Soli De o Gloria
NG IN VID ED TO TRAINI G AND CHAPLAINS TO PRO E CERTIFIED EDICAT BIBLICA FALLEN SOLDIERS
DEDICATED TO TRAINING AND EQUIPPING CHAPLAINS TO PROVIDE CERTIFIED BIBLICAL COUNSELING TO VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY & FIRST RESPONDER FAMILIES.
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Introduction
A Brief History of Biblical Counseling
Veterans Appeal
Chaplains Appeal
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Page 10-11
Material Definition of Counseling
Chaplaincy Training Program
.Training Cost Schedule
President’s Dispatch
CERTIFIED BIBLICAL COUNSELING IS BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD, INSPIRED, INERRANT, INFALLIBLE, AUTHORITATIVE, AND SUFFICIENT FOR ALL MATTERS REGARDING LIFE AND FAITH
Pontius Pilate, presiding over the Lord Jesus Christ, who is truth incarnate, voices an age-old question...What is truth?
Humanism says man is the truth.
Pragmatism says whatever works is the truth.
Pluralism says everyone has a piece of the truth.
Relativism says each situation determines the truth.
Mysticism says intuition is the truth.
Skepticism says no one can know the truth.
Existentialism says self-determination is the truth.
Secularism says this present world is the truth.
Positivism says whatever man confesses is the truth.
This is the world in which we live: the redefining and rejection of the truth.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32
rom seedlings planted in the 1700s in America and Europe, to the first blossoms born in the laboratory of Wundt and the psychoanalytical couch of Freud in the late 1800s, the church has increasingly surrendered its belief in the sufficiency of Scripture to address all matters of life and faith (2 Peter 1:3 and others).
As the western culture, including its seminaries, ever-increasingly prioritized the scientism of psychology and psychiatry in addressing the problems of the heart and soul, the church found itself abandoning its role and responsibility to counsel to the fields of secular psychology and integrationism.
Fallen Soldiers Ministries (FSM) exists to help reduce the 20+ daily Veteran suicides and to assist Veterans, Active Duty Military & First Responder Families seeking to understand how God is sovereign over all His creation and all circumstances.
The Fallen Soldiers Ministries gifts Certified Biblical Counseling to help Veterans, Military, and First Responder families overcome the consequences of war.FSM delivers Certified Biblical Counseling and Discipleship live when possible and/or virtually via a secure Internet network to accommodate schedules and/or to access individuals living in remote areas, to inspire participation in a local church, trusting the Sufficiency of Scripture.
We invite you to read how The Lord is blessing our mission and welcome your charitable support to assist us in providing Certified Biblical Counseling to our community of Veterans and First Responders as we work together to return Biblical Soul Care to our churches.
Fallen Soldiers Ministries has been building a network of Certified Biblical Counselors to address the “consequences of war” in ways that glorify God.
By Pastor Nathan Irving, Three Tour, Purple Heart Recipient, USMC Veteran, IABC Certified Biblical Counselor
“The
For anyone who has been stationed for any period of time at one of our country’s military bases, Chaplain Bennett’s remark is at once doubtful and an understatement. Doubtful for several reasons:
whole army is a vast field, ready and ripe to the harvest . . . The susceptibility of the soldiers to the gospel is
First, today’s military members are (perhaps as never before) bombarded and accosted by all manner of enticements and worldly allurements, the likes of which would make even a Los Angeles Times editor blush. If there is a thing to be desired, however vile, it can probably be found in close proximity to a military base. This reality means that our soldiers are almost always under moral pressure.
wonderful, and, doubtful as the remark may appear, the military camp is most favorable to the work of revival.”
Chaplain
being forced to support and defend novel, moral, and political virtues, even if they contradict their own sincerely-held beliefs. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” has been replaced with, “We’ll ask if you agree, and you’ll tell us you do, or else.” It’s not as catchy, but it definitely gets the point across . . .
~William W. Bennett,
of the Army of Northern Virginia
Second, gone are the days of clear lines of blue or gray or red, where the enemy can be easily discerned and attacked. Banners, trenches, and the like are things of the past, as well. For years, our military has been called to the task of fighting unseen enemies. There has been a war without borders—a conflict where the adversary is less easily defined by nationality or some other human category than by a term: terror.
