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Spiritual Friends

What Others Are Saying about Spiritual Friends

“Spiritual Friends is a remarkable book revealing the work of an author who is equally comfortable in the fields of counseling and pastoral theology. It is refreshing to read counseling theory that truly emphasizes truth embodied in the Word of God rather than reducing the Word of God to a condiment sprinkled onto psychological theory. Dr. Kellemen has the heart of a pastor, the wisdom of a counselor, and the expertise of a scholar trained carefully in counseling theory. He has successfully married the Bible and its truths with human needs.”

—Dr. Don Fowler, Professor of Biblical Studies
Liberty University

“Spiritual Friends is an in-depth systematic theology of what it means to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and help others be conformed to the image of Christ. Dr. Kellemen has meditated deeply on how to compassionately and graciously live incarnationally. My mind was challenged, my relationship skills sharpened, and my soul refreshed.”

—Dr. Ernie Baker, Professor of Biblical Counseling,
The Master’s College Graduate School; Certified Counselor, National Association of Nouthetic Counselors

“Spiritual Friends is an extremely helpful resource for all Christians who are serious about Christian community. It will be a welcome addition to the toolbox of professional counselors who desire a practical biblical approach to counseling, pastors seeking to encourage and equip their people in their relationships, and any believer who desires to be a better spiritual friend. The insightful and practical examples, clear biblical principles, and thought-provoking application exercises make Spiritual Friends an ideal methodological, skills-training follow-up to Dr. Kellemen’s earlier work, Soul Physicians.”

—Pastor Ron Lee, Senior Pastor
Evangelical Free Church of Burlington, Colorado

“Spiritual Friends and Soul Physicians provide a solid theoretical and practical foundation for Christian counseling. A biblical framework for understanding discipleship, mentoring, and counseling permeates both books. With both seminary and counselor training, Dr. Kellemen is uniquely qualified for this undertaking, and it is highly evident in his writing. Blending the theoretical with the practical, readers will find Spiritual Friends beneficial for professional counseling and lay personal ministry.”

—Dr. Michael Firmin, Chair, Department of Psychology
Cedarville University

“We have all experienced a ‘dark night of the soul’ and felt the deep longing for a genuine spiritual friendship. Dr. Kellemen has uniquely captured in Spiritual Friends the essence of such spiritual friendship. He has deftly balanced content—a strong biblical base and extensive counseling research—with practicality by utilizing numerous worksheets to help readers understand themselves, their spiritual journey, and their development in the art of spiritual friendship. This is a must volume for everyone who is serious about being a spiritual friend to those who are experiencing a ‘dark night of the soul.’”

—Dr. Ray Naugle, Vice President and Dean
Lancaster Bible College Graduate School

“With keen biblical insight coupled with a heart of grace, Dr. Kellemen has provided the twenty-first century Church with a vital how-to manual on the art of soul care and spiritual direction. Spiritual Friends has personally revolutionized my thinking and approach to helping hurting people find hope and healing. I will return to it repeatedly as I help guide people to maturity in Christ. Spiritual Friends is a must-read for anyone involved in the ministry of helping people.”

—Pastor Jeff Hudson, Director of Maturity
Christian Fellowship Church of Evansville, Indiana

“A fresh, foundational work on the biblical theology and methodology of counseling has been a great need in the field of Christian counseling. While others have made worthy initial attempts citing isolated passages of Scripture, Spiritual Friends begins with the Bible and builds biblically thereon. Dr. Kellemen’s work is the first and only to take counselors directly from the content of Scripture to the needs of real people where they hurt and need help. Spiritual Friends provides hands-on, practical direction for implementing biblical counseling—it will prove to be an invaluable equipping tool.”

—Professor Gregory Stephens, Academic Dean
Temple Baptist Seminary

 

“As a secularly-trained Marriage and Family Therapist, Soul Physicians provided me the biblical base and scriptural structure to employ my skills in a Christ-centered manner. As an AAMFT clinical supervisor, Spiritual Friends offers me a practical, hands-on resource to equip lay and professional counselors for a soul care ministry. Regardless of your therapeutic model, Dr. Kellemen’s work teaches practical methods for applying foundational concepts in the service of Christian counseling.”

—Dr. Gerald Teague, LCMFT, Assistant Dean (Retired)
University of Maryland

“Dr. Kellemen skillfully relates compelling life narratives that keep the reader turning pages to learn his grace-filled approach to teaching the ministry and art of helping relationships. Spiritual Friends is brimming with biblical wisdom framed within the call to relationship. What a pleasure it has been to read such an excellent book—I will use it for our Counseling Skills classes and for teaching lay counseling seminars. It’s a must-read for counselors, students, and all those who want to love well.”

—Dr. Tammy Schultz, Chairperson, MA in Counseling
Grace College Graduate School

“Dr. Kellemen’s experience as a pastor, teacher, professor, and spiritual friend results in one of the most well balanced works available today on the subject of pastoral counseling. His transparent, practical, and engaging style of writing will help you to build stronger, richer, and more Christlike communities. Spiritual Friends, a ready-to-use resource, part ‘Workbook’ and part ‘How to’ manual, will provide you with the relational competencies necessary to practice genuine biblical counseling.”

—Pastor Milton Johnson, Associate Pastor
Chantilly Bible Church of Chantilly, Virginia

“For the past thirty-five years as a pastor, I’ve experienced the incredible way in which God can use ‘spiritual friends’ in healing hurts inside the Church. Dr. Kellemen’s statement, ‘shared sorrow is endurable sorrow’ is a powerful truth that Spiritual Friends helps Christians understand and practice. This ability and sensitivity is vitally needed in the Church today. Spiritual Friends will be essential in equipping believers to serve as listeners, helpers, and healers of hurting people in the Body of Christ.”

—Dr. Darrell Farney, U.S. Director
Evangelism Explosion Central Region

“Skillfully woven together, Soul Physicians centers on relevant theology while Spiritual Friends focuses on applying that theology. Drawing from his academic training, counseling, pastoring, and seminary teaching, Dr. Kellemen continues to bring Ezra 7:10 to life. Spiritual Friends leaves us with the same challenge—to prepare our hearts to seek God’s Word, to do it, and to teach it to our people. With this work, a new generation of soul physicians and spiritual friends will be equipped to fulfill God’s work.”

—Pastor Dennis Caudle, Senior Pastor
Davie Baptist Church of Advance, North Carolina

“Spiritual Friends is more than a counseling manual; it’s an interactive guide that draws you into the life issues of real people and challenges you to reflect on your own spiritual journey. Thoroughly biblical and drawing on the insights from Church history and contemporary authors, Dr. Kellemen shares an exciting framework from which you can build relational bridges to others and provide godly counsel for dealing with life’s suffering and sin.”

—Dr. Miles (Skip) Lewis, Director, MA in Ministry
Lancaster Bible College Graduate School

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