Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church
"Planting, Growing, Harvesting Together"
Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church
"Planting, Growing, Harvesting Together"
About Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church's Biblical Counseling?
Are you struggling to make life work? Are things not turning out quite the way you expected them to turn out? When you look at your life and relationships do you think, “This can’t be my life?” Or maybe you or someone you know has said:
“How do I manage my emotions?”
“I can’t quite seem to get over this issue in the past”
“I could really use some parenting help!”
“I could really use some marital help!”
“I am a dad who just can’t seem to connect to my daughter.”
“My child seems to have ADD. What do I do now?”
“I know God has forgiven me for ___________________________; however I just can’t seem to forgive myself.”
“I really struggle with anxiety”
“What do I do with the bouts of depression?”
“I can’t seem to get my anger under control.”
“I have been diagnosed with (bipolar, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, PTSD, Autism, Self-injury, Anorexia, OCD). Does the Bible really have something to say about this?”
“I have experienced sexual abuse. How can I move towards forgiveness and peace?”
“I am addicted to pornography. Can I really experience victory?”
“I am ready to be set free from this addiction.”
“I am experiencing same-sex attraction. Can the church really help? I have tried to ‘pray the gay away’ and that has not worked at all. Can the Bible and the church offer something more?"
“I just can’t see get along with _______________________. Is it me? Or is this just my thorn in the flesh?”
“I have experienced painful rejection and I just don’t want to go through that again.”
“When I was younger, I ___________________________, and I just can’t move past the guilt.”
“I have so many questions about my faith. I am just not sure if God really exists or if the Bible is really for me.”
“My mother-in-law and I just can’t seem to get on the same page.”
“I am experiencing unbearable grief at the loss of my ___________________________. Hope and God seem a million miles away.”
“Sometimes life is just too hard and everybody would be better if I just killed myself.”
“It’s really hard to see my parents age and their care is really wearing me down but I don’t know what else to do.”
“My spouse is a cheater. I can’t trust him/her. I just don’t think it’s worth trying to work this out.”
“I am single and have a libido that is on overdrive. Certainly God understands if I have need to take care of it.”
“I can’t seem to get my weight under control.”
“I am a step-parent. Now what?”
“I can’t seem to get pregnant and that’s all I ever wanted…to be a mom.”
“My kids are teenagers…teenagers!”
“What do I with my retirement years?”
“I just can’t seem to get the finances under control.”
We live in a fallen world and sometimes it falls on us. When it falls on us, it’s normal to experience hurt; it’s normal to feel pain.
The Church over the last 50 plus years has not the greatest job handing people who are suffering or struggling with sin. It has either referred suffering people to secular helpers who don’t know Jesus or His Word or it has taken an approach that says, “Take two of these verses and I will see you in the morning.” Before the advent of modern psychology the Church has always been in the business of caring for hurting souls. The Church stands today with thousands of years of experience is dealing with the cares of this world. We want to draw upon their legacy.
While it is normal to hurt, it is also possible to experience hope. Hope looks toward the future.
God’s Word not only provides real answers to life’s challenges, it also describes the process. The author of the book of Hebrews wrote, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1-3, ESV)
The cloud of witnesses are those who come along side you in your journey toward healing and growth. The community of faith at Pleasanton EFree serves in this role extremely well. They encourage, pray and help in practical ways those who are struggling. Your journey towards healing is not going to be a sprint in most cases. The author describes the journey this way, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The Greek word translated “race” is agona. This where our English word agony comes from. The journey toward healing is not a sprint, it is not really a marathon, it is probably closer to a triathlon—an Ironman Triathlon at that. But, the good news is there is a finish line, there is hope and you are not in this race alone.
We believe that that the complex problems we face in today’s world can only be rightly understood from a biblical perspective. God as our Creator has given us His Word (the Bible) as our final authority for understanding our problems and ourselves. God promises to help and bless those who obey Him; therefore, the one who seeks for and follows God’s answers will find hope and wisdom to respond to the problems of life. Our desire is to help you respond to your trials and suffering by offering you practical help through the ministry of Biblical Counseling.
What about Cost?
Biblical counseling is completely free, however you may be asked to purchase pertinent materials at your cost. If you are unable to cover the costs we offer scholarships on a case-by-case basis. We do accept donations to help us with these expenses.
Can I Help Defray the Costs?
Since biblical counseling is simply the ministry of sharing God’s Word we do not charge for our counsel. However, there are expenses in our ministry to maintain our facilities, cover costs for training and materials. These costs are currently covered by community of faith at Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church, as well as other faithful friends and supporters who stand with us through on-going prayers and financial support.
If you would consider joining our family of supporters (Galatians 6:6), we would gladly welcome your partnership in prayer and financial support, however you are under no obligation to do so.
Pleasanton EFree offers counseling to any individual (child, teen or adult), couple or family; however we may reserve the right to give priority to members and attendees of Pleasanton Evangelical Free Church.