Philosophy and Confidentiality Statement

Our Purpose
LHWE desires to glorify God by seeking to win non-believers to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and by edifying believers to live in obedience to God's Word, the Bible.

Our Premise
LHWE believes the Bible is a complete and final revelation from God in written form, without error in its original autographs, and completely sufficient for all matters of life, faith, and practice. The only counseling we provide is biblical counseling. LHWE does encourage professional therapies, or professional counseling when necessary. We do not recommend any professional counselors who are not believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, however we understand that individuals have that choice and we will not stop or deter any individual in seeing a secular licensed therapist.   

Our Policies
1. LHWE begins and ends each counseling session with prayer. Our dependency is upon the Lord for both the counselor and the person seeking counsel (Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 6:18; 1 John 5:14-15).

2. LHWE desires that men counsel men and women counsel women as the Bible urges us to do (Titus 2:1-10). We have no desire to develop emotional dependency or create an environment that might lead to moral indiscretion (1 Timothy 5:1-2). When more than one person is a part of the counseling process with the counselor or when the counseling takes place in public view, exceptions are made.

3. LHWE does not charge a fee for our ministry or counseling.

4. LHWE does not guarantee or make promises of success that are not clearly taught in the Bible.

5. LHWE believes that marriage is a lifelong commitment, but acknowledge that the Bible allows for divorce on the basis of two situations:
- Sexual immorality (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9).
- Willing departure of an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).

6. LHWE also believes that forgiving your marital partner upon confession and repentance is the better way of dealing with marital difficulties than seeking a divorce (Luke 17:3-4; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 2:12-14). We believe that remarriage should occur only after one of the following things has taken place:
- Death of a former spouse (Romans 7:1-3; 1 Corinithians 7:39).
- Divorce based on one of the two above-stated situations (Matthew 5:31-32; 1 Corinthians 7:15).
- Remarriage of a former spouse to another person (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).

7. When divorce or remarriage has occurred without Biblical reason, we urge confession and repentance, believing in God's grace, love, forgiveness, and healing. We do not encourage couples to break up existing marriages in order to correct a previous sinful and selfish action (Proverbs 28:13; Romans 5:20).

8. LHWE counseling will focus on WHAT has taken place, rather than on WHY it occurred (Jeremiah 17:9-10; 1 Corinthians 4:5).

9. LHWE does NOT counsel people to love themselves, but rather to deny themselves. The Bible teaches that we already do love ourselves, and that we need to concentrate on loving and serving God first, and others second (Deuteronomy 10:20-21; Joshua 24:14-15; Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 9:23; Ephesians 5:29).

10. LHWE believes that parents are responsible for the discipline and instruction of their children in the way of the Lord. We also urge children and young people to honor their parents and be obedient to them (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20-21).

11. LHWE believes that discipline of children should be done as the Bible teaches, in love, not anger. We do not condone physical abuse of children and are required to report such cases to the civil authorities if they are brought to our attention with evidence substantiating it (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18, 29; 22:15; 23:13-14; 26:3; 29:15, 17; Ephesians 6:4).

12. LHWE does not encourage or insist that an abused adult or child remain in the home where physical abuse occurs. It is LHWE policy to confront the abuser (Matthew 5:25; 18:15-17; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:4, 12, 14).

13. LHWE does not recommend or condone abortion, suicide, euthanasia, or any method of taking human life. We believe that human life begins at conception and is sacred (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16).

14. LHWE believes that the use of pornographic material (films, videos, books, magazines, or pictures) is sinful and should be avoided (Matthew 5:28-29; Mark 4:24; Philippians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:22).

15. LHWE believes that alcohol and drug abuse is condemned in the Bible and causes physical, spiritual, and emotional damage to the individual who is addicted. LHWE seeks in our counsel to warn those involved in such substance abuse of the dangers involved (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 5:18).

16. LHWE believes that the physical body of the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we encourage believers to avoid habits which are known to be harmful to the body, such as the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, gluttony, etc.

17. LHWE believes that the Bible urges believers to live without financial debt and to pay financial obligations when they are due. We believe that people are in debt when their liabilities exceed their assets and when their expenditures exceed their income. LHWE also believes that the love of money and the desire to be rich leads to many sorrows, sinful attitudes and practices. We are urged in the Bible to help fellow believers who are in financial need, and not to charge them interest on monies loaned to them to help in their time of need. However we also recognize that not all financial needs are best met by simply giving monetary aid (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-38; Luke 18:18-30; Romans 13:7-8; 1 Timothy 5:8; 6:6-10).

18. LHWE believes that a portion of one's income should be given to the Lord as an act of worship and as a desire to support His work in this world. (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Psalm 96:8-9; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15). LHWE believes God owns all we have and we are required to be faithful stewards (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 12:42-44; 1 Corinthians 4:2).

19. LHWE believes that confession of sin and repentance (turning from sin to God, and obedience to His Word) are essential in dealing with sinful attitudes and behavior (Proverbs 28:9, 13; Luke 17:3-4; 1 Corinthians 7:9-11).

