Equipping Lay Leaders of Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Create a Community of Biblical Counseling

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to train the key lay leaders of Cape Bible Chapel in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to counsel those under their care for the further development of the church’s community of disciples. Chapter 1 presents the history and ministry context of Cape Bible Chapel and the goals of this project. Chapter 2 provides an exegesis of five key passages of Scripture that demonstrate the biblical evidence of the importance of community and the role that lay leaders must play in the maintenance of that community. Chapter 3 presents an overview of the doctrines and concepts that are essential to the practice of biblical counseling. Chapter 4 describes the project itself in each key step of preparing content, equipping lay leaders for biblical counseling through the teaching of that content, and developing a ministry plan to implement the training into everyday ministry within the community of Cape Bible Chapel. Chapter 5 provides an evaluation of the efficacy of the project based on the completion of the goals of the project. Ultimately, this project sought to equip Christians within the context of the local church to counsel one another for the purpose of creating a healthier church community.