Thousands of lives have been touched by LCI—whether directly through the trainings or a workshop, or indirectly by meeting with an LCI alum. God is using us to help proclaim His story of healing and redemption. What’s your story? How has The Lay Counselor Institute impacted your life? How did the trainings or workshops help you in your ministry? What has God shown you about yourself and others? How have better navigated relationships by leveraging what you have learned?
“Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” Galatians 6:6 NIV
We are continually praying that God makes a huge splash in your heart through something you learned from The Lay Counselor Institute, and we’d love to hear your story of impact!
1. Has the LCI training helped you personally?
LCI has helped me be a more integrated/whole person by teaching me how to see my life’s story in ways that honor my personality and giftings, the home and values I grew up in, the choices I’ve made, and where God has been at work in the midst of all of it—with all the attendant joy and pain. As the first born in an African household, it felt like a birthright to be buttoned up and excellent in all things. It’s an impossible standard to live by. It was through LCI that my loved ones called me out for carrying shame about my life’s messiness in ways that were not helpful to me. Without the gentle prompting of the LCI process, I would not be on this path of wholeness and healing, leaving shame behind and being free to ask for and receive help.
Every time I return to the LCI manual, videos, or listen to Dr. Bill, I fall more in love with Jesus. The material does such a beautiful job of showing Jesus’ heart for people who are hurting and his ability to bring true freedom, healing, and beauty from ashes that I cannot help but want to spend more time knowing him—that, in itself, is a sweet gift to me from LCI.
The community we have built around LCI has shown me healthy vulnerability and accountability. They help me to do my own work and care well for myself, even as I seek to care for other people.
2. Has it affected any elements of your work/ministry? (With one sentence explaining what that is for you)
I like to think that I see more dimensions to all the people I interact with in my work and ministry as a result of being connected to LCI. I lead a multi-country division at a large international development non-profit. As I have learned to extend more grace to myself, I think I have more empathy for the dignity and depravity I see in my colleagues. I think LCI has made me a more intuitive leader, one who can show care and call forth the dignity and agency in my team better. I think I am now better attuned to when and what might be triggering me in a work situation and am able to show up more authentically. I ask better questions now—of myself, of God, and of my team!
I have always been the one my friends and family come to for advice. Now, I am better able to show up to those conversations without pressure. I’ve sat across from LCI clients pouring their hearts out and known that I have nothing to give them but, somehow, I find myself saying something that seems to lighten their load or break light into a dark place. In these situations, I’ve come to listen for and know the working of the Holy Spirit. Now, I can simply be with my loved ones and invite God to do what only he can do. I love that LCI has taught me that surrender—to stop striving to fix people; this has preserved my marriage and friendships time and time again.
3. Any suggestions for someone considering taking the training or supporting LCI?
Do it! Get involved with LCI. You will see God more clearly and see the people created in his image more fully. There are so many hurting and confused people in our world right now. Even if you are not one of them yourself, you likely know someone who is—take the training/support LCI for them! LCI is a powerful ministry with the tools, teaching and theology to shed light on human behavior and the beautiful redemption that is possible in Christ. I have been connected to LCI for the past 6 years. There are no pat/trite answers here, but I cannot think of a thing that has better equipped me, or given me more hope for the church being relevant to the real needs of the world than this.
Lanre, a Senior Vice President for World Relief
As a result of Lay Counseling Training, I interact differently. I listen with greater empathy. I try to put off distractions in order to lean in to what another is sharing…
When a young person comes to me with a difficult situation, I used to try to fix it or problem solve on their behalf. One of my most valuable takeaways from LCI training was this: as a counselor/minister /helper/friend, it isn’t my role to fix it or solve it. It is my role to ask good questions informed by the Holy Spirit, listen attentively and to be present with myself and the other person.
Grace, Area Director for Young Life
Before this, I had compassion but not the empathy that I learned about in this training…most times we judge people for where they aren’t, but when we learn where they are coming from, you appreciate them more, have more empathy for them.
Something I didn’t know until this (LCI) training: I have this gift of discerning someone’s spirit. I have the eyes to see the unseen – even in a crowd. Many people come to church and they long to be seen but they are not. And so my mind is now attuned, “who is here and longs to be seen but they are not?” I can see someone who needs help, they are lost in the congregation and I see them. And I can go to them. Ready to meet them where they are!
Peace, part of the Care Team at Fairfax Community Church