What happened when Tomás and Anna tasted the transformative power of God’s Word—and the joy of being conformed to the image of Christ? Well, it’s only the beginning of a Story in which “every chapter is better than the one before.” [1] [2]
CHAPTER 1: The Worst Chapter
When Tomás and Anna, a believing couple in the Czech Republic, encountered serious difficulties in their marriage, they knew they needed help. They decided to see a Christian psychologist, but—providentially—the psychologist wasn’t available. Out of desperation, and not quite knowing what to expect, they turned to a “biblical counselor” connected with the Czech Bible Institute (CBI).
CHAPTER 2: The First Taste of Joy
This counselor approached their case with a firm conviction: Properly understood, and obeyed through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God could transform their lives—and their marriage. The counselor helped Tomás and Anna understand how God’s sufficient, authoritative Word applied to their situation. From day one, he emphasized that their primary motive for all they do, including change, must be the glory of God.
This “biblical counseling” was completely new to Tomás and Anna, but they couldn’t deny: It was powerful. Puzzled by the fact that they’d never encountered this approach before, Tomás asked the CBI staff member, “Is there anyone else in this country who counsels like this?”
As a result of the basic presentation of God’s Word, they experienced a significant breakthrough in the very first session. This “biblical counseling” was completely new to Tomás and Anna, but they couldn’t deny: It was powerful. Puzzled by the fact that they’d never encountered this approach before, Tomás asked the CBI staff member, “Is there anyone else in this country who counsels like this?”
The answer, of course, was “yes.” Not only that; the Czech Bible Institute is training more and more counselors each year in their Biblical Counseling program. Students at CBI are taught that Scripture is the final, authoritative guide for life and all Christian ministry—whether that ministry takes place in public (like preaching) or in private (like counseling).
CHAPTER 3: The Impossible-to-Keep-to-Yourself Transformation
After several months of continued biblical counseling, Tomás and Anna repented of their sins against the Lord and against one another, and by God’s grace they experienced the full restoration of their marriage. They became a profound testimony of the power of God’s Word to transform hearts and minds. In fact, they began regularly counseling others!
The difference in them was so striking that people couldn’t help but notice. Many members of the church were amazed by the miraculous change, but one man in particular, named Radek, was captivated by this stunning evidence of the Bible’s sufficiency and power.
CHAPTER 4: The Hunger for More Training . . . And More Joy
Having witnessed Tomás and Anna’s tremendous growth in godliness, Radek needed to know more: “What did you do to help them?” he asked the counselor. “What steps did you go through to help them? What method did you use? I want to do the same thing; please send me resources!”
The Czech Bible Institute provided Radek with materials on biblical counseling, and even helped put on a marriage conference at the church. Since then, Radek and three other members from Tomás and Anna’s church have completed CBI’s Bible Survey program and are now halfway to graduating from the Biblical Counseling program.
Still, Radek is hungry to learn more. He’s interested in joining the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and is even considering enrollment in a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program in 2020.
Above: Radek and his wife both study biblical counseling at CBI
CHAPTER 5: The Best Chapter Yet
As a result of their training at CBI, Radek and his fellow students are already skillfully applying the truth of God’s infallible Word to others. Their counselees are experiencing the same kind of miraculous transformations as Tomás and Anna—and tasting the same joy of being conformed to the image of Christ. And who knows how many more will share Radek’s hunger for God’s sufficient, satisfying Word?
“As people become more conformed to the image of Christ, their joy increases,” explains Dr. Jonathan Moorhead, professor at CBI. “Then they want to study to learn more; as they learn even more, their joy increases even more. Then they want to train people in their churches to experience what they’ve experienced, and their joy increases too.”
And this is a Story that may never end. Dr. Moorhead continues, “We will never exhaust the knowledge of God; so throughout all of eternity we are learning and learning, and the more we learn throughout eternity, the more our joy increases.”
“As people become more conformed to the image of Christ, their joy increases. Then they want to study to learn more; as they learn even more, their joy increases even more. Then they want to train people in their churches to experience what they’ve experienced, and their joy increases too.”
Or, as C.S. Lewis once put it, “Joy [will be] the serious business of Heaven.”[3]
But until then, we invite you to help write the next joy-filled chapter. This autumn, hundreds of incoming students are hoping to begin their education in God’s all-sufficient Word, and we need your help in order to make this training available to them. When you help TMAI train church leaders like Radek, you’re helping minister biblical truth to struggling saints in a way that transforms lives, marriages, and even entire congregations! We know you praise the Lord for the marvelous work He’s doing in and through Tomás, Anna, and Radek. Please pray that God would continue to bless both the public and private ministry of His Word in the Czech Republic—all for His honor and glory, and for the joy of those who belong to Him.
