Church-Connect Initiative

Here at IBCC, we believe in the importance of the Local Church. This God-ordained entity is important for three reasons:

• It is God's designed source of help for hurting people.

• It is God's designed source of spiritual protection.

• It is God's designed source for proper follow-up and accountability.

As an extension of the local church ministry, IBCC is an organization dedicated to assisting local churches in a twofold capacity. First, we desire to assist in a counseling capacity by offering our services to pastors who feel inadequate or unsure of how to meet the counseling demands of certain situations within their congregations. It is always our goal in the counseling process to ultimately direct people back to their local church leaders for accountability and support after receiving biblical help at IBCC.

Second, we desire to assist churches in the capacity of training pastors and laymen to be effective counselors in their own scope of ministry and influence.  It is not our desire to replace the counseling role of pastors and lay workers in the local church, but to encourage and strengthen that role by equipping those with a heart for helping hurting people with a clearer understanding of how to meet the challenging counseling issues of our day with clear, Bible answers.

The Church-Connect Concept
The concept behind IBCC connecting with and assisting local churches can be illustrated in the following steps.

Step 1: A church leader or member seeks spiritual help from IBCC.

Step 2: IBCC provides practical discipleship counseling based on biblical principles.

Step 3: The church leader or member is helped, and in turn, implements the truths s/he learned in the scope of his/her local church (i.e. through Bible studies, small group fellowships, discipleship counseling ministry, etc.)

Step 4: The Local Church refers other members needing specialized counseling to IBCC along with a "support person."

Step 5: In the process of sitting in the counseling sessions with the counselee and the IBCC counselor, the "support person" receives practical training in counseling, and is equipped to continue the discipleship process with the counselee outside the IBCC counseling office on a daily/weekly basis.

Upcoming Church-Connect Luncheons
Once a month, IBCC organizes a Church-Connect Luncheon at our office for pastors and lay workers in Indianapolis and the surrounding vicinity. The purpose of these luncheons is to give us an opportunity to meet the church leaders in our area, and to introduce them to the ministry of IBCC. At each luncheon, Rev. Jeff Pokone features a different counseling need and provides practical insight and direction on how to counsel that need. With over twenty years of counseling experience helping people find lasting, Biblical solutions, Rev. Jeff Pokone provides much insight and wisdom in this important area of ministry.

Over thirty churches, ministries, and lay workers are currently a part of our Church-Connect Initiative. Those who are a part of this Initiative are given special priority in the following areas:

• Counseling for referrals from participating churches

• Invitation to our monthly luncheon for training and discussion

• Church training, seminars, and consultation

• Prayer partner opportunities at our local counseling office

To become a part of our Church-Connect Initiative, simply contact our office by phone or email, indicating your interest. We would count it a privilege to partner with you and serve you in any way possible.