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Biblical Counseling Conference - July 17-19, 2025

Church Financial Pre-Conference - July 17, 2024

Thank you for joining us this year! Next year's conference will be July 17th - 19th, 2025

Click here to sign up to help serve before or during the conference!  If you sign up for 4 or more volunteer slots, your conference registration fee is covered!

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before or during the conference!
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Nicholas Ellen

Nicholas is the Senior Pastor of Community of Faith Bible Church in Houston Texas and Senior Professor of Biblical Counseling at the College of Biblical Studies. Dr. Ellen has also developed a biblical counseling training center called Expository Counseling Center LLC. He is a Fellow with ACBC and a Senior Member of the Biblical Counseling Framework Association. He and his wife Dr. Vanessa Ellen have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Randy Patten

Randy Patten is the ACBC Director of Training and Advancement. He formerly led the organization for sixteen years as the Executive Director. Randy has served as a senior pastor, a pastor to pastors and consultant to churches. Randy and Cindy have been married for MANY years and have two adult married children and six grandchildren.

Brad Bigney

Brad Bigney has been a pastor for over 30 years. He earned his MDiv from Columbia Bible Seminary, is an ACBC certified counselor and has been serving as the Senior Pastor of Grace Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Florence, KY since 1996.He and his dear wife Vicki have five children. Brad has spoken at almost all of our previous conferences and is always a favorite.

Kevin Carson

Dr. Kevin Carson is the pastor of Sonrise Baptist Church in Ozark, MO. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he serves as the department chair of biblical counseling at the Baptiost Bible College and Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO. He also serves as a counselor at Sonrise Biblical Counseling Ministry, is ACBC Certified, IABC Certified a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and author. He and his wife, Kelly, have four children.

Stuart Scott

Stuart Scott teaches in the graduate program of biblical counseling at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA and is adjunct Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southern Seminary and Faith Seminary. He has over forty years of experience in counseling and pastoral ministry. He is the Member Care Director and a Fellow with ACBC.  He and his wife Zondra have two grown children and two grandchildren.

Matt Thibault

Matt has served in pastoral roles at Grace Bible Church in Bozeman, MT and Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg, CA and is currently Leader Pastor at Doxa Church San Diego. He has taught courses at Montana Bible College, Arrowhead Bible College, is an ACBC certified counselor and has assisted with courses at The Master’s Seminary. He is married to Trina and has three children.

Craig Rowe

Craig retired from full-time ministry, but continues to teach in various capacities. He pastored for 33 years and counseled and taught for five years in Arlington Heights, IL. He received his MDiv and a Doctorate of Ministry in Counseling from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is a Fellow with ACBC. He and his wife Sue have four grown children and love being grandparents.
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July 18 – 20, 2024

Registration is now closed.  Contact us with any questions: bcc@gbcmt.org or (406) 586-9782

Register Here!
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Conference Date:
 July 18 – 20, 2024

Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes! Most sessions will be available on our website and app soon after the conference.

Will there be a conference bookstore?
Yes! Grace Books will carry a selection of books and counseling resources, available for purchase, including publications by the speakers. We accept cash, Visa and MasterCard. AND, everyone who registers gets a $10 gift card for use in Grace Books.

Is food included in my registration fee?
Snacks will be provided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, UNLESS you register at a discounted rate for no food. Lunch will be provided on Thursday and Friday only. Please read the conference menu in the tab below. There is an option to attend the conference for a reduced rate if you want to provide your own snacks (and lunches on Thursday and Friday).

How do I get there?
Grace Bible Church is located in Southwest Montana. (Link to our map) We are about 10 minutes from I-90 and about 20 minutes from Bozeman Airport. Daily direct flights from Denver, Salt Lake, Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago and others.

What else is there to do in Bozeman?
Bozeman has 2 seasons: Winter and relatives! July/August (relatives season) is full of every kind of outdoor activity, raft or kayak on the Yellowstone or Gallatin Rivers, float the Madison, rock climbing, hiking or mountain biking on thousands of miles of quiet and excellent trails in the near vicinity, swimming, golf, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping and we are only about an hour’s drive from Yellowstone National Park.  You name it – Montana has got it and you can probably rent the gear locally, if you’re looking for a display of God’s handiwork! Forget Hawaii, forget New York. Come to the Last Best Place! Why not come to the conference, then spend a week in the great outdoors talking about what you’ve just heard?

What kind of food is available in Bozeman?
Quite a bit. A list of restaurants, fast food places, cafes and bistros is provided in the Conference Resources. Steak, Sushi, Indian, Middle-Eastern, Asian, Italian, Noodles, Pizza, Burgers, Brats, Bagels, Sandwiches and probably a lot more. For what it’s worth, google Bozeman Food. 

