The following program is somewhat on hold since 2002 though the materials have been further developed and taught by Ron to enthusiastic leaders in Ukraine and Russia. Ron has returned from Ukraine to Canada and USA to teach some of this material one time (one week) per year, but is presently too busy to do much more than once a year in the west. Please click for 2005+ scheduling details.

Wellspring offers 2 courses and 1 seminar on counselling. Deep Change for Hurting People is the basic introductory course, a prerequisite for the specialized study on essential aspects of inner change, Guard Your Heart. The Wellspring Certificate is granted to those successfully completing both courses (Deep Change, and Guard Your Heart). The seminar, A More Excellent Way, lays the foundation for a right approach to the hot issue of spiritual warfare. For hosting seminars, contact the Wellspring office.Wellspring Courses CURRENTLY SCHEDULED &/or SOME NEW COURSES!

Supervision & Continuing Education	(6) Certified Local Church Ministry
Internship & Mentoring	(5) Counselling Practicum
Issues of Counselling	(4) Observation Practicum
Guard your Heart Certificate	(3) Examination of (1) & (2)
Guard your Heart Modules	(2) Specialized Course
Deep Change for Hurting People	(1) Foundation "a course for every Christian"

DEEP CHANGE for HURTING PEOPLE is Wellspring of Life's introduction to biblical counselling training seminar. This 22 hour seminar introduces you to the content and practice of biblical counselling. Deep Change presents the driving dynamics of true lasting soul-enriching God-honouring change, answering biblically the questions:

The valuable 100 page syllabus and seminar discussions of various counselling scenarios provide rich insights into Scripture and its application to life issues. A wonderful opportunity for continuing education and building wisdom in dealing with various counselling situations. See the administrative information

The purpose of this unique study course is to stimulate biblical discernment and wisdom concerning the transformation of the inner person in a counselling context. This will provide specialized and advanced study of the Scriptures concerning some essential dynamics of the gracious heart with the help of various Puritan counsellors. In our view much of today's Christian counselling is stranger to this biblical emphasis, and through this certificate study you as a people-helper will be more equipped to obey Proverbs 4:23...

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."

While this certificate course is not intended to provide complete training for counselling, clear understanding of the content of these modules is essential for a right comforting and directing of soul. Guard Your Heart is the first step of specialized training after the foundational course. The reason Wellspring requires Guard Your Heart as a specialized study course on biblical cardiology after the introductory course and prior to a course on issues and practical internship is to solidify a coram deo (before the face of God) foundation in the approach to every counselling issue. These 7 modules will mine some of the essential riches of the activities of the inner man. Studying this will anchor the individual in careful, discerning treatment of the most important and most critical place of change, the heart. See the administrative information

What this certificate is.

This is biblical study in the classroom, not apprenticeship in the counselling room. Awarded to those who successfully complete Deep Change and Guard Your Heart. Those granted a Wellspring certificate will be thinking with a robust theology of the various aspects of inner change. Completing of this certificate will provide an immovable ‘coram deo’ focus that will prepare one in personal ministry for a right approach to the counselling issues. One completing the introductory course and the 7 modules will be able to spot error and failures of much counselling today in the self-help Christian literature, counselling and even official teaching of well-meaning churches.

This module program will not equip a person for the weighty work of counselling. In other words, completing the Deep Change basic course followed by satisfactory study of the Guard Your Heart certificate modules does not in itself qualify a person for biblical counselling ministry. The emphasis here is on study, not apprenticeship and on-the-job training. In addition the person considering a counselling ministry needs to be trained in the various issues of counselling (fear, anger, depression, forgiveness, divorce, etc.). In addition to the development of biblical knowledge and insight there needs to be an internship of observation of counselling followed by supervision of the trainee as he or she counsels

This Friday night and all-day Saturday seminar is an expanded version of Module 2 in the Guard Your Heart certificate program, yet it is taught so as to be easily understood by church lay people even as it challenges their thinking. This 9 hour seminar is for those desiring biblical realism in true spiritual warfare. In our increasingly pagan culture Christians are being engulfed by a flood of the New Age, the occult, and a fascination with demons. Into this explosive climate the deliverance ministries have burst with mega best-sellers and sensational accounts that show how we can all cast out demons.

In this seminar, Ron Harris first guides you through a biblical exposure of a great deal of fiction, superstition, fantasy, nonsense, nuttiness, and downright heresy that flourishes in the church under the guise of "spiritual warfare" in our time. The seminar then introduces the biblical richness of A More Excellent Way of fighting the true enemy with precision and pastoral insight. The seminar draws from the valuable book, Power Encounters: Reclaiming Spiritual Warfare by David Powlison, PhD, and various biblical thinkers prior to this psychologised culture, answering a much-needed call for A More Excellent Way. Each attendee receives a substantial seminar syllabus. See the administrative information.

