Biblical Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Biblical Counselor 

Team: Programs

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports To: Manager of Spiritual Formation

Direct Reports: None

Effective Date: September 2026

Position Summary

The Biblical Counselor provides structured, Scripture-based counseling and spiritual-growth support to guests within Oliver Gospel Mission’s Spiritual Formation discipline. Working primarily with longer-term guests and supporting other programs as assigned, the Biblical Counselor helps guests examine beliefs, choices, relationships, habits, suffering, identity, hope, responsibility, forgiveness, reconciliation, and spiritual growth through a biblically grounded framework.

The Biblical Counselor works as part of Oliver Gospel Mission’s interdisciplinary Care Team and coordinates spiritual support with Case Management, Pastors, Residential Support, Intake & Program Access, and qualified external Mental & Behavioral Health providers. Biblical counseling at Oliver Gospel Mission is a spiritual-formation service and is not represented as licensed mental-health or substance-use treatment. The role must recognize needs outside its scope and make timely referrals through established pathways.

For Employment with Oliver Gospel Mission

A born-again believer in Jesus Christ. Affirm without reservation Oliver Gospel Mission’s Statement of Faith. Fully support Oliver Gospel Mission and Vision’s Statements. Demonstrate the ability and desire to work in harmony with other Oliver Gospel Mission employees. Be on time and ready to work at the assigned work location on every scheduled workday. Due to the potential impact on Oliver Gospel Mission’s Program Participants, the use of tobacco and/or vaping products is not permitted during scheduled work hours or at any Oliver Gospel Mission event. Possess a valid South Carolina driver’s license.

Position Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in biblical counseling, biblical studies, theology, ministry, psychology, social services, or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution.
• Formal biblical-counseling education, certification, or structured training from a recognized Christian counseling/ministry organization or academic program consistent with Oliver Gospel's Statement of Faith and approved counseling model.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant biblical counseling, pastoral counseling, discipleship, ministry, recovery ministry, or closely related helping experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving people affected by homelessness, substance use/addiction, trauma, incarceration, poverty, family instability, or similarly complex circumstances.
• Demonstrated understanding of the distinction between biblical/pastoral counseling and licensed behavioral-health treatment and ability to recognize when referral is required.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, documentation, and interdisciplinary communication.
• Ability to facilitate one-to-one conversations and small groups with biblical fidelity, compassion, sound judgment, and appropriate cultural humility.
• Ability to work effectively under supervision and as part of an interdisciplinary Care Team.

Preferred

• Graduate-level education in biblical counseling, theology, ministry, pastoral counseling, or a related field.
• Recognized biblical-counseling certification appropriate to Oliver Gospel Mission’s theological framework.
• Formal training in trauma-informed or trauma-responsive ministry, addiction/recovery, crisis response, or suicide-prevention awareness.
• Experience in rescue missions, homelessness services, residential recovery, or faith-based community programs.

Position Responsibilities

1. Biblical Counseling & Spiritual Growth

• Provide scheduled one-to-one biblical counseling and structured small-group counseling/formation as assigned.
• Help guests identify voluntary spiritual goals and explore life circumstances through Scripture, prayer, biblical wisdom, reflection, responsibility, and practical application.
• Use an established Oliver Gospel biblical-counseling framework rather than independently creating competing counseling models.
• Develop counseling goals and interventions that are individualized, understandable, appropriate to the guest's stated spiritual interests, and coordinated with the broader person-centered plan.
• Support guests in applying biblical principles to areas such as identity, relationships, forgiveness, reconciliation, decision-making, habits, suffering, hope, responsibility, and spiritual disciplines.
• Monitor progress through guest self-report and observable engagement/application without making subjective determinations about the authenticity of a guest's faith.

2. Person-Centered, Trauma-Responsive Practice

• Treat each guest with dignity, patience, compassion, respect, and appropriate choice within Oliver Gospel Mission’s Christ-centered mission.
• Recognize the impact that trauma, homelessness, addiction, grief, poverty, family instability, abuse, and other experiences may have on engagement, trust, behavior, and spiritual questions.
• Use trauma-responsive approaches that avoid manipulation, shame, unnecessary confrontation, or practices that may intensify distress.
• Adjust pacing and approach according to guest readiness, comprehension, preferences, and circumstances while maintaining appropriate biblical and organizational standards.
• Seek consultation when a guest's presentation, history, risk, or needs exceed the counselor's training or assigned authority.

3. Interdisciplinary Care Team Participation

• Practice the principle: One Mission. One Guest. One Coordinated Plan. Distinct Roles. Shared Outcomes.
• Participate in Care Team meetings for assigned guests and contribute relevant spiritual-formation observations, strengths, concerns, guest-stated goals, progress, and recommendations.
• Coordinate biblical-counseling goals with the guest's broader person-centered plan without assuming Case Management ownership or clinical treatment authority.
• Receive referrals from Pastors, Case Management, Residential Support, and other authorized team members when the need falls within biblical-counseling scope.
• Refer or elevate practical, residential, clinical, medical, safety, legal, or other needs outside the role to the appropriate discipline.
• Complete assigned Care Team follow-up and communicate material changes or concerns through established channels.

