Randy Patten and Howard Eyrich Inducted into the Academy
ACBC Academy
When the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) was started (initially the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors), one of the membership levels was that of Academy.
The ACBC Constitution explains that this distinction is reserved for those who have demonstrated and sustained a high degree of competence in biblical counseling and have made a significant contribution to the development of the movement.
It is very telling that this throughout the entire forty-five year history, before this week, only seven individuals had been distinguished in this way, including people like Jay Adams, Wayne Mack, Bob Smith, David Powlison, George Scippione, John McConaughy, and Steve Viars.
This week at the ACBC annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, the organization had the privilege of adding two names to this distinguished list.
Randy Patten
Steve Viars presented his friend Randy Patten.
Steve explained Randy’s life in terms of what faithfulness sounds like. Steve explained:
- Randy received his biblical counseling training in 1976.
- In 1982, he began driving 2.5 hours each way on Mondays to serve as a counselor and trainer at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministry in Lafayette, Indiana.
- In 1984, he was certified as a biblical counselor by NANC.
- In 1987, he began serving on the board of directors of NANC.
- In 1989, he became a Fellow and began supervising applicants toward membership in the organization. It is estimated that he has supervised over 250 people seeking certification.
Randy’s most important contribution began in the summer of 1997. At that time, then part-time NANC Executive Director Pastor Bill Goode died very suddenly of a heart attack. Pastor Goode had been working tirelessly to build NANC, and hoped in 5-10 years to be to the place where the organization could hire a full-time executive director.
On the afternoon of Pastor Goode’s funeral, the NANC board met to discern the next steps for the organization. They discussed two options: 1) close NANC or 2) ask someone to take the position full time with no promise of a salary. Wayne Mack suggested asking Randy Patten.
Randy and his dear wife Cindy were being asked to leave a stable ministry for one where there was not even a guarantee of a salary. And, they said, “Yes.”
Their decision will go down as one of the most sacrificial and consequential decisions in the organization’s forty-five year history.
Randy served NANC (now ACBC) for the next eighteen years as full time executive director. His dear wife Cindy worked at his side as the organization’s travel coordinator during that time.
Since his semi-retirement in 2015, he continues to train biblical counselors internationally, supervise those seeking certification, and help mentor ACBC Level Two members toward the Fellow position. He has a special ministry to pastors.
Randy had demonstrated and sustained a high degree of competence and made a significant contribution to the development of the movement.
Dr. Howard Eyrich
It was my privilege to introduce our second inductee into the ACBC Academy – Dr. Howard Eyrich.
Dr. Eyrich has been married to Pam for 59 years. They have two children, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
Dr. Howard was introduced to biblical counseling training in 1971 when he studied under Jay Adams. He attended the 10-week Monday training and supper seminar. Halfway through, Dr. Howard boldly asked Jay if they could switch seats to allow him to counsel and Jay supervise if he came back for a second 10-week session. With a smile, Jay agreed. During the second session, they agreed for Howard to come back for a third 10-week session. During the third session, Howard would study and take any available seat that came open. Part of the way through the third 10-week session, they asked him to begin working on the counseling staff at CCEF. By the fourth 10-week session, Dr. Howard worked part-time on staff, driving 60 miles each week to CCEF each way, and thus began his biblical counseling career.
He attended the initial meetings of what was then called the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC). Those early meetings around the conference table at CCEF included Jay Adams, John Bettler, and George Scippione initially, later Bob Smith and Pastor Bill Goode.
In its organization, Dr. Howard was appointed as the first executive director of NANC where he served six years.
Over the past fifty years, Dr. Howard has trained and supervised hundreds of individuals into biblical counseling. You may have heard of a few of those he has supervised or taught like Lou Priolo, David Powlison, Stuart Scott, Martha Peace, and many others.
In addition, over the past fifty years, he has taught biblical counseling in multiple seminaries, been the president of one seminary, and has started five biblical counseling centers.
Today he continues to serve as the director of the D.Min. program at Birmingham Theological Seminary and chairs the biblical counseling program. He also supervises on average 8-10 counselors at a time into ACBC membership.
Dr. Howard has demonstrated a long-term commitment to biblical counseling and sustained a high degree of competence in biblical counseling and have made a significant contribution to the development of the movement.
Two other interesting facts:
- Since its inception, Dr. Howard has only missed three annual NANC/ACBC annual conferences.
- When he was the executive director and the annual conference was in Chicago, he invited Dr. Henry Brandt to be a plenary speaker. The morning of Dr. Brandt’s talk, Dr. Howard and Pam mentioned to each other they had not seen him at the conference. Pam called Dr. Brandt’s home to check when he had left. To her surprise, Dr. Brandt answered the phone from his easy chair in his home in Florida. She asked him about the evening session. His reply, “See you in a few minutes.” He made it.
Long-Term Contribution and Friendship
I’m so grateful for the contribution and friendship of both Randy and Howard. My personal friendship with both has deepened my love for Christ, His Church, God’s Word, and biblical counseling training. When God granted me the kindness to know both men, He knew their contributions in my life would help me as I seek to pastor, train, parent, and husband. Together, both men in their own individualistic ways have blessed me.
My story is individual to me, yet repeated over and over and over again. Men and ladies all over the biblical counseling world have benefited from their demonstrated and sustained high degree of competence in biblical counseling. They have made a significant contribution to the development of the movement.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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