IFDC420 – The Theology of Christian Care and Counseling

Quick Info:

Number of weeks: 6

Price: $125

CEUs: 3.0

Required books?: Yes

Live video session?: Yes

Part of a certification or series of courses?: Yes (IFD Certification in Christian Care & Counseling)

In this course, we will look at the Biblical themes of sin, suffering, exodus, sacrifice, law, kingdom and exile and how they develop in Scripture over the course of redemptive history. Counseling topics such as interpersonal ministry, conversation, discipleship, personal struggles and crisis will also be studied.

Students are required to have the following books for this class:

• Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide, by Gary R. Collins
• Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (2011 edition), by Mark R. McMinn

Live sessions will be held on Zoom for this course. They will be for one hour each Thursday evening (6:00-7:00 pm CST).

This course is eligible for 3.0 CEU.

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Pre-requisites for this class are IFDC410

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About the Instructors

Reverend Shirley J. Connally is a retired teacher/counselor/minister with a B.A. (English/French), M.Ed. (Counseling & Guidance), M.Div. (Theology) and additional studies on the Doctor of Ministry Degree. She retired from public education with 36 years’ experience as an English teacher and/or secondary counselor. She also taught freshman English at the Houston Community College for several years. Additionally, she served as an adjunct professor at the Charles Harrison Mason Bible College and owned a private practice counseling office for several years.

She has served in ministry in the local church and community for most of her life. She was ordained after completing seminary while serving as an associate with three Baptist pastors and went on to serve as associate and senior pastor in The United Methodist Church. Even though most of her training and service as an adult has been in The United Methodist Church, her childhood years were spent equally divided between three denominations (Methodist, Baptist and Catholic).

She has always been drawn to teaching and helping people, so, naturally using her gifts of teaching and counseling have been dominant in her life. She has offered courses in Christian care and counseling and Bible studies for children, teens, young adults, middle adults and senior adults, reaching all developmental stages of life. She has also offered courses on God’s purpose for the family and prayer retreats, providing time and guidance for those times when we need to go to a quiet place and spend time alone with God. Her prayer is that we can study and continue to develop additional skills and a basic knowledge of how we can use the Bible to help people live better lives.

She is the mother of one daughter in business and one granddaughter. She loves teaching Disciple Bible Studies, serving on the Scholarship Committee, Nursing Home Ministry, St. Stephens Food Pantry and helping wherever she is needed in her church and community. When relaxing she loves reading, crocheting and watching Houston’s #1 sports teams (Texans, Rockets and Astros) and helping people.