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations notified up to July 1st, 2024 will be fully refunded.  No refunds are available after July 1st (but we can give someone else your place, if you like).

The Satisfaction Guarantee on this Mystery Tour:

Over the years we have run this conference, NOT ONE PERSON has ever told us it stunk and that they wanted their money back.  We are SO CONFIDENT that that will be the case this year that if you attend all 3 days and tell us you hated it (c’mon, not just “oh the weather was lousy. I didn’t like the decor of the church…), we’ll refund you 100%.  No questions asked. You have nothing to lose!

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Over the 10 years we have done the conference, the number of requests relating to various food allergies has increased to the point that, sadly, we can no longer keep up with the number of special meals.

If you have life threatening health concerns related to food or if the menu just doesn’t appeal to you, rather than risk giving you something that you cannot eat – we can reduce your cost by $20 per person and you could bring your own. If that is the case, choose the “without meals” option during registration.

Below you will see a reasonably accurate guide to what we will have this year.

  • Snacks will be served throughout the conference – including fruits, vegetables, chips, nuts, and ice cream. 
  • Lunch Thursday: Deli sandwiches
  • Lunch Friday: BBQ meat and salad.

If you have any questions, please contact us as soon as possible.

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The Church and Pastor Finances pre-conference ($25 per person) will include 3 sessions discussing the following topics:

  • The components of a good pastoral compensation package. 
  • How to pay the pastor and other staff?  What items of the package are taxable versus non-taxable?
  • Should the pastor adopt a housing allowance and, if so, how does this affect his monthly net pay?
  • How the church can help the pastor with a housing allowance to get enough federal taxes paid in to avoid having to make quarterly estimated taxes and what all of this looks like from the church’s perspective. 
  • How should the church support missionaries?  Through established mission organizations or acting as the mission organization?  What is involved in both?
  • What is involved in accounting for gifts/donations to the church, tracking expenses, how Fund accounting works, maintaining separation of duties to be above reproach, paying speakers for honoraria and reimbursing expenses, and accurately producing 1099s.

More content will be added as we get closer to the conference.  If you have suggestions of things you would like covered, please email accounting@gbcmt.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 2024

12:30 – 1:00 – Check-In (West Entrance)
1:00 – 2:00 – Session 1: Best Financial Practices for Churches
2:00 – 2:15 – Break
2:15 – 3:15 – Session 2: Pastoral and Staff Compensation Overview
3:15 – 3:30 – Break
3:30 – 4:45 – Session 3: Practically Paying Pastors and Staff
4:45 – 5:30 – Q&A

Eric Gee

Eric Gee will be leading 3 sessions covering topics related to church and pastor finances on Wednesday, July 17 for $25.  Eric is a former CPA and is currently the Interim Administrator and the Financial Administrator at Grace Bible Church.

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THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2024

09:00 – 10:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
10:30 – 12:00 – The Need for and Definition of Biblical Counseling (Bigney)
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch (on-site)
1:00 – 2:00 – Process of Biblical Change (Patten)
2:00 – 2:25 – Snack Break
2:30 – 3:30 – God’s High Calling for Husbands (Scott)
3:30 – 3:55 – Snack Break
4:00 – 5:00 – Goal of Parenting (Patten)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off – campus)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: Dealing with Unbelief Behind Fear and Worry (Scott)*

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Parental Discipline (Patten)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Parental Instruction (Patten)
11:00 – 12:00 – Developing God-Honoring Communication (Ellen)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch (on site)
1:30 – 2:30 – God’s Purpose for Marriage (Bigney)
2:30 – 2:55 – Snack Break
3:00 – 4:00 – God’s High Calling for Wives (Scott)
4:00 – 5:00 – Biblical Sexuality (Carson)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off – campus)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: The Centrality of Repentance (Ellen)*

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Counseling People In Sexual Sin (Rowe)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Getting To Heart Issues (Bigney)
11:00 – 11:10 – Break
11:10 – 12:25 – Qualifications of a Biblical Counselor (Ellen)
12:25 – 12:30 – Closing Announcements and Prayer

*Plenary sessions involve all conference attendees together in the Worship Center.