"This is an excellent course and i think all Christians should take this course."

Barb Greenwood

"This is an excellent course for personal spiritual enrichment and self-evaluation in the light of Scripture."

M. Rose Knowles, teacher-librarian

"In the four years of courses at Bible College this course has been the most effective and practical for ministry - now and future."

Alan Butryn, Pastor

"This is an excellent introduction to counselling. The biblical foundation laid in this course is vital for anyone who wishes to minister to others. Very insightful and practical."

Chris H. Papastamos, seminarian training for counselling ministry

"This course causes me to think of the depth of sin within, the hope of Christ the Wonderful Counsellor, the insights and richness of the Bible to help in all of life's circumstances and the need for true biblical repentance."

Wayne Graf, contractor

"Prior to this course I hadn't realized the biblical depth of repentance. I truly have a better perception of what being a Christian is, and a better realization of not only others, but MYSELF!"

Lee Chatten, small time cook at a small time restaurant

"I would recommend Guard Your Heart who is looking for greater understanding in how God works in man's heart. Drawing him into the light of who he is before Him and revealing to him how He desires us to live. Like concentric circles this course builds on the previous Deep Change course to bring us higher in our relationship with God and deeper in our understanding of ourselves."

"When Chrisitianity appears to be socially irrelevant, unable to meet the difficult questions people are asking and the Christian Church has become anthropocentric, Wellspring of Life ministries is refreshing, relevant and theocentric. My personal experience in the training and instruction provided by Dr. Ron Harris is the kind of ministry necessary to prepare us for the good works in Christ. Eph. 2:10. I highly recommend these courses for anyone who is serious about their relationship with God and wanting to be salt and light when so many are hurting."

N. E. Lee, President, nel-ton Marketing and Services Ltd.

"The Guard Your Heart couse offered by Wellspring will build on your understanding of the biblical teaching of inner change. The course has become a very valuable resource for my Counselling ministry and I have referred back to it often to keep me on track as a people-helper."

"I would recommend the Guard Your Heart course for any lay person, elder or pastor in the church as a concise tool for learning to counsel biblically. The focus on getting to the root of sin and the process of sanctification in the believer's life is necessary to a biblical approach to counselling. This also has been a course of spiritual growth for me personally as a believer, as well as a social worker. I highly recommend this course to anyone in the counselling and health care professions."

Geraldine Flootman, social worker

"Guard Your Heart has strengthened me in my relationship with God especially in regards to the study of the Word of God, and the application of the Word to my heart. I have experienced the power of God's Word in my day to day activities and have been provided with skills to deal with life's trials and temptations."

"I would recommend the Guard Your Heart module course because it gives a better understanding of the heart, how it works, and how our responses to circumstances impact the lives we touch. This course has humbled and energized me to do the work that God has set before me."

Heather Champeau, A/C receivable clerk & single mom

Update: Heather is now married and happy in The Lord.

Many many! local churches have hosted seminars since Wellspring training began (1992). Current administrative details on available seminars are on the following chart for your review. Though, Lord willing, Ron will be serving overseas (Kyiv, Ukraine: as Academic Dean of Urkaine Family Institute) we need to and would love to return once per year to reconnect with family & donors and train & teach in our homeland of Canada. So, email us (patiently, as email over there is sometimes, like here, unreliable.) Or contact one of our Wellspring Associates or others we may mention in our latest news/prayer letters. How long will we stay overseas? Only God knows at this point it seems, but the opportunities and work look enormous. Please pray.

Seminar	Hrs.	Tuition $CDN single/married/alumni	Syll	Min#	Local Format	Local & Travel Format "A"	Local & Travel Format "B"
DC	22+	225 / 375 / 65 (see current courses page for specific discounts)	incl.	30	8 wks, 1 nite/wk (local only)	Th-F-Sat-Th-F-Sat ("Two Weekend")	Mon-Sat ("Intensive")
GYH	24+	385 / 385 / 100 (55 x 7 modules)	incl.	10	Sat. 9-1 monthly (local only)	Th-F-Sat-Th-F-Sat ("Two Weekend")	---
MEW	9	90 / 155 / 25	incl.	30	Fri-Sat	---	---

KEY
Hrs.	Total Instruction time for seminar
Syll.	Fill-in-the-blank seminar syllabus included or not-included in tuition for each first time attendee
Min #	The minimum number of first time attendees for a church to host the seminar
Local	Local Option when the host church is within 150km road distance from Wellspring office.

For those who catch the vision, email the Wellspring office to arrange hosting a Wellspring training seminar. The Wellspring office will make arrangements with your local church leadership to equip believers for the work of personal ministry (counselling). Wellspring Courses CURRENTLY SCHEDULED & Some NEW