4. Clinical & Professional Scope Boundaries

• Clearly represent biblical counseling as a Spiritual Formation service and not as licensed mental-health counseling, psychotherapy, substance-use counseling, diagnosis, or clinical treatment.
• Do not diagnose mental health or substance-use disorders, conduct clinical assessments, provide psychotherapy, create clinical treatment plans, or practice outside qualifications and authorized role.
• Recognize indicators that may warrant referral to qualified Mental & Behavioral Health providers, medical professionals, or other specialists and follow established escalation/referral procedures.
• Support guests who are receiving external clinical care without undermining, replacing, or independently modifying clinically indicated treatment.
• Coordinate appropriately with external providers when authorized and consistent with consent, confidentiality, organizational policy, and role boundaries.
• Maintain appropriate relational, ethical, spiritual, and professional boundaries with vulnerable persons served.

5. Groups, Classes & Educational Support

• Facilitate approved small groups, classes, workshops, or spiritual-formation sessions related to biblical counseling and assigned areas of expertise.
• Use approved curricula and materials and provide feedback to the Manager of Spiritual Formation regarding effectiveness and needed improvement.
• Support Pastors and the Manager of Spiritual Formation in developing or refining Scripture-based resources for guests and approved ministry settings.
• Teach in a manner appropriate to audience literacy, recovery stage, trauma history, cultural context, and program setting.
• Participate in approved church/community training when the subject matter falls within the Biblical Counselor's expertise and organizational assignment.

6. Documentation, Confidentiality & Information Sharing

• Maintain timely, objective, appropriate, and confidential documentation of counseling contacts, guest-stated spiritual goals, interventions, progress, referrals, significant concerns, Care Team coordination, and other required information.
• Document only information necessary for continuity, accountability, coordination, and organizational requirements; avoid unnecessary sensitive spiritual detail.
• Explain applicable confidentiality and information-sharing limits consistent with organizational policy and the nature of interdisciplinary service.
• Share information with Care Team members and external providers only through approved processes and within applicable consent, confidentiality, safety, and legal requirements.
• Promptly document and escalate safety or risk concerns according to established organizational procedures.

7. Competency, Supervision & Continuous Improvement

• Participate actively in regular supervision, biblical-counseling consultation, case consultation, competency assessment, training, and performance development.
• Demonstrate and maintain defined competencies for biblical counseling with persons affected by homelessness, addiction, trauma, poverty, grief, family instability, and other complex circumstances.
• Receive coaching and correction with humility and promptly address identified competency, boundary, documentation, teamwork, or performance gaps.
• Maintain appropriate continuing education in biblical counseling, trauma-responsive ministry, addiction/recovery, crisis awareness, ethics/boundaries, and other assigned areas.
• Contribute observations, guest feedback, outcomes, referral trends, and recommendations that improve Spiritual Formation quality and interdisciplinary care.

Core Competencies

Biblical Counseling • Scripture Application • Spiritual Formation • One-to-One Helping Skills • Group Facilitation • Trauma-Responsive Ministry • Person-Centered Spiritual Support • Interdisciplinary Collaboration • Referral & Escalation Judgment • Professional Boundaries • Documentation & Confidentiality • Cultural Humility • Teachability • Organizational Accountability

At Oliver Gospel Mission, successful performance is measured by both what an employee accomplishes and how the employee accomplishes it. Every employee is accountable for fulfilling the responsibilities, competencies, and expected outcomes of the position while consistently advancing Oliver Gospel's Mission and Vision and demonstrating the Core Values, How We Work practices, and the integrated Ideal Team Player virtues of Humble, Hungry, and Smart. These expectations are integral to recruitment and selection, onboarding, supervision and coaching, professional development, performance evaluation, promotion and advancement, recognition, retention, and corrective action.

Organizational Framework: Mission • Vision • Core Values: Faith, Love, Integrity, Servant Mindset, Initiative • How We Work: We Pray, We Step Out, We Breathe, We Build, We Press On, We Receive, We Love, We Release, We Speak Truth, We Imagine • Ideal Team Player: Humble, Hungry, Smart.

Physical & Work Demands

• Ability to work effectively in a changing, growth-oriented environment
• Ability to concentrate, apply sound judgment, and manage complex information
• Ability to work effectively with disruptions, critical issues, and emotionally distressed individuals
• Ability to maintain a positive, professional, and mission-focused attitude
• Ability to move seamlessly between multiple priorities, responsibilities, and competing demands
• Ability to manage frequent meetings, interruptions, and changing priorities
• Ability to remain in a st