Spring 2009 President’s Report

Dear Colleague:

I don’t know about you, but I just can’t believe we are full stride in the New Year already. With the challenging economy, unrest in the Middle East, and the transitions taking place here at home, I almost laughed out loud when I overheard someone optimistically say, "Everything will be just fine in 2009." But then I smiled because it’s the way I like to live my life — "on the up."

As we move full force into 2009, let’s pray for God’s clear leading, protection, and blessings. Let’s come to Him with a "spirit of expectation" this year. He is still on the throne and it is a wonderful time to be in the "HOPE" business.

In this President’s update, I want to review in no particular order some of the wonderful accomplishments of 2008, share some of our leadership and personnel additions, and take a look forward to 2009.

1. 2009 AACC "Grace and Truth" World Conference on record pace: The December 31st report showed that registrations were already 30% ahead of the "sellout" pace for the 2007 World Conference. Keynote speakers this year include Christian leaders like Chuck Colson, Jim Cymbala, Joni Eareckson Tada, John Piper, Richard Foster, John Ortberg, Ed Young, Jr., along with special musical guests, Charles Billingsley, Point of Grace, Mandisa, comedians Chonda Pierce and Tim Hawkins, and an army of Christian counseling leaders from all over America and around the world. If you haven’t made your Opryland Hotel reservations for September 16-19, I encourage you to do so now. You can make your reservations online by clicking here, or the direct line to the Opryland is 1-888-777-6779, and be sure to ask for the special discounted AACC rate. Over 8,000 room nights are already booked and I anticipate that the Opryland Hotel could be "sold out" very soon. In 2007, we had guests in 10 overflow hotel properties. This AACC World Conference already promises to be the best ever. If you can only go to one event this year, come to Nashville. While I can’t promise everything, I do know you won’t be disappointed. Don’t miss this one!

2. The 2009 Grace and Truth ‘’Call for Papers" was a resounding success. The "Call for Papers" deadline was January 5th and the response for the "Grace and Truth" World Conference was simply amazing. More than 500 academic, pastoral, research and clinically based proposals were submitted… well over the total number received in 2007. Our Track Leaders and Coordinators will be making their selections soon and the entire slate of workshops will be announced by April 1st.
3. On Mission—Keeping AACC Membership Our Core Focus: Our membership has held strong and continues to hover around 50,000 active members annually, making AACC one of the largest mental health organizations in the world. Our executive team has been working tirelessly to develop and execute a new membership growth and development strategy with a goal of increasing membership to more than 100,000 over the next five years. I am pleased to announce that Andy Barrick (formerly Director of Alumni Services at Liberty University) has been retained as the new AACC Director of Member Relations. He has been tasked with member services, prospecting, renewals, and increasing member benefits and satisfaction. Please welcome Andy (Andy@AACC.net) and feel free to share your ideas and thoughts.
4. Light University ONLINE Adding More Courses: August 1st was a historical day for Light University. Four core counseling courses launched ONLINE with fully integrated video, featuring what I believe is one of the best faculties in the world. That’s significant because most online programs don’t offer the core of the course as video-based, so often the passion and expertise of the professor is lost. Since August, we have seen enrollment continue to climb. This new transition to ONLINE education opens the door to reaching our mission of training one million leaders worldwide. Over 130,000 individuals have enrolled in Light University now. Watch for our new programs on addiction and recovery, pre-marital counseling, life coaching specializations and more. To learn more, check out www.LightUniversity.com.

5. Continuing Education and Professional Development to be Available through Light University: Watch early this year for the release of all continuing education programs ONLINE 24/7. If you need continuing education for professional development, certification, or state licensure, you can study at home or the office at your convenience.
6. Combat Stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Professional Training Set for Release: AACC is pleased to team up with the Military Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ to produce two versions of a new training program for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Care and Counsel for Combat Stress is tailored to the military and their families. Featuring an incredible lineup of counseling and post traumatic stress experts, the curriculum is one of the finest programs available today. Designed for counselors and chaplains, students will earn a certificate of completion and continuing education credits.
 
7. Monthly "Around the AACC in 90 seconds" Highlight Reel to Continue: Each month we will post on www.AACC.net a video update and e-blast it to our entire e-mail list. Carefully crafted, each video will feature some of the latest in member benefits, insights, news, resources, and services.
 
