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For some time, I have considered taking the Mastermind Training. From what Rick shares, I think it would provide more excellent teaching and transformation in my life. Rick has done an excellent job in explaining the program itself. I like how he restructured it into the Informational and Three Prerequisite portions before beginning the five Semester blocks. I desire to dive into this but am waiting upon the Lord concerning the months ahead and do not want to jump in prematurely.
I am blessed to have some wonderful “intentionally intrusive” people in my life! Several years ago, I received a certificate as a lay biblical counselor, and I agree with Rick as he discusses the idea of certification vs. transformation and gifting. The “Life Over Coffee” community has been a great blessing to me and those I share the podcasts with. Thank you for all your work! I have a question for those of you who have begun, or taken a portion of, or have completed the program:
- What would you say is a specific, practical benefit that you have received in your life by taking the MM program vs. interacting as I do, as a supporting member “student.”
- Did you begin the program with the primary idea of becoming a biblical counselor or engaging in the process of transformation, or with the understanding of both?
- I can see the great benefit of the community that engaging in the MM program would offer. Would you say that this sense of community would be experienced at the prerequisite level or more so in the five semester levels?
You may read and respond to this string on our forums, here.
From Amy
Hello Nancy! It’s nice to meet you. I’m a MM student and have been for about two years. I have ten kids, which keeps me busy, along with chickens and ducks, so I’ve been on the slow ride through the program, and I’m almost halfway through. So happy that you are considering the MM program. It’s really been life-changing and worth every penny. To answer your questions:
1 – What would you say is a specific, practical benefit that you have received in your life by taking the MM program vs. interacting as I do, as a supporting member “student.”
I started the program amid intense trials and suffering. I found that there was no real help for us in our situation within the church. They were not equipped to help us through these hard times, and they actually made things worse with their approach to soul care. Seeing that lack of ability encouraged me that someone needed to fill that gap. After reading “Suffering Well,” I thought diving deeper via MM would help me even more. When I understood the idea of biblical counseling being another term for discipleship, I jumped in with both feet. In my 50’s, I’m finally being discipled, and I’m thrilled.
2 – Did you begin the program with the primary idea of becoming a biblical counselor or engaging in the process of transformation, or with the understanding of both?
I entered the program with the idea of being open to serving as a biblical counselor if God opened those doors. But I would be satisfied to be a better wife, mother, friend, and congregant if that was His will for me. Transformation of ourselves is how we actually become wise and effective counselors in the MM program.
Without our own transformation, our counseling will be sub-par or even hurtful. I am happy to say that I’ve experienced healing, wonderful transformation, and just recently, when counseling a friend, I was told that I would do well in my counseling service. So we shall see what the future holds for me. I promise it would not be wasted time nor superfluous efforts.
3 – I can see the great benefit of the community that engaging in the MM program would offer. Would you say that this sense of community would be experienced at the prerequisite level, or more so in the 5-semester levels?
Perhaps someone else can speak to this one since I started long ago that I’m not sure the difference between those levels. What I can say is that you will get out of it what you put in. If you are motivated to engage and help build community, you will experience it and as deeply as you put in. So happy that you are considering the program! I hope to see you “around” – Amy
From John
Nancy,
Welcome, and thanks for taking the time to ask these questions. Very wise of you to consider carefully before jumping in. Good for you. Amy’s thoughts above ring true for a lot of us, well, except the ten kid part! Ha! We all entered a bit naively and adjusted the ‘desired outcome’ after being in the program for a while. Finally, I’ll be speaking for myself and another MM student, my wife (2 for 1).1 – What would you say is a specific, practical benefit that you have received in your life by taking the MM program vs. interacting as I do, as a supporting member “student.”
Opened eyes – to my life and then others. All situations (trials, suffering, disappointments, discouragements) come from some malfunction of our worship. This worship disorder may be known to us in some fashion, but learning to dig in and deal with it is a whole different matter. will peel back the layers of the shaping influences we have encountered in our lives and help us get to the root of the matter – first dealing with our own lives and learning how to help others.
2 – Did you begin the program with the primary idea of becoming a biblical counselor or engaging in the process of transformation, or with the understanding of both?
No, like Amy, I hoped to have an answer for those God brings into my life (Colossians 4:6). In his providence, God will bring folks before us with hardships of many natures. Before MM, I had little or no words of help (besides good old-fashioned behavior modification). Now, by the Lord’s grace, I’m able to have at least a starting point that will allow us to grow in the Lord as we identify some areas to apply God’s Word to their situation.
3 – I can see the great benefit of the community that engaging in the MM program would offer. Would you say that this sense of community would be experienced at the prerequisite level, or more so in the 5-semester levels?
The experience you gain in the 5-semester levels in answering forum posts and seeing other’s answers is vital to each participant’s growth (personally and community). Not only will you learn more, but it is also humbling to see how different Rick’s or another student’s reply can be different than yours. This builds experience in you, but also community within MM. Hope this helps, please let me know if you want me to elaborate on any thought. Blessings, JG (& wife)
From Cece
Nancy,
I completed the Mastermind program earlier this year. Like John, Kwifeathy, and Amy, I was unsure about becoming a certified counselor, but I wanted to be discipled and learn to disciple.The greatest benefit was my own growth in learning through the program. It has benefitted my marriage and my parenting as well. We are launching our children at this point, and I am so grateful that I learned to plant, water, and trust God with them. It has given me peace in some challenging trials. The last year has been a tremendous time for growth for my husband and me, and I credit MM with much of that.
I completed the older , but I would encourage you to use the student forums to be transparent about your struggles in the program and in life as you are working through the program. Truthfully, as Amy said, you will get out of it what you put into it. If you ask questions and interact, other students and the supervisors will be there for support, encouragement, and correction when needed. I was so grateful for Rick’s leadership as I went through the program.
It will be the hardest work you’ve ever done, but the rewards are truly great. I am currently discipling three women in my community. God has opened doors for that, and I am so honored to share what I learned. I’m using Rick’s book, Change Me, as a guiding text. I continue to reap the benefits of the training I received. I’m praying for you as you seek wisdom about entering the program. Thank you for your support of Rick’s ministry. We all benefit! —Cece
From Chad
Nancy,
You are showing tremendous wisdom with these questions you are asking. You’re off to a great start toward Mastermind!I’m a recent grad of Mastermind, taking nearly three years to finish. I want to zero in on your third question about community during Mastermind. You are 100 percent correct that the other students and supervisors here provide something that you can’t find anywhere else.
These are people that speak “your language” and have the same fire that you do. That is incredibly important. However, you can start your Mastermind Community even now, just in a different way than you were thinking. You already said you have wonderful “intentionally intrusive” people in your life. I recommend you pick two or three of those people and include them in your Mastermind journey even now as you dive into the prerequisites. For example, when I did my book assignments, there was a requirement to discuss my assignment with another person.
For me, I discussed the books with my wife, a pastoral resident from church, or a good friend from my community group. I knew that Mastermind wasn’t going to last forever, and I wanted to gather a group of people around me that understood the training I was doing and people I could be transparent with. And now that Mastermind is complete for me, I still have an ongoing relationship with these folks, and it is at a much deeper level because of all the assignments we’ve discussed over the years.
So yes, the /supervisors can take your training to the next level. But these folks will never know you the way people in your physical world can know you. So when you think about building your Mastermind Community, please keep your real-world people primary as you add in the students/supervisors for a season. —Chad
Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
