"I have taken this course (Course Two) and found out that my trust in the Lord and my faith was very weak.....it has given me a new perspective on life. I can now look at the scriptures and they seem real to me and I can apply them to my life. I really feel my relationship with God is closer and I understand it better."

 Geraldine, North Royalton, Ohio.

"I spent 30 some years with depression, "anxiety disorder", panic, emotional abuse, etc. Doctors said because this was related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that I would always be this way and need prescription drugs in order to function in life. I listen to them for nearly 16 years after I was diagnosed.
"I learned the hard way… I could have been delivered from (these problems) much sooner… God kept impressing upon me for many years Philippians 4:4-9. I kept going back to my so-called Christian doctor and telling him that these scriptures say to not be anxious. I was constantly told that this did not apply to me because I had physical issues. Scripture would not help me to overcome them.
"I found a wonderful Bible Counselor that agreed with what scripture said about anxiety and worry. God worked through this man to not only help me heal from the sin, but rescue me from the drug addiction."

Betsy I.

It has been my privilege to have Joe at Chardon Christian Fellowship on many occasions and I've never been disappointed. He is an excellent communicator of Biblical truth, who gives practical ways to live the Christian life.
His ministry stays true to the Scriptures and is refreshingly free from the psycho-babble so common among todays "Christian counselors". I encourage all of our people to take his "Basics of Biblical Counseling" courses.
My own personal life and lives of the people here at CCF have been greatly enriched through Joe's ministry. I can recommend Joe without reservation to any pastor who is looking for solid teaching and great equipping materials.

Wayne Sanders Pastor, Chardon Christian Fellowship

“I have learned that life’s problems can be solved from Genesis to Revelation.” Your courses have reinforced what I learn week after week from the pulpit. I am increasingly thankful for God’s word and the priority and dedication you hold to exalt it!

Diane Winston

Taking the BCI course was one of the most fruitful experiences I have had in my walk with the Lord. The instruction given in Course I should be a requirement for every Christian! We all need to know the Biblical process of change as we all have things in our lives we need to change. We need to know why we do the things we do and how we can live the fruitful Christian life operating in the Spirit and not the flesh. I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to take this course. You will be changed!

Chris Canzurlo

"Prior to this class I wasn't exactly sure what this course would entail. I believed I would walk away with some good information to supplement my teaching and use "here and there" at home, however, I was very moved and convicted that has changed many aspects of my life both professionally and personally....

For the past several years I have taught many psychology classes and though I never subscribed to all the theorists, I found some relevancy in B. F. Skinner with regards to rewards and punishment as well as Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems and even a little of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, with respect to deficiency needs such as food, shelter and water. I have also worked as a school psychologist and found that when counseling other students I have totally separated God and scripture from students’ emotional and social problems and have looked to secular methods to help my students. My eyes have once again been opened during this course to the reality that people suffering with anger, emotional issues, etc., are actually results of matters of the heart. It is not that such individuals haven't struggled or dealt with troubling family issues or even abuse, but the fact is, that they can never truly heal without making their heart right with God. As I mentioned in a previous email to you, I have been convicted with the way I teach and practice as a professor and school psychologist. I am not sure where the Lord will lead me from here, but I know I can never go back to the way I counseled or taught psychology as I did before taking this course."

Wendi B., Cleveland

I wanted to spend a moment expressing once again my complete satisfaction in the conference you held this last weekend. I remember telling you that I was hanging on every word...so true! Many people who have gone through this training have felt and shared the same gratitude, I am sure. I cannot begin to covey how life changing and eye opening this experience was for my continued growth as a Christ follower. I was truly encouraged and inspired!.......Since this conference, my thirst has only grown. I want to know His Word and hlep others in their quest for truth. In the course of the weekend I discovered my life verse - Psalm 119:105, 'Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.' We are truly walking in a dark and fallen world. His grace has transformed my heart. The same heart that I now know is deceptive and cannot be trusted. Only Jesus can we depend on. "

Erica Lash, Angola, IN

Comments on Course Four: As I recall everyone who showed up for this course was a little apprehensive about the prospect of actual participation in various case studies, even those who had been through the course before. After all that’s why they were there, because they didn’t quite get it the first time. Hearing that didn’t exactly calm the rest of us.
As the day (and the case studies) went on I noticed something happening that I have to admit, I did not expect. Even though these were only case studies and this was pretend, I began to sense (and others too) the presence of the Holy Spirit. He was there to help, and to some degree, the case studies took on the persona of real cases. I understood the urgency of the problem, enjoyed the peace and calmness of His abiding presence, and was able to rest in the absolute authority of God’s Word for direction to handle these situations. It was exciting as I began to sense the freedom that only the Holy Spirit can bring. Instead of a nerve racking experience, it turned out to be a great class. Why? Because He showed up. He was there to help teach us the principles and techniques of counseling and to remind us that if we are faithful to reach out to others He is always ready to show up and help point the way. What did I learn? I experienced first hand one of the basic principles of counseling. He is the counselor and I am His helper. I am just the vessel He pours His presence, anointing, and counsel through. To God be “all” the glory!

