The Soul Care Course: Sitting in the Dirt

Teaching Church and Ministry Leaders How to Care for People Without a Counseling Degree

 

Now more than ever people are hurting. And 25-40% of them will seek help from a pastor, small group leader, or another church member before talking with a professional counselor.*

Life is complicated. Struggles are layered. Sometimes it all feels so hard. Was it always this hard?

They come to you for help. And your heart is huge.

How do you sit with people well, not fix them?

More than ever…

Maybe this is you?

  • I took ONE class in seminary on pastoral counseling. I was NOT prepared for this!

  • I don’t know how to handle the weight of what people are dealing with these days.

  • I want to offer more than verses, book recommendations, and advice, but what if I do more harm than good?

  • I’m looking for a crash course in caring for people the way I’ve received care from my counselor.

  • Sitting in the Dirt Course equips those in ministry to care for others.

    What if you felt more confident sitting with people in their heartache?

  • What if you traded good advice for presence?

  • Sitting in the Dirt Course trains ministers to stop giving good advice and offer their presence.

    And what if that shift, that thing you offer, is what you actually need as well?

Have you found yourself wondering…

  • How do I react when someone says something difficult in small group?

  • How do I respond if a church member says they are considering divorce, depressed, struggling with sexual orientation or gender identity, suicidal, in an abusive relationship…

  • When do I offer pastoral counseling or know when I’m in over my head?

  • What if in my effort to care I cause more harm?

  • Are small group leaders or youth leaders required to report abuse? What are mandated reporting laws for ministers?

 

Sitting in the Dirt will teach you how to be with hurting people, not what to say, but how to be.

 
 

What do you get in this course?

Module 1: A Theology of Presence

We teach you our unique view of caring for the human soul:

  • Lesson 1: A Theology of Presence

  • Lesson 2: How Evil Transforms Tragedy into Trauma

  • Lesson 3: A Story-Informed Presence

  • Lesson 4: The Story Deeper Still

Module 2: The Approach

We teach you our unique posture of presence:

  • Lesson 1: The 3 Postures of Presence with discussion

  • Lesson 2: Creating a Safe Harbor

  • Lesson 3: The Field Between Us

  • Lesson 4: Listening to Myself While Listening to Them

Module 3: The Frame

We teach you practical implementation of caring for others:

  • Lesson 1: How to Create the Right Atmosphere

  • Lesson 2: How to Communicate with your Care Receiver

  • Lesson 3: How and When to Refer Out

  • Lesson 4: How to Care for Yourself

Bonus Toolkit

We cover real, potentially sensitive topics we know you face:

  • Bonus 1: Depression, Anxiety, and Medication

  • Bonus 2: Grief

  • Bonus 3: Sexuality

  • Bonus 4: Marriage

  • Bonus 5: Infidelity and Betrayal

  • Bonus 6: Pornography

  • Bonus 7: Abuse

Certification of Completion

  • For a total of 5 hours of teaching

  • Sitting in the Dirt is a concept that in many ways has been trained out of us pastors. This course has the incredible ability to retrain your mind and still that voice inside that tells you to fix people.

    Andrew Acuna, Palm Valley Church, Texas

  • If you long to be a safe place for those you shepherd, “sitting in the dirt” with them is necessary. I wish everyone in ministry could learn from these wise guides. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is walking alongside other people as they seek to grow.

    Londa Wagner, Campus Ministry Human Resources

  • Sitting in the Dirt is a must have resource for anyone who is serious about loving people the way Jesus loved people. It is so profound, yet so practical. It truly is helping me to reframe how I engage with the people that I pastor.

    Tyrell Blauvelt, Men’s Pastor, Palm Valley Church, Texas

 

Sitting in the Dirt is designed by those with ministry experience for those in ministry. We get you.

 
 

Meet your Instructors

Chris and Jeremy have 50 years of combined ministry experience including student and campus, international missions, church planting, small group leadership, humanitarian, and men’s ministry. Fusing their background in ministry with their training in counseling and storywork, their approach to caring for people is simultaneously gospel-hearted without being Bible bashing.

Jeremy Williamson ReStory Storywork Coach

  • Storywork Coach

    Jeremy has spent most of his adult life in missions, church planting, and ministry organizations. He is currently Director of Experiences at Restoration Project and a Storywork Coach at ReStory.

  • Licensed Professional Counselor

    Chris spent 10 years on staff with Cru, mostly internationally, is an ordained pastor, author, and the CEO of Restoration Project. He is the founder of ReStory Counseling.

Ministry Cohort to Care for Others with ReStory Counseling

And what if you need still more?

When you join a Cohort, you receive live interaction around the actual situation you’re facing, in a small group with other ministry leaders, led by an experienced ReStory Storywork Coach.

Imagine being coached to immediately apply what you’ve learned in the course and potentially change the life of the person in your care! Imagine learning from other situations that leaders in various roles and locations are facing!

And, imagine your entire staff team doing this together! (Group pricing available.)

Pricing Options

ReStory Course for Ministers and Church Leaders

Option 1: Course - $99

  • Receive one license for immediate and lifetime access to the entire course and bonuses. Do at your own pace.

Course and Cohort for full time ministry leaders and church leaders offering pastoral care.

Option 2: Course + Cohort - $399

  • Receive one license for immediate and lifetime access to the entire course and bonuses. Do at your own pace.

  • In addition to the course, you will automatically join the next 6-week cohort which meets virtually (times vary) for live coaching through real and current examples members bring.

ReStory Course for Ministers

Option 3: Multiple Licenses

  • Want the course for staff or small group leader training or to require new staff to take it during orientation? Group discounts available for team licenses.

    10+ 40% off $99 ($59 each)

    25+ 60% off $99 ($39 each)

    50+ 70% off $99 ($29 each)

    Email beth@restory.life to talk about group licenses.

  • Why not have your team all receive coaching in how to care for the people in your ministry? Group discounts available for team licenses. Email beth@restory.life to talk about group licenses.

Sitting in the Dirt Course trains ministers to offer their presence over tips and techniques.

FAQ’s

  • The course includes instant and lifetime access to 12 teaching lessons around 20 minutes each and a 60-page course book with assignments and journal prompts. In addition, you’ll receive all 7 bonus videos on hot topics you face.

  • Every 6-weeks Jeremy starts a new cohort that meets online once/week for 6 weeks (Fridays at 7am MST). He facilitates a discussion on course material as well as spends time on real examples that members bring (confidentially). These are capped, co-ed, and gather leaders from all different kinds of ministry settings.

  • ABSOLUTELY! Chris and Jeremy assume female leadership in ministry.

  • If you’ve found your way to this question, you’re probably feeling that you could use a different perspective. You know better than anyone, not all programs are the same. In this course, you’ll hear more about our unique approach to the human heart, our theology behind storywork, and our focus on a posture of presence.

  • The Sitting in the Dirt Course is a one-time purchase and we are unable to offer refunds at this time.

  • You will need internet to watch the videos, but you can print off the course book. You can access the course on your desktop or download the Kajabi app and watch from your mobile device.

  • Absolutely. Let’s talk! We can arrange for group rates with multiple licenses. Please reach out to beth@restory.life subject line, Sitting in the Dirt Group Rate.

Free Ministry Resources

We’ve created monthly resources with you in mind, absolutely free. Learn more and subscribe:

ReStory helps church teams care for their people well.
ReStory helps international ministers care for those they serve.
ReStory helps campus ministry leaders care for students.