Slideshow image

If you are on this page, it is because things have not been working the way you want them to work. Maybe you are struggling financially, and maybe you are struggling emotionally. Either way, you are struggling, and you have decided that it is time to ask for help. Well… the great news is that you have come to the right place because we truly want to serve you.

 

It is really hard in today’s culture to be able to find someone you can trust. Someone that does not have some agenda or is not looking to charge you increasingly high fees with a never-ending treatment plan. Pastor Billy and his wife Bethany have made a decision that Biblical Counseling is important enough that finances or agendas should never get in the way of someone finding freedom in Christ.

 

Pastor Billy and Bethany have gone through a rigorous Biblical counseling training program and have experience helping people through similar issues to your own.

Proverbs 18: 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
COUNSELING PHILOSOPHY

Our philosophy of biblical counseling can be summed up in a very few words. We believe in the sufficiency of Scripture to adequately address every issue of the human heart. In other words, in the Bible God has provided "everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). At the root of man's problems is a spiritual disease called "SIN." Every man is infected with it and only God provides the cure. Whether the issue is conflict in marriage, rebellion in children, depression, fear, anxiety, or any other ailment of soul, the Word of God offers both the correct diagnosis and the only true remedy.

By God’s grace, through the generosity of Leaf River Baptist Church, we are able to offer our counseling services FREE OF CHARGE. Those who desire Biblical counseling can be assured that the counsel offered is based on the counselor’s informed (and psychology free) understanding of the Bible as it applies to the human heart.  

At Leaf River Baptist Church, we have witnessed marriages restored, invisible walls of rebellion torn down, permanent victory over serious "addictions", depression overcome, and lives radically transformed by the life-changing power of the Word of God brought to bear upon the human heart.

Paul was right. The word of God really is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16).

Pastor Billy and Bethany are both experienced in many of the areas that you may be experiencing stress including: marriage, parenting, anxiety, loneliness, depression, as well as many other issues that are experienced in life. Pastor Billy and Bethany are both well equipped to help you walk through your spiritual journey as you seek to be pleasing to the Lord in your personal devotional time and other areas of spiritual growth. Pastor Billy and Bethany both are continual learners by attending annual Biblical Counseling conferences, as well as books and online training when available.

Pastor Billy uses his experience as a property manager to be able to give practical financial counseling that will help you understand your debt and learn the best ways to dig yourself out of the financial stress you are under.

Galatians 6:1-2

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (ESV)

Colossians 1:28-29

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (ESV)

Colossians 3:16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (ESV)

Counsellors

Bethany Hardy
  • Pastor's Wife

What should I expect?

At this time, counseling sessions are offered at various times. Most counseling sessions take between 1 to 1.5 hours. Below you will see what you can expect during that time:

Our counselors will care for you and treat you with respect. Everything will be held in strict confidence except where, in the counselor’s judgment, there is a Biblical requirement to involve others (e.g. criminal activity). 

Our staff will encourage you in your successes and exhort you to think and behave in a way that pleases Jesus Christ.

We’ll assign you homework to take home between your weekly counseling sessions. The assignments are meant to encourage lasting change.

Habits are not developed overnight, and new habits will take time to develop. In most cases, we ask individuals to commit to regular counseling appointments for a period of 3 to 4 months.

Since LRBC generously provides the facilities and the counselors,  we can offer the counseling free of charge. However, out of respect for our staff's time, we request a true commitment from all counselees.