Speak The Truth

Michael is joined with first-time guest Nathan “Jogging” Scroggins, who also highlights Soul Care Consulting International as an “operating system” for local-church discipleship along an intentional-to-intensive discipleship continuum. Nathan explains why Colossians is vital for resisting empty deceit and worldly philosophies and focuses on Colossians 3:15–4:6 about living a Christ-ruled life. Usi...

Michael interviews Bob from Biblicare about a church-focused counseling platform that supports the full counseling workflow from intake forms, scheduling, session notes, and homework to analysis, reporting, and ministry oversight. Bob shares his ministry and programming background, including work with a missions agency, and explains Biblicare’s origin after a seminary friend with a large church ne...

Michael interviews biblical counselor Shannon McCoy, who shares her current counseling season in South Carolina and her new role hosting shepherdpresspodcast.com. They discuss her emotions-track session on recognizing bitterness, defined as settled resentment formed when pain is rehearsed and judgment is retained rather than entrusted to God, drawing from Hebrews 12:15, Deuteronomy 29:18, James 3:...

Michael interviews Tim St. John about his “Freedom in Christ” session, “Building Churches that Honor and Protect,” concluding a hidden abuse track focused on identifying abuse in churches and then rebuilding healthy culture. Using a termite-damage metaphor, St. John explains that removing abuse isn’t enough; churches must reinstall “beams” like sound theology of suffering and identity in Christ to...

Michael interviews Kevin Dau, pastor for discipleship and counseling at Hespeler Baptist Church in Cambridge, Ontario, and a practicum instructor for Heritage College and Seminary’s master’s level biblical counseling certificate. Dau contrasts professional counseling with pastoral counseling, where caring becomes more personal and multifaceted because counselees are also part of church life, incre...

Mike welcomes Jeemin Moon to discuss an eschatological perspective on mental health, trauma, and resurrection hope. Moon shares updates about directing the biblical care and counseling studies program at Heritage College and Seminary, implementing ABC Level One (Equip to Counsel) for fourth-year students, and completing PhD comprehensive exams at Southern Seminary while writing a dissertation on a...

Recording on the road at the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition in Oakville, Ontario, Michael interviews biblical counselor Alysia Whiteside of Deep Roots Biblical Counseling. Whiteside shares her conversion in 2018, her interrupted plans to pursue medicine amid severe ulcerative colitis, multiple surgeries, and a permanent ileostomy, and how God redirected her into biblical counseling trainin...

On the Speak the Truth podcast recorded at the Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition conference, Michael interviews Matt King about his ministry Broomtree and his conference session on mental health in the church. King explains Broomtree’s growth, including increasing requests for counseling, conferences, and free online resources on topics like anxiety, marriage, and thought life, with a podcast...

Michael welcomes CCEF faculty member and counselor Mike Emlet, who has served at CCEF since 2001 and previously trained and worked in family medicine before attending Westminster Seminary. Emlet and the Michael discuss how mental health concerns have grown in prominence in the church, influenced by factors like the pandemic and social media, and why a biblical approach must be holistic, recognizin...

In this Speak the Truth podcast episode recorded at the 2026 Canadian Biblical Counseling Coalition conference on mental health in the church, Michael interviews Kevin Carson, pastor of Sunrise Church (planted in 2002 in Ozark, Missouri) and newly appointed executive director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition (three months into the role). Carson shares his background teaching biblical counselin...

Michael interviews Adam Westlake, a worship leader and biblical counselor, about using music and singing as a growth assignment in counseling. Westlake describes singing as “integrative work” that aligns what believers know and feel, citing Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5 on singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and discussing James’ connection between suffering, prayer, and cheerful singing...

Michael previews a 2026 “Understanding Emotions” track with track leader Brad Hambrick, focused on anger, bitterness, and pride. Hambrick shares his roles as pastor of counseling at The Summit Church and assistant professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and introduces the track team: Jeremy Pierre, Shannon MCCoy, and Andrew Dealy. The track aims to provide deep, practical biblical...

Michael interviews track leader Greg Wilson about the “Hidden Abuse” track at the ABC (Called to Counsel) conference at Doxology Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Wilson, a Dallas–Fort Worth biblical and licensed counselor who leads Soul Care Associates, introduces the track team: Chris Moles (PeaceWorks), Kirsten Christianson (Bethlehem Baptist Church), and Tim St. John (counseling pastor in Sou...

