritative framework of eight procedures, and it will also demonstrate its practical use in understanding the human experience through several observational videos. It will further show how it is used by the Holy Spirit to motivate, empower, and direct individuals in life and godliness. Students will also be shown how neo-integrationist have changed the doctrines of the sufficiency of Scripture and common grace to justify an unbiblical methodology.

Theology of Biblical Counselling. This section will challenge students to consider the theological realities that form the basis of a proper approach to Biblical Counselling. Specifically, this section will attempt to develop a biblical understanding of the nature of God and man, while giving careful attention to the specific application of these principles to real life issues.

Marriage and Family Counselling. This section will consider the biblical understanding of marriage and the key factors that make up a biblical and harmonious marriage. It will consider different roles, their functions and interrelatedness to one another, the responsibilities, and the privileges in a biblical marriage. It will highlight certain aspects as they relate to an African context.

Marriage and Family Topics. This section will seek to give a biblical perspective on issues that hinder harmonious and biblical marriages. It will further seek to understand the issues biblically, diagnose the problems, and present solutions and procedures for the counselling process.

Problems and Procedures. This section will apply the biblical principles taught in the Methods of Biblical Change section to a range of specific counselling problems that are common to man. Students will also be shown how the neo-integrationist use of secular trauma approaches and clinical theories undermine the doctrines of the sufficiency of Scripture and common grace.

Medical Issues and Biblical Counselling: This section is designed to show how physical illness can affect the human soul. It will also consider the theory undergirding the use of psychotropic drugs and the procedures involved in assisting counsellees.

Observation and Practicum. This section is designed to help students establish a practical and effective counselling model. The professor will use observational videos to help students learn practical skills through observing, evaluating, and critiquing the couselling. These classes are designed to be interactive and generate fruitful dialogue.

ACBC Certification

PHASE 1:

• Register with ACBC at https://biblicalcounseling.com
• Join the SMTI student platform
• After completing the Practical Theology class, watch the required counselling session on the student platform
• Complete the 1,000 pages of required reading

PHASE 2:

• Download exams at: https://biblicalcounseling.com/training/certification/phase-2-exams-and-evaluations/
• Complete the ACBC theology and counselling exams
• Submit the completed exams to ACBC for grading

PHASE 3:

• Once the exams have been passed, find an ACBC Fellow and complete 50-hours of observed counselling
  After successful completion of the 50-hours of observed counselling a letter will be sent to ACBC with recommendations