8. National AACC Headquarters Expanding: Our goal last year was to firmly establish a home for the AACC that would offer the technological and media support for 21st century ministry impact. I am pleased to announce that the AACC headquarters moved to our new location in Forest, Virginia, in November. Expanding from 8,000 to 30,000 square feet of office and warehouse space at InService America, we have localized our entire team and warehousing. In this newly constructed leased space, we have a "smart classrooms" for professional on-site trainings, a complete television and recording studio, increased phone and Internet capabilities, and more. This carefully designed progressive step allows us to continue to expand the reach and scope of the good work God has called us to. We will also continue to push toward the development of our own national campus in the near future.
9. International Board of Christian Counselors (IBCC) Gaining Momentum: Nearly 3,000 counselors are now nationally certified through the IBCC according to Executive Director, Dr. Eric Scalise. Because of the extraordinary growth, Dr. Ken Nichols has been retained as Associate Director to help lead this organization. Ken was formerly the Dean of Behavioral Sciences for Southern California Seminary, where he taught at the master and doctoral levels. He also served as Associate Pastor for Family Ministries at Shadow Mountain Community Church with Dr. David Jeremiah in El Cajon, California. Board certified credentials are being offered for professionals, pastors, and lay helpers. Don’t miss your opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this important movement in Christian counseling.
10. Extraordinary Women (EW) Conferences and Ministry Reaching National Prominence: In 2008, EW had its best lineup of speakers ever and held 14 events all over America, including a national simulcast. The pace only escalates in 2009 with 18 events including: Tampa, Tulsa, Greenville, High Point, Baton Rouge, Pensacola, Johnson City, Birmingham, Houston, Raytown, Roanoke, Ft. Wayne, Ypsilanti, Columbus, Seattle, Rockford, Jackson, and Charleston. The EW leadership team is pleased to announce that in addition to the carefully designed platform messages to encourage and minister to women, counseling-related preconference workshops focusing on relationships, emotions, sex, and a deeper faith are also being added. Counseling experts Diane Langberg, Mark and Debra Laaser, Cliff and Joyce Penner, Sharon Morris May, Catherine Hart Weber, and many more will lead the way. Pray for God to do a powerful work in our midst. You can learn more at www.EWomen.net.
11. Advocacy Plan and Leadership Team being Developed: The interplay of culture, faith, and government is of crucial importance in our society today. Every major mental health organization in America is involved in protecting or, in some cases, limiting our freedoms— including, but not limited to, access to mental health care, civil rights, values, and more. We have been challenged by our colleagues to develop and implement an effective strategy to influence the Church, state, and the greater world community in these areas and intend to do so. Under the direction and leadership of Liberty Counsel leaders, Mat and Anita Staver, we will launch our first efforts this year.
12. Grief, Crisis and Trauma Response Training and Mobilization Plans being Solidified: Our mission to date has focused on training, educating, equipping, resourcing and mobilizing an army of faith-based "first responders" when tragedy of any sort arises nationally and internationally. AACC has professionally trained over 10,000 leaders in Crisis Response. We are working now with national and international organizations to further develop a more effective faith-based Crisis Response and mobilization program. AACC helped lead the "faith-based" way in numerous situations over the past few years including 9-11, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and more.
13. eCounseling.com Project Exploding into the Fabric of Everyday Life for those Seeking Christ-centered Care and Counseling: Packed full of professional faith-based mental health information, insight, inspiration, and access to Christ-centered care, eCounseling.com is quickly becoming the portal for Christian help worldwide. If you are a state licensed mental health provider or a small group leader, you need to be a part of this incredible outreach. Visit www.ecounseling.com to find out how to get started today… with your first year membership absolutely free. At eCounseling.com, you will find topics like depression, anxiety, and affairs addressed, as well as short and long feature video on each topic from some of the world’s leading experts. In addition, recommended resources and services are provided, including access to small groups and Christian counselors from around the world.