This episode of Speak the Truth previews the Pastors and Church Leadership track for the 2026 Call to Council Conference (April 23–25, Fort Worth, Texas, at Doxology Bible Church) through a conversation with track leader Robert Cheong, executive director of Gospel Care Ministries and former pastor of care at Sojourn Church Midtown. Cheong explains the track was born from pastors feeling overwhelme...

On the Speak the Truth podcast, the host interviews pastor and SoulCare Consulting International leader Lee Lewis about developing a culture of biblical care in local churches. Lewis argues that care must extend beyond Sunday services and formal counseling to include ongoing one-another ministry, preventative care, and equipping rhythms, with elders casting and sustaining the vision. He highlights...

In this bonus episode of Speak the Truth, Michael welcome's Pete Potloff to introduce a new track for the 2026 Call to Counsel conference: “Counseling Through Colossians.” They reflect on recording at Salem Heights since 2019 and share plans for remodeling space into a counseling center and future training facilities. Pete explains that the track will walk expositionally through the four chapters...

In this episode of Speak the Truth, Michael interviews Chris Minott, Director of Soul Care and Biblical Counseling at Summit Church in Fort Myers, Florida, about codependency within ongoing discussions of trauma. Minott explains codependency’s cultural origin in the late 1970s around addiction-affected relationships and defines it as overly responsible, controlling, identity-seeking behavior that...

The episode of Speak the Truth previews the new Practical Theology track at the Call to Council Conference (April 23–25, 2026) at Doxology Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, featuring host Michael and guest Nathan Penney, Pastor of Soul Care Ministries at Hope Bible Church in Oakville (Toronto area). Nathan describes his ministry overseeing counseling and discipleship, then explains the track’s ob...

Mike interviews Emily, director of certification training at ABC, as the track leader for the Fundamentals of Biblical Counseling Methods at the Call to Council conference. Emily explains the track’s purpose for online and newer counselors, those in Level One, and others exploring biblical counseling methods, and outlines sessions that move from a theology of care in the church through beginning,...

Front Lines Ministries: Strengthening Missionaries Through Church-Centered Biblical Counseling In this “Speak the Truth” episode Mike interviews Danny Falcone, a lay elder at Delray Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, and leader of Front Lines Ministries’ training and equipping. Danny explains Front Lines’ mission to help churches strengthen missionary care and extend faithful years on the fie...

Mike is joined virtually by Jeremy Lelek to preview his Call to Council conference track on biblically unpacking mental health diagnoses. Jeremy explains the objective of engaging intimidating DSM categories by describing them from a psychiatric perspective while bringing Scripture to bear on what to do and how to interpret struggles through a biblical anthropology that includes spiritual realitie...

In this bonus episode of Speak the Truth, Michael introduces John Henderson to preview the Trauma Track for the Call to Counsel Conference 2026, led by Henderson alongside Darby Strickland and Curtis Solomon. They describe the track’s aim of equipping counselors to bring compassionate, patient, gospel-centered ministry to men and women suffering trauma, emphasizing deep healing that requires bibli...

Recorded at the Biblical Counseling Coalition Global Summit, Michael interviews New Zealanders Darryl Burling and Jason Winslade about advancing biblical counseling and missions in New Zealand. Darryl founded the New Zealand Biblical Counseling Association (NZBCA) in 2017 and says it is being rebuilt with new board members and a renewed, context-sensitive approach rather than importing an American...

Biblical Counseling Africa: Equipping the Church for Gospel-Centered Care in South Africa and Beyond Recorded on the road at the Biblical Counseling Coalition Global Summit, this Speak the Truth podcast episode features interviews with Kyle Johnston and Jane Kratz from Cape Town, South Africa, about their ministry contexts and the growth of Biblical Counseling Africa. Jane shares how her husband’s...

In this episode of Speak the Truth, Michael & Emily are joined by Joe and Ursula Morell from Stockholm, Sweden. They discuss the critical role of biblical counseling in missions, the challenges and growth in their local church, and their journey toward seeking to be a training center for biblical counseling in Scandinavia. Highlighting the interplay between personal struggles, theological trai...