And third, in very recent years, the difficulty of carrying out the duty of a soldier has been increased exponentially by unseen enemies of a different kind. Where other generations of military members have enjoyed being quarantined from the larger culture in matters of sexual ethics and politics, today’s men and women in uniform are
This is likely why much of the focus in recent months has been on the military. Where the battle is most greatly raging, there the opportunity for the greatest gain lies, for either side. Christians who find themselves in the positions alluded to above are in dire need of an armory of spiritual weaponry. They need to be trained to defend the faith once delivered to the saints, spiritually resupply their families, and understand how to conduct themselves in the sight of God in their various roles as members of the armed forces of the United States.
The institution that God has given for this purpose is the local church. It is the privilege of Fallen Soldiers Ministries to come alongside churches and ministries that seek to serve this country’s active, reserve, and veteran military members, as well as their communities’ first-responders, help them assist through biblical counseling and training. Recognizing the complexities of training and deployment schedules, the needs of those who have been in combat, and the unique challenges of military families, it is the desire of FSM to participate in the great task of reviving our nation’s military, to the glory of God.
By Scotty Cameron, Federal Fire Chief, US Coast Guard, Veteran Firefighter and Biblical Counselor
I write this letter not as an official endorsement from my command or agency, but personally, as a federal fire chief serving within an active duty military environment, as a veteran firefighter and chaplain-minded leader who has spent years walking alongside service members through trauma, crisis, stress, family hardship, moral injury, and spiritual brokenness.
Because of this, I respectfully appeal to decision makers, chaplain leaders, and Christian chaplains throughout the Department of War to recognize, support, and empower the faithful use of biblical counseling as a legitimate and primary means of soul care within military chaplaincy.
I have personally witnessed both the cost of inadequate soul care and the transformative impact of faithful biblical counseling rooted in the sufficiency of Scripture and the hope of Jesus Christ.
Over the years, I silently carried the weight of cumulative trauma, operational stress, PTSD, and spiritual exhaustion. Like many in uniform, I learned to suppress pain while continuing to perform the mission. Outwardly I remained capable. Internally I was deteriorating. It was not until I encountered faithful, direct, Scripture-centered biblical counseling that true healing began to take root in my life, marriage, leadership, and ministry.
Today, not only have I benefited personally from this form of counseling, but I have also become trained in nouthetic biblical counseling myself and have witnessed firsthand its effectiveness among first responders, veterans, and military personnel.
I believe there are several realities that deserve renewed attention.
First, the sufficiency of Scripture must remain central to Christian chaplaincy.
There is no hardship, trauma, fear, temptation, grief, moral wound, or spiritual crisis that the Word of God cannot speak into with wisdom, truth, clarity, and hope. Scripture does not merely supplement spiritual care. It forms the very foundation of it. God’s Word addresses the human condition at its deepest level and equips the servant of Christ for every good work.
The men and women serving in our armed forces do not merely struggle physically or emotionally. Many are suffering spiritually. They are wrestling with guilt, fear, shame, despair, identity, broken relationships, addiction, anger, hopelessness, and questions of meaning and purpose. These are not simply clinical realities. They are deeply spiritual ones as well.
Second, Christian chaplains should not feel forced to separate faithful ministry from military service.
As uniformed personnel, we understand the importance of lawful authority, good order and discipline, and honorable service to our nation. Scripture itself calls believers to appropriate submission to governing authorities. Yet Christian chaplains must also recognize that faithfully caring for the souls entrusted to them is not in conflict with serving the mission. In many ways, it directly
supports it.
To faithfully minister through the truths of Scripture is not contrary to military readiness. It strengthens resilience, restores identity, reinforces moral clarity, encourages personal responsibility, rebuilds families, and offers enduring hope to those carrying invisible burdens.
A chaplain does not cease to be a minister of Christ when wearing the uniform. Rather, he fulfills that calling within the unique mission field entrusted to him.
sheath the primary weapon entrusted to the chaplain is to leave struggling service members fighting unseen battles without the full spiritual support their faith tradition provides.
Third, many chaplains may desire to provide more direct biblical counseling but lack either the training, confidence, or institutional support to do so effectively.
This gap can and should be addressed.