14. WildFire Weekend for Men Expands to Six Cities: Last October 10-11th, we launched our first effort to reach out to men through Wildfire Weekend (www.Wildfireweekend.com). Featuring special guests, Rick Hendrick, Chairman and CEO of the powerful Hendrick Motorsports; Fox commentator and three-time NASCAR champion, Darrell Waltrip; Bishop Wellington Boone, pastor and AACC Chaplain; former Major League Baseball player, Dave Dravecky; and a host of professional athletes and men’s ministry leaders, over 4,000 guys showed up. Stunned by the encouraging response, Team Wildfire is finalizing six different locations this year.
15. Teen Mania Relationship Continues: Ron Luce, Founder of Teen Mania and the Acquire the Fire conferences all over America, cares about today’s generation, especially the issues of their hearts. I am very pleased to announce that we will continue to share in Ron’s mission to reach out to teens and youth leaders across America. AACC’s Joshua Straub travels almost every weekend with Teen Mania speaking on behalf of the Christian counseling movement. As a result, nearly 3,000 youth leaders became members of AACC last year.



16. Live 2 Love Cruise Set to Sail Again in October 2010: More than 500 AACC members and friends set sail on the first ever AACC/Premier Live 2 Love cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel last October on Carnival® Cruise Lines. Attendees enjoyed praise and worship, comedy, times of romance, rest and relaxation, great food, incredible sights and earned continuing education while on board. The response from attendees was so positive that we have booked New York Times best-selling author, Gary Chapman (The Five Love Languages), along with other leading marriage and family experts. Make plans now to join us in October 2010 to learn, relax, and enjoy an incredible time together.




17. AACC Foundation to Grant $50,000 in Student Scholarships in 2009-10 Academic Year: Our primary mission through the foundation is to advance the cause and reach of Christian counseling both here in America and also around the world. A number of primary issues include: research and scholarship, crisis training and response efforts to natural disasters and acts of terror, offering student scholarships, resource development, and making counselor training programs available to those who can’t afford it (especially nationals in third-world countries). AACC must also become a champion for more global issues, such as sex trafficking, the AIDS pandemic, and the persecuted Church. I am pleased to announce that we will grant $50,000 for student academic scholarships and Student Chapter development during the 2009-10 academic year. Eric Scalise, Vice President for Professional Development is spearheading this new initiative.
18. Project Rwanda Underway: In May 2009, our executive team will travel to Rwanda, a country traumatized by genocide, to listen and learn from the people. Led by AACC Board Chairperson, Dr. Diane Langberg, the ultimate goal over the next several years will be to teach, train, establish counseling ministries, and provide support and resources to counselors, pastors, educators, and the medical community as they struggle to assist a traumatized population. Our hope is that Project Rwanda will become a pilot program that can be replicated in other developing countries around the world.



19. AACC Publishing and Resource Division: Very few important and needed counseling-related books get published anymore. After much discussion and preparation, we are excited to announce a new series of workbooks, pamphlets, and professional books that are in progress. The first should release in 2009 in time for the World Conference.
20. "Counseltalk" Professional Audio and Online Trainings to Begin Spring 2009: To help keep our membership abreast of new developments and trends in an economical fashion, we are moving to monthly clinical trainings featuring leading experts "live" via teleconferencing and/or online. Our team is really excited to be able to bring the "best of the best" right to your front step. Look for these events coming your way soon.
21. Increased Leadership with Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend: Our primary mission is to help champion a robust counseling movement that is biblically sound, theologically solid and clinically excellent. It is an honor to announce the addition of noted clinical psychologists and best-selling authors to AACC, Dr. Henry Cloud—Leadership Director and Dr. John Townsend—Clinical Director. God is continuing to bring together an incredible team of Godly men and women to help solidify and shape the future of the AACC and Christian counseling.

           

22. Child Sponsorship Programs Reach Over 6,000 Kids: Without question, one of the most significant AACC efforts to date has been our excellent partnerships. We have secured approximately 6,000 monthly sponsors for children around the world. That’s over two million dollars a year from the AACC family being donated to needy children all over the world.

While so much is happening in and through the AACC, we haven’t forgotten about you. AACC exists for, and because of, you… our members. Please know of our prayer for, and over, you every day. God is doing a good work in and through the AACC. I still believe our best days are ahead of us.

"May the Lord’s face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you" (Numbers 6:25).

Warmly,

Tim Clinton, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, BCPCC
President
American Association of Christian Counselors

Nearly 50,000 Members and Growing Stronger Every Day!