Counselor Training and Education
The aim is to teach and develop a diploma and master’s-level counseling program at Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS). The program will integrate psychology and theology, to meet a serious lack in the Sri Lankan church and the need in Sri Lanka for trained counselors. This is a pioneering ministry in the Protestant church. Over the past two years, CTS counseling classes have had increasing interest, with 25-40 students attending. The seminary currently offers only a Certificate program in Christian counseling.
With no other accredited Christian counselor training program offered in Sri Lanka, the needs and the interest are immense. Fulfilling and sustaining the vision of the program at higher levels requires more trained faculty. Those who come to Colombo long-term could also meet a pressing need through providing counseling services for the urban, English speaking population, as well as training lay counselors in other regions of Sri Lanka with the use of interpreters into Sinhala and Tamil.
Come and Serve
Counselors - To mentor and assist new local counselors to improve and grow in their profession.
Lecturers - Counselor lecturers to establish and manage a new counseling program for Sri Lankans through Columbo Theological Seminary.
Prayers
Pray for provision of counseling lecturers to develop and sustain the current certificate program in counseling at the Colombo Theological Seminary with whom SIM is partnering.
Pray for a Christian counseling centre to be developed in Colombo.
Pray for training and development of competent lay and professional Christian counselors for Sri Lanka.