-Dave Davis, Willoughby, Ohio

Joe Propri's "Parenting Put Simply Seminar" is biblical, practical, and life-changing. Christian parents are often tossed to and fro by every wind and wave of parenting opinions. Most of them are not biblical. PPSS will help anchor parents to the biblical principles of parenting and discern unbiblical cultural trends. As parents apply these biblical principles it will transform the atmosphere of their home. After hosting PPSS, I have observed clear changes in several of the families and their parenting. I have watched parents become consistent, loving, yet firm in their use of the rod in the lives of their children. I have even observed parents faithfully teaching their children after the pattern of Deuteronomy 6. I watched one parent teaching their 5 year old child the 4 G's of conflict resolution (from Ken Sande) in resolving a conflict with his 3 year old brother. It just about brought tears to my eyes. I expect the Holy Spirit to make the ripple effects of this seminar to go far and wide. I highly recommend PPSS. Pastors should consider hosting a seminar for their families. Counselors should find a way to attend this seminar. Parents must find a way to attend or purchase the curriculum on audio or video.

-Matt Mager, Pastor, Sovereign Grace Church, Youngstown Ohio

Course III changed my thoughts concerning the sin of physical abuse. One area of concern is women's shelters. I thought they served a good purpose. I still believe they are helpful in extreme emergencies for unbelievers and those without a church home. Nevertheless, for the Christian, who has a church home, shelters are not the answer. The course changed my thinking and rightly so. I  had bought into the secular way of dealing with a sin issue.....I dare say many churches today redirect the abused to seek help outside the local church...."
"Again, I stand amazed. What a shock, the Bible holds the answers to sin. People spend millions of dollars and untold numbers of hours, seeking help for problems that stem from sin....Many such approaches contain just enough Scripture or religious talk to seem safe or worse, Christian. There are "Christian" named counselors or "Christian" named methods that mix Christian ideas with secular approaches. These ideas and approaches detract from the sufficiency of Scripture.
  "I spent thousands of dollars and many days seeking such help from secular and "Christian" counselors. Early in my search for help, a counselor asked me what I thought would be most beneficial. I told him prayer. He agreed and allowed me to pray. After I finished he prayed. The difference - I sought God's help, but he prayed that I would understand his methods. His methods did not mention sin or sinful habit patterns. He never asked about prayer again. We never read Scripture and he claimed to be a Christian. I am not alone on such a journey."          
-Anderson B., Texas

Dear Pastor Propri,

I just wanted to thank you for your teaching about ADHD at the BCI Conference. I've learned some recently about Aspergers Syndrome and I believe that I was/am afflicted by this "dis-ease". Knowing that it is a behavioral disorder and not something they can look at under a micro-scope I read a lot about it and share many of the behavior traits. About a year ago I read Jay E. Adams book The Biblical view of Self-Esteem, Self-Love, Self Image, and that changed much of the way I behave. But it was what you said at the BCI conference that really hit home. Much of the behaviors within Aspergers are selfish behaviors. The overt shyness, the concentration on ONE subject and "sharing" that with anyone at any time to the point of their total boredom. Lack of eye contact, and especially the social awkwardness. These are selfish tendencies. While I can feel myself reverting back into my self on occasion, and I do likely have this syndrome, it is NO excuse for me to behave in a selfish manner. I need to make contacts with my friends [the people that call themselves my friends], I need to make eye contact with people and I especially need to listen to them instead of subjecting them to my whims and interests. At one point I realized, "Who am I that I should expect a person to cross a room to talk to me?" I know that I should be the one crossing rooms to talk to others.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you. I so appreciated that one major thing. It meant a lot to me and has really helped me.

Sincerely, Karen B., Ohio

"I have found this (Course Six - Parenting Put Simply) one of the most informational courses I have ever taken in my entire life. As a Christian, a Certified Family Life Educator and a previous facilitator of many parenting classes, I have never heard such comforting and awesome content for a parenting class as that which was presented at this course...

"I never ever would of thought of the whole sin nature as a terminal illness, and if only I would have, how differently I would have parented. For if either of my children would have had a terminal illness, I would have done everything to try and find the cure and take them where they needed to go to treat the disease. As a non-Christian parent, I didn't not only think of their sin nature as a terminal illness, but I didn't know the treatment (for it)....How powerful this was to me....

"THIS ENTIRE COURSE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST COURSES I HAVE EVER TAKEN AND I THANK BCI FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ALL OF THESE LIFE LESSONS BASED ON MY HEAVENLY FATHER'S WORD."

-Brenda Scott, Cortand, OH