Organizations such as Fallen Soldiers Ministries and other biblically faithful counseling ministries have demonstrated tremendous effectiveness in serving veterans, first responders, and trauma-exposed communities. These organizations can provide awareness, training, mentorship, and practical tools to help equip chaplains for deeper soul care ministry rooted in Scripture and practical theology.
This is not a call to eliminate clinical resources or ignore severe psychiatric needs where they exist. Rather, it is a call to restore confidence in the chaplain’s distinct role as a spiritual caregiver and minister of truth.
Our service members face more than physical battlefields. Many are fighting mental, emotional, moral, relational, and spiritual wars long after the uniform comes off at the end of the day. Chaplains are uniquely positioned to step into those moments not merely with general encouragement, but with truth, discipleship, repentance, wisdom, grace, accountability, hope, and the promises of God.
The answer is not less theology. It is faithful and practical theology rightly applied.
Finally, I want to encourage Christian chaplains to wield the Word of God boldly.
Scripture describes the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit. To
I have seen hardened men softened by the Gospel. I have seen marriages restored. I have seen suicidal despair interrupted by truth and community. I have seen trauma survivors regain hope and purpose. I have seen leaders rediscover peace and conviction through faithful biblical counsel grounded in Scripture.
There is tremendous opportunity before the chaplain corps to reclaim confidence in the historic role of Christian pastoral ministry and biblical soul care within our military.
My prayer is not for controversy, but for courage, wisdom, clarity, and faithfulness.
May our chaplains be equipped to care not only for the operational readiness of the force, but for the souls of the men and women entrusted to them.
Psychological Counseling
Biblical Counseling
Combines human observations with human wisdom to construct a system of counseling to help man deal with his problems and issues of life. This type of counseling is generally practiced by non-believers and Christians who accept psychological theories as an avenue to help people.
Integration Counseling
Combines human observation, human wisdom, and the Bible to construct a system of counseling to help man deal with his problems and issues of life.
This is sometimes called “Christian Counseling.” This type of counseling is generally practiced by Christians who believe the Bible should be supplemented with psychological theories in order to help people.
Uses the Bible to construct a system of counseling to help man deal with his non-physical or immaterial problems of life.
This type of counseling is generally practiced by Christians who believe that the Bible has all we need to provide solutions to man’s non-physical, or immaterial problems as well as what the world calls “psychological” problems. They also believe that the Bible can help man function as God intended in life.
Definition of Biblical Counseling
Biblical counseling can be defined as “using the Word of God (the Bible) within the context it was written to provide solutions and the application of those solutions to non-organic, immaterial, spiritual, and what the world calls ‘psychological’ or ‘mental disorder’ problems.” The Word of God is used in a precise and efficient manner to address these matters. The Word of God is used anticipating the salvation of sinners and the sanctification of saints as a result. Biblical counseling can also be defined as “using the Word of God to give comprehensive answers to non-physical problems on a small group level or one-on-one interpersonal level.” In essence, biblical counseling is applied biblical systematic
theology. It is the practical ministry that comes out of knowing and understanding the Bible and the theology of the Bible. Biblical Counseling is the practical, comprehensive ministry of soul care that comes out of knowing, understanding, and applying biblical systematic theology to life issues.
We have been warned in Scripture not to pursue human wisdom for our insights for living.
We are warned in Scripture not to trust human wisdom for principles for living, understanding of human attitudes, motives, behaviors, and our solution for man’s inner problems (problems that are non-organic in nature).
We are instructed in Scripture that God’s wisdom is sufficient to counsel the inner person (the immaterial aspect of man). See Psalm 119:24, 99, 100, Hebrews 4:12, and Psalm 19:7—11
See Psalm 1:1—2 and Colossians 2:8.
We are warned in Scripture not to trust our own wisdom because we can be deceived by our own wisdom.
See Proverbs 3:5—6; 14:12; 16:2, 25; 21:2, and Jeremiah 17:9.
We are instructed in Scripture that God’s wisdom is superior to man’s wisdom. Therefore, man’s wisdom should not be added to God’s wisdom as solutions to man’s inner problems (Problems that are non-organic in nature).
See 1Corinthians 1:21, 25; 2:2—5; 3:20, and Isaiah 55:8—11.
