When one Apex pastor learned about N.C. Baptists' faith-based counseling resource, he found care that strengthened his marriage and his leadership. Here's why he believes more pastors need this support.
Jarred and Lauren Wiedenroth have led life groups for eight years. After serving as the Kids Pastor for four years, Jarred stepped into a new role as the Connections and Discipleship pastor at Apex Baptist Church in the last year. Lauren serves on North Carolina Baptists’ board of directors.
As leaders in ministry, the Wiedenroths have spent years pouring into others. When Jarred learned about a faith-based counseling benefit available to N.C. Baptist pastors, and after hearing friends mention it, the couple decided to pursue counseling as an avenue to process circumstances in their extended family.
The sessions ultimately strengthened their marriage and his leadership in ministry, and helped Jarred process parts of his past.
Prolonged stress is a reality for many pastors and church leaders. The weight of shepherding a congregation, caring for their families and navigating difficult situations can take a toll on mental health.
Recognizing this need, N.C. Baptists partnered with Global Counseling Network to offer faith-based counseling at no cost to eligible ministry leaders. Pastors and full-time church staff can access six free sessions with licensed Christian therapists through Global Counseling Network.
Since the program’s start in 2024, 84 individuals have been placed with counselors.
Wiedenroth shared what he discovered through the counseling process and why he believes other pastors should explore it too.
Q. How was the process of connecting with a counselor?
A. As soon as we submitted our first interest form, the process was very smooth. Our on-boarding specialist got us connected and set up with a few options of counselors that she felt were best for us in the season of life and ministry that we were in. Once we selected the counselor of our choice, she was able to help us put a date on the calendar to have our first session.
Q. What benefits did you experience through the process?
A. Originally, we thought that this would be a good avenue for Lauren and I to process some things with extended family members. We thought it would be good to get an outsider’s opinion on how to handle situations and our thoughts and emotions toward those things. We were also hoping for some advice as we navigated ministry, the balance of family, marriage and the church.
The pastor we spoke with had so much in common with us and our situations that we knew the Lord was helping us through this pastor. Overall, the counseling helped me work through some childhood and teen years things that I had not processed before. It helped our marriage with vulnerability and honest conversations after each session that we are able to build on to this day.
Q. How has counseling impacted your ministry leadership?
A. This counseling has helped me lead better in ministry through recognizing some things in my past that I had not dealt with, but was able to through these sessions. It has enabled me to be more open to others’ hurts and struggles, and in recognizing that our past can shape how and what we process in our current life. The pastor who counseled us taught me by his own examples how to deal with hard life situations. His example is one to be embodied to help others when Biblical counseling is needed.
Q. What would you tell other leaders considering counseling?
A. I would encourage any pastor or leader to take advantage of this benefit. It can be a stigma among pastors and staff that they aren’t the ones that need it; they are the ones that are supposed to be together enough to give it. It’s in those moments we probably need it the most. There isn’t anything wrong with having someone pouring into us and giving us Biblical counsel.
We are very grateful for the opportunity we had. We ended up extending our time with our counselor for a few additional sessions because we found it so helpful to us. It was worth it for us to invest in those additional sessions knowing it would continue to help us better minister to each other, to our family and to others.
Healthy pastors for healthy churches
The faith-based counseling benefit is made possible by the generous missions giving of N.C. Baptists through their local churches. Thanks to N.C. Baptists’ partnership with Global Counseling Network, eligible pastors, bivocational ministers, full-time church staff and associational leaders can access six free sessions with licensed Christian therapists at no cost.
The benefit includes:
- Matched pairing with counselors who affirm a Christian worldview
- Online counseling sessions for convenience and accessibility
- Family counseling options when needed
- No additional cost to participants
- The option to continue therapy beyond six sessions at personal cost
Only ministry leaders serving at N.C. Baptist-partnering churches and their families are eligible.
If you’re a pastor, church staff member or associational leader interested in exploring faith-based counseling, the process is simple:
- Complete an interest form
- Receive an intake questionnaire from N.C. Baptists
- Connect with Global Counseling Network
- Begin your sessions with a matched Christian counselor
To learn more or get started, email pastoralhealth@ncbaptist.org.
