Bringing people to maturity in Christ Jesus means we help them grow in several areas. Below is an overview of how we work to develop each area of maturity in Christ.

In the left margin of this page you will find a link to Christian Maturity Summary Questions. After reviewing each area of growth below, take some time to reflect on the Summary Questions. These questions will help you to determine if you are living a life of Christian maturity. Next, complete the Personal Inventory and we will review it with you at your next session. Although we would prefer you complete the Personal Inventory Online, giving your counselor time to review your answers before your next session, you may also print the inventory to complete on paper and bring to your next session.

We look forward to working with you and spending time together dealing with your issues, as painful as they may be, and seeking God's will for your life. May God bless and lead us as we work together under His direction.

The inventories below ask questions in six different areas. These areas help us determine how you are doing. Please answer these questions to the best of your ability. Some of them may be difficult for you to answer at this time, but please complete the inventory.

Since we are dealing with the whole person we must meet his or her needs physically. For us this means determining if there is a physical reason that the individual, couple, or family is in need of help. Sometimes this means evaluating their symptoms to see if there is an underlying physical cause for their current crisis. Anxiety and depression can frequently create significant problems for individuals as well as their families, if left untreated. We frequently diagnose and treat anxiety and depression as well as other physical symptoms that may have an emotional basis to them. In addition, if necessary and appropriate we will make referrals and work with other health care providers such as psychiatrists or family physicians.

The next area we deal with as counselors is in the mental or cognitive domain. In this domain we deal with how people think. We want them to transform their thinking by renewing their mind in Christ Jesus. For some individuals this means coming to a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus for the first time. For others it is reminding them " the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us". This means it is time to spend time in the Bible so that they might be able to know and do God's will for their lives. It also means knowing what should be the focus of our thoughts. The Bible says we are to take "every thought captive" as well as to think on certain things. What we put in our mind influences how we feel and behave.

Next, we examine the emotional well-being of the people we work with. Sometimes the way we feel may significantly influence the way we think and behave as well as affect choices and decisions we make. It also may affect our relationships with others. We all have emotions. There is nothing wrong with emotions. However, how our emotions affect us and how we act on them may be influenced by our emotional maturity. For example, it is okay to be angry since anger is a God-given emotion, but what we do with our anger becomes our responsibility. In our anger we are not to sin. It is not sin to become angry. It is sin to act on our anger in a way that is disobedient to God. Understanding how our emotions influence other areas of who we are and how we relate to others is a particular ministry of the counseling center.

In order to form good judgments we need the wisdom that comes from experience. Unfortunately not all our experiences have been positive. Fortunately, God uses even the negative experiences in our lives to create our character. Sometimes, however, our experiences have been so traumatic, as in the case of abuse or neglect, that our judgment may be impaired. In these cases, it helps to have an objective, yet loving and supportive counselor, who can help redeem the past and help heal the hurts that will allow the individual to grow to maturity in Christ. This comes from an exploratory, non-blaming model that lets Christ do His redemptive work in the area of forgiveness under grace.

Spiritually, we need to be under the guidance and the influence of the Holy Spirit. If He is our true Counselor then we will be under His leading. This is true Christian maturity. We are in absolute surrender to God thru the direction of the Holy Spirit so God's will, not our own, will be done. To learn to listen to the Holy Spirit requires discipline and devotion. It also requires time. True discipline and devotion is learned as we surrender more and more of ourselves to God and keep less of ourselves from Him. Experiencing God gives us a true sense of peace and love in His presence.

The last area that we examine is relationships. Our ability to obtain and maintain appropriate, Godly relationships is influenced by all of the above. As our maturity grows in each and every area, we are better able to express and experience God's love in us and through us. Our ability to relate is based on our maturity. Our maturity is based on the areas above. Common sense, learned from each of those areas, then applied to other people, allows us to love even if not loved in return.