The Heart of Man and Mental Disorders by Rich Thomson
Biblical Framework Counseling Basic Training Course by Nicolas Ellen
The purpose of this training is to equip military chaplains with a biblically grounded, discipleship-based counseling framework that addresses the spiritual and non-physical challenges faced by service members and their families.
Teaching through 30 Sections of Biblical Counseling
This includes:
Theology of counseling
Process of change
By the end of this program, chaplains will be able to:
Case study
Provide biblical, Christ-centered counseling in complex life situations
Apply the process of biblical change
Diagnose issues using biblical categories of change
Conduct structured counseling sessions using a proven biblical framework
Marriage, family, and emotional issues
Depression, anger, fear, suffering, etc.
Upon completion of level 1, Chaplains will receive a Certificate of Completion from FSM.
Levels 2-4 are optional, providing a pathway to Fallen Soldiers Ministries Certification and Diploma.
This training is designed as a comprehensive certification pathway consisting of four major levels:
After Completing Level 1, Chaplains will receive a Certificate of Completion.
Levels 2-4 are optional, Chaplains can continue the comprehensive program to receive Fallen Soldiers Ministries Certification and an invitation to join the FSM Biblical Counselor team.
Biblical Counseling & Theology: Focuses on the theological foundation of counseling.
Introduction to Biblical Counseling: Covers methodology and history.
Specific Issues: Covers topics such as anger (Robert Jones), anxiety (Wayne Mack), forgiveness (Ken Sande), and addictions (Ed Welch).
Marriage & Family: Focuses on relationships and parenting.
Recent “Books of the Year”: Highlights newer authors and recent additions to the field.
Reading logs must be submitted and approved by FSM with 12 months of completing the Foundational Instruction level.
Observation of counseling sessions via video
Focus:
Provided through our IBCD partner
Session structure
Data gathering
Heart diagnosis
Scripture application.
Each chaplain that completes stages 2-3 will have the opportunity to take the FSM exam and evaluation.
Preparatory exam materials are also available as an optional program to assist individuals.
Each chaplain will:
Conduct 50 counseling sessions
biblical counselor
Supervision includes:
Case analysis
Theological evaluation
Feedback on counseling approach
Receive ongoing supervision and evaluation by trained certified
Homework and biblical counseling strategy
FSM Directors will review this progress and award graudates a diploma and invitation to join the FSM Counseling Network.
Scripture-Sufficient: No reliance on secular or integrative psychology—only the Word of God.
Cost per Participant:
Level 1: $500 per Chaplain
Practically Structured: Courses and materials directly address military and first responder chaplains and the unique counseling cases they will encounter.
Level 2: Reading materials available through Amazon or others at current market rates.
Level 3: Video course catalog from IBCD for $14.99 / month
Level 4: $850 Per Chaplain, one-on-one coaching and mentoring.
Testing and Certification: $100 initial exam / $50 per re-take attempt
Military chaplains serve on the front lines of spiritual care— addressing grief, trauma, moral struggles, and relational challenges.
This training equips them not merely to manage problems, but to address problems from a metaphysical perspective.
Dr. Nicolas Ellen
Senior Pastor of Community Faith Bible Church, Senior Professor of Biblical Counseling at the College of Biblical Studies, ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor and Fellow
sufferings that needed to be addressed with more than just a hug and words of sympathy. With God’s training from His Word and His power I have enjoyed providing these various men and women with life changing insights that I have seen heal and transform them! I am looking forward to bringing that insight to the Fallen Soldiers Ministries Ministry.
There are many challenges soldiers face as they seek to serve their country and serve their families. I have come to see over the years that the more one uses God’s word to help soldiers through their challenges, the more productive they are for Jesus, their family, and their country.
Dr. Ellen is the Senior Pastor of Community of Faith Bible Church in Houston Texas and Senior Professor of Biblical Counseling at the College of Biblical Studies. Dr. Ellen has also developed a biblical counseling training center called Expository Counseling Center LLC.
Throughout my college and seminary training years I encountered may men and women who were serving or were finishing their service in the military. I noticed that they had a discipline and commitment to excellence that truly amazed me. Obstacles were merely opportunities for them to work things through until the mission was accomplished.