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THURSDAY, July 18, 2024

09:00 – 10:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
10:30 – 12:00 – Every Christian a Counselor – Part 1 (Ellen)
12:00 – 1:00  – Lunch (on-site)
1:00 – 2:00 – Every Christian a Counselor – Part 2 (Ellen)
2:00 – 2:25 – Snack Break
2:30 – 3:30 – Getting Your Counseling Off To a Good Start (Patten)
3:30 – 3:55 – Snack Break
4:00 – 5:00 – Counselors Should be Good Theologians (Bigney)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off-site)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: Dealing with Unbelief Behind Fear and Worry (Scott)*

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Helping Your Counselee to Confess But Not Obsess Over Their Sin (Bigney)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Helping the Counselee Be Prepared for Spiritual Warfare (Scott)
11:00 – 12:00 – The Spiritual Triaging of Trauma (Thibault)
12:00 – 1:30 – Pastoral Q&A Lunch with Randy Patten (on-site, Jr High Room)
1:30 – 2:30 – Categories of Sorrow (Ellen)
2:30 – 2:45 – Snack Break
2:50 – 3:55 – Breakout Sessions

— Men Counseling Men in Normal Life – Nate Price (Youth Room)
— Understanding How to Trust God – Venessa Ellen (Worship Center)

4:00 – 5:00 – Data Gathering That Is Organized, Systematic and Extensive (Patten)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off-site)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session— The Centrality of Repentance (Ellen)*

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Back to Grace – How to Counsel without Turning Your Counselees into Pharisees (Bigney)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Counseling Families Torn Apart By Adultery (Scott)
11:00 – 11:15 – Break
11:15 – 12:15 – A Closer Look at Anxiety From Philippians 4 and I Peter 5 (Bigney)
12:15 – 12:20 – Closing Announcements and Prayer

*Plenary sessions involve all conference attendees together in the Worship Center.

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THURSDAY, July 18, 2024

09:00 – 10:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
10:30 – 12:00 – Introduction (Brad Wright) and Theology Questions 1,2, 3 & 4 (Thibault)
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch (on site)
1:00 – 2:00 – Theology Questions 5, 6, 7, & 8 (Thibault)
2:00 – 2:25 – Snack Break
2:30 – 3:30 – Theology Questions  9, 10, 11, & 12  (Thibault)
3:30 – 3:55 – Snack Break
4:00 – 5:00 – Theology Questions 13, 14, 15, & 16 (Thibault)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off – campus)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: Dealing with Unbelief Behind Fear and Worry (Scott)*

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Theology Questions 17, 18, 19, & 20 (Thibault)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Theology Questions 21, 22, 23 & 24 (Thibault)
11:00 – 12:00 – Counseling Questions 1, 4, 6 & 11 (Schreibeis)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch (on site)
1:30 – 2:30 – Counseling Questions 2, 7, 10 & 12 (Patten)
2:30 – 3:45 – Counseling Questions 16, 17, 18, 19, & 20 (Schreibeis)
3:45 – 4:00 – Snack Break
4:00 – 5:00 – Counseling Questions 3, 5, 8, & 9 (Wright)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off site)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: The Centrality of Repentance (Ellen)*

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Counseling Questions 13,14 & 15 (Wright)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Tying up Loose Ends on Counseling Questions (Wright)
11:00 – 11:15 – Closing Prayer and Break
11:15 – 12:15 – A Closer Look at Anxiety From Philippians 4 and I Peter 5 (Bigney)**
12:15 – 12:20 – Closing Announcements and Prayer**

*Plenary sessions involve all conference attendees together in the Worship Center.
**Please join track two in the Worship Center

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THURSDAY, July 18, 2024

09:00 – 10:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
10:30 – 12:00 – Self Counseling Session #1 (Carson)
12:00 – 1:00 – Lunch (on site)
1:00 – 2:00 – Self Counseling Session #2 (Carson)
2:00 – 2:25 – Snack Break
2:30 – 3:30 – Self Counseling Session #3 (Carson)
3:30 – 3:55 – Snack Break
4:00 – 5:00 – Self Counseling Session #4 (Carson)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off – campus)
7:00 – 8:30 – Plenary Session: Dealing with Unbelief Behind Fear and Worry (Scott)*

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Self Counseling Session #5 (Carson)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Self Counseling Session #6 (Carson)
11:00 – 12:00 – Self Counseling Session #7 (Carson)
12:00 – 1:30 – Lunch (on site)
1:30 – 2:30 – Self Counseling Session #8 (Carson)
2:30 – 2:55 – Snack Break
3:00 – 4:00 – Self Counseling Session #9 (Carson)
4:00 – 5:00 – Self Counseling – How to Quiet a Noisy Soul (Ellen)
5:00 – 7:00 – Dinner (off-site)
7:00 – 8:00 – Plenary Session: The Centrality of Repentance (Ellen)*

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 – Check-In/Grace Books Open
8:30 – 9:30 – Panel Discussion/Q&A (Carson, Patten)
9:30 – 9:55 – Snack Break
10:00 – 11:00 – Join Track 2: Counseling Families Torn Apart By Adultery (Scott)**
11:00 – 11:15 – Break
11:15 – 12:15 – Join Track 2: A Closer Look at Anxiety From Philippians 4 and I Peter 5 (Bigney)**
12:15 – 12:20 – Closing Announcements and Prayer**

*Plenary sessions involve all conference attendees together in the Worship Center.
**Please join track two in the Worship Center

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