LHWE Confidentiality Statement

LHWE is very sensitive to the issue of confidentiality. Confidentiality is crucial to an effective and trusting counseling relationship. The Bible repeatedly warns against gossip and indicates that trustworthy persons keep a confidence. To release counseling information without your consent would violate both commonly accepted codes of counseling ethics and biblical standards.

There are three situations, however, where it may be necessary for LHWE to share certain information with others.

By agreeing to this agreement you authorize LHWE to share information with others in the following circumstances:

1. When there is clear indication that someone may be harmed.
 Adult and Domestic Abuse: If LHWE has reasonable cause to believe that an adult is in need of protective services (regarding abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment), we may report such to the local agency which provides protective services.

2. Serious threat to Health or Safety: If you express a serious threat, or intent to kill or seriously injure an identified or readily identifiable person or group of people, and we determine that you are likely to carry out the threat. We must take reasonable measures to prevent harm. Reasonable measures may include directly advising the potential victim of the threat or intent.

3. When a child is being sexually or physically victimized
Child Abuse: If LHWE has reasonable cause, on the basis of LHWE’s professional judgment, to suspect abuse of children with whom LHWE comes into contact in our professional capacity, we are required by law to report this to the local law enforcement agencies.

All individuals seeking counseling services from LHWE understand and agree with the following statements:

1. Pastor Matthew C. Manning, counselor, is neither psychological nor a medical professional. It is a policy for LHWE to not charge for the counseling time and after-hour crisis calls. Many of times we have received donations from clients for the Ministry work to help others that are less fortunate.  This Counseling Ministry is strictly a voluntary counseling ministry only. Please think of those who are less fortunate and are not covered by insurance who take advantage of our services. The greatest gift you could give us is your prayers and support. 

2. The stated Confidentiality agreement will be maintained that has been submitted to you in writing. Biblical Ethic’s will be practiced and honored.    

3. Your initial counseling session will be for evaluation purposes giving opportunity for you and for the counselor(s) to evaluate whether or not continued counseling will be the best course of action to meet your needs and achieve the goals of spiritual growth and healing.

4. Counseling offered by Pastor Matthew C. Manning is based upon biblical perspectives derived from the Holy Bible and how to apply the Word of God to your daily life in a practical, as well as spiritual, manner. The goal of all the counseling will be to create new paths of rational thinking.

5. The goal of this counseling ministry is not to create a dependency upon Christian counseling, but to help you grow spiritually and become free through the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ and to have life more abundantly according John 10:10.

 

LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc. Counseling Services

 

 

 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED BIBLICIAL COUNSELING FOR EMOTIONAL HEALING?

1. Are you still trying to forget the feelings?
2. Do you still react when the subject is brought up?
3. Do you avoid things that remind you of it?
4. Are you depressed at certain times of the year?
5. Are you still resentful and unforgiving?
6. Is your lifestyle one that could lead to hurt again?
7. Have your relationships become less healthy?
8. Are you using food, alcohol or drugs to cover pain?
9. Do you often have flashback memories of past events?
10. Do you feel empty, angry, guilty or shamed?
11. Have you stopped growing emotionally since then?
12. Do you look at life as before or after _____ ?
13. Are you still keeping it a secret?  Or telling too much?
14. Are you performing to prove that you are OK?
15. Has God felt distant since then?

If you have done all you know to do and have not gotten the healing and restoration that you need, you might benefit from:

• Sharing in a confidential healing group with others that are in the healing process
• Share in a confidential LHWE Biblical Counseling Session with a LHWE Biblical Counselor
• Participate in the Finding Your Identity In Christ Seminar

 

• Contact Us About Making a Biblical Counseling Appointment

LHWE CLIENT AGREEMENT

When asking for Biblical counseling assistance, advice, or coaching on a personal problem, and because of the nature of this type of counseling, the individual may not provide all information to us. This prevents us from providing the Client with maximum effectiveness. You as the Client agree that using any or every part of LHWE services is entirely at your own risk. Biblical Counseling Services and Coaching by Matthew C. Manning are provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation any warranty for information services, counseling, uninterrupted access, or products and services provided through or in connection with the service. This service is requested at the Client’s own choice and with inherent singular responsibility. The Client agrees that the use of all, or part, of the service is entirely at the user’s own risk. Any actions or lack of actions, taken by the recipient of such advice is done so solely by choice and responsibility of the recipient and is neither the responsibility nor liability of the Pastor, Counselor, nor coach. These LHWE services are not meant to be a substitute for clinical or psychological counseling or treatment for suicidal ideation, or severe psychiatric problems. LHWE service is an excellent way to gather individualized information by which decisions can be made. No assumption of responsibility is made, or given, and the party requesting such advice agrees not to hold the pastor, counselor, or the coach responsible or liable in any form or fashion, for such actions taken of their own accord.  The method and process by which this advice and direction are given in no way would constitute an agreement or liability.