As I begin to engage my military friends in more intimate and personal settings, I learned of their hurts, pains, sorrows and
He received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Houston, Houston, Texas, his M.A. in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, his M.A. in Biblical Counseling from The Masters University, Santa Clarita, California, his Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in Biblical Counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky and his PH.D in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. Ellen travels nationwide with the organization teaching biblical counseling principles. He is also a Senior Member of the Biblical Counseling Framework Association. Dr. Ellen and his wife Dr. Venessa Ellen have two children and four grandchildren.
Dr. Will Lohnes
ACBC
Pastor Hope Chapel,
& IABC Certified Biblical Counselor
God’s plan for Will began with the family in which he was born, including a grandfather who was an evangelist, pastor, a founder of The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, and spiritual leader of a large family with five uncles who also were pastors and ministry leaders. From boyhood he wanted to be a pastor and preacher if God would call him. So he pursued ministry education securing two Masters in Theology and Divinity during which God indeed called him into the ministry. His education also included a Doctorate in Ministry from Grace Seminary with a dissertation on Biblical Soul Care Counseling and church planting. God orchestrated a ministry for him in the planting of four churches in Hawaii, Ohio, and South Carolina.
6 children. Twin boys who both joined the Navy. His eldest son is no longer in the military having incurred injuries from a mission that medical boarded him out of the service while his younger son is still serving as a chief petty officer. He also has three daughters working as a SC police force supervisor, a missionary, and a professional sommelier. His son, Micah, died at an early age of Trisomy 13.
His military involvement began with his parents both of which were in the military in the 2nd World War, his father as a navigator of B-29 in the Air Force and his mother as a nurse in Burma. God chose to give Will a medical condition denying his entrance into the military and professional sports, so off to seminary to prepare for ministry.
Will married Maria who also came from ministry roots having a grandfather, father, and brother who were all pastors in their calling and vocation. God has given them
He began counseling as a teen counselor at a Christian Camp in NC ministering to over 100 teens annually for 10 years. When he became a pastor in Hawaii, he was certified by National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC), later Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), and was asked to start a biblical counseling training course and center which taught several students in 7 years. The training center was repeated in Ohio and South Carolina resulting in training over 200 students in biblical counseling.
Having watched his sons in their military commitments, he obviously sees the need for specific biblical counseling for military individuals, families, and even organizations. This must be done with wisdom, grace, and truth so that the needy are loved and lifted in their pursuit of God. Fallen Soldiers Ministries has the burden and integrity to do just that for those who have given so much for so many.
The Fallen Soldiers Ministries® is organized and run by volunteers with a passion to honor our veterans and first responders, serve our great nation, and assist our fallen soldiers.
America, teaching and leading our children by example.
To that end, we pray that God ignites a grass-fire across our great nation, inspiring an exodus from selfishness, stirring “we the people” to honor our Creator by applying in our lives the biblical principles taught by His Son, Jesus, and the divinely inspired providential document of the United States Constitution.
The Fallen Soldiers Ministries® Board passionately reveres the inspired Word of God communicated by John 15:13: “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
The daily examples of our United States Military personnel’s personification of the principle God spoke through John is often contrasted by our governmental paradox of rhetorically communicating heroism during active duty, yet undermining rules for engagement, compensation, healthcare, and benefits desperately needed by our warriors and their families.
We strive to honor our warriors’ selfless and sacrificial actions by inspiring patriotic acts of kindness and conduct to compensate for the historical and current selfishness modeled by many in government leadership.
Our vision is to advance the construction of our network of Certified Biblical Counselors, a team dedicated to the sufficiency of Scripture to minister biblical soul care designed to facilitate healing for broken individuals and families.
Our hope is to inspire biblical revival and patriotism across
With warmest regards & respect,
We invite you to dedicate your time to learn about us through our website, www.FallenSoldiersMinistries.com.
Soli Deo Gloria!!!
- Samuel Adams, 1776
- John Adams, 1826
Jim Retzke President,
“If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”
“There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt.”
Fallen Soldiers Ministries
Soli De o Gloria FALLENSOLDIE RS MINISTRIES ®
® Sola Sc r iptura reC t i f ied Biblical C ounseling Ne t w kro
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