October 5-7, 2026
Germantown, TN
What gives a movement life and sustains it for decades? Fifty years ago, the biblical counseling movement took root in the conviction that God’s Word is sufficient, and that all believers can be equipped to counsel one another. While the world has constructed countless systems of care that rise and fall with time, biblical counseling continues to grow, firmly rooted in truth. Join us in Germantown, TN, on October 5–7, 2026, for our Annual Conference, Rooted in Truth: Celebrating 50 Years, as we look back on God’s faithfulness and press forward with confidence in His unchanging Word.
75+ hours of lecture content covering topics like ‘Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling’, ‘History of ACBC’, ‘Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools’, and more!
Opportunity to watch the conference live and interact with other attendees
Over 65 different speakers
Conference bookstore with discounts on top biblical counseling books
7:15 am – 9:45 am – Registration and Check In
PRE-CONFERENCE
8:45 am – 9:45 am – Pre-Conference Session #1
9:45 am – 10:15 am – Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am – Pre-Conference Session #2
11:15 am – 12:45 pm – Lunch
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm – Pre-Conference Session #3
1:45 pm – 2:15 pm – Break
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – Pre-Conference Session #4
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Break
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Pre-Conference Session #5
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Registration and Check In
6:00 pm – 7:15 pm – Plenary Session #1
7:15 pm – 7:45 pm – Break
7:45 pm – 8:45 pm – Breakout #1
8:45 am – 9:45 am – Breakout #2
9:45 am – 10:15 am – Break
10:15 am – 11:30 am – Plenary Session #2
11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Plenary Session #3
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Break
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm – Breakout #3
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm – Break
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm – Plenary Session #4
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Member Meeting
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Ministry Update Dinner*
*Pre-purchased tickets required (includes dinner)
8:45 am – 9:45 am – Breakout #4
9:45 am – 10:15 am – Break
10:15 am – 11:30 am – Plenary Session #5
11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Breakout #5
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Break
2:30 pm – 3:45 pm – Plenary Session #6
This year’s breakouts include sessions on the following topics:
You can select a session in each time block on a single topic or mix it up!
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
(Available sessions are subject to change)
Dale Johnson
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools
**Keith Evans – Counseling Conflict Diagrams and Visual Tools
**Jim Newheiser – Using Counseling Cards
**Ken Schultz – Discerning One’s Responsibility
John Street – Probing the Profession of Your Counselee’s Faith in Christ
Jill Wamsley – Rooted Daily in Christ
Common Problems That People Face
Darrell Rose – Battling Uncontrolled Thoughts
History of ACBC
**Howard Eyrich – Riding the Wave: Perspectives from a Second Generation Biblical Counselor
Charles Hodges – Robert Smith, M.D.: The Effect of One Physician on the Biblical Counseling Movement
Mark Mann – For the Love of God: The Motive and Objective in Biblical Counseling
**Todd Sorrell – Contributions of John MacArthur to the Biblical Counseling Movement
Wayne Vanderwier – Why ACBC Certification Remains the “Gold Standard”
Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling
**Kyle Gangel – Union with Christ and Progressive Sanctification
Tim Pasma – Sufficiency: The Superiority of Revelation Over Observation
**Sean Perron – What Homework Would Jesus Give?
Various
**Amy Baker – Growing in Our Understanding of Emotions
**Robert Jones – Four Core Biblical Counseling Truths in Psalm 119
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools
** Tim Keeter – The Harvest Chart-Galatians 6:7-9
Common Problems That People Face
**Nicolas Ellen – How To Deal With The Past
Jacob Elwart – Redeeming Anger
Manuel Herrera – Fragmented Reality:Ministering Biblical Hope Amid Psychotic Experiences
** Scott Mehl – Jesus’ Strategy for Replacing Anger and Lust
Brent Osterberg – Hope for Those Experiencing Intrusive Thoughts
Matthew Rehrer – Why Can’t I Sleep?
History of ACBC
** Marshall Adkins – The Influence of Cornelius van Til on Biblical Counseling
Deborah Dewart – Legal Issues Over the Years
Karen Haught – Mission Guardians: A Brief History of ACBC
Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling
** Kevin Carson – The Supremacy of Christ
** Keith Evans – Elements and Circumstances: The Use of Extra Biblical Material in Counseling
Joshua Greiner – Informed Consent vs. Confidentiality: The Difference Between Biblical Counseling and Psychology
** Samuel Stephens – Hanging Shingles: Biblical Counseling as Church Ministry and not Professional Practice
Various
** Austin Collins – Common Grace and Scientific Claims
** Donald Roy – Pointing to the Indicatives as Heart Motivation for the Imperatives
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools
Tony Guinn – Idol Tree
Jim Newcomer – The Predictability of Temptation: A Chart for James 1:14-15
** Sean Perron – Using Creative Diagrams to Counsel Children
Common Problems That People Face
** Jenn Chen – Counseling Shame
Keith Christensen – How Should I Pray When I’m Anxious?
** Howard Eyrich – Neutralizing Bitterness
Nicole Heppner – Faithful Care in Fragile Seasons: Counseling Women through Complicated Pregnancies
Jim Koerber – Compassionate Care to the Psychologized Counselee
Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling
** Sybrand de Swardt – Distinguishing Biblical Counseling From Secular and Traditional Wordlviews
**Adrian Martinez – Involvement and Integrity: Distinctives of the Biblical Counseling Relationship
Michael Mock – Plundering the Egyptians: Exposing a Faulty Argument for Integration
** Randy Patten – The Four Step Process of Biblical Change
Various
** Spencer Harmon – The Way Anxiety Works and How to Fight It
**Trevor Komatsu – How to Use the Bible Well: Overcoming 7 Common Mistakes Biblical Counselors Make
** Omri Miles – Now Hiring: How Professionalism Sabotages Biblical Counseling
Jonathan Okinaga – When the Well Runs Dry: Addressing Burnout in Counseling
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools
Jenn Chen – Responding in Ways that Honor God-Tools from Psalm 3
** Joshua Greiner – Utilizing and Understanding Jeremy Pierre’s Dynamic Heart Model
** Josh Stephens – Understanding Sexual Sin: Binding & Blinding Chart
Common Problems That People Face
** Venessa Ellen – When Motherhood Hurts
**Keith Evans – Suicidal Thoughts-Hope for the Self-Despairing Soul
Spencer Harmon – Identifying and Fighting Jealousy
Sean Perron – Fear Is Not Sin?
History of ACBC
** Matt Mumma – The Idol of Influence
Martha Peace – NANC circa 1989
Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling
** Marco Bartholomae – Christ Our Shepherd: The Sufficiency of Christ in Counseling-Psalm 23
Brad Brandt – Getting Better at Getting to the Heart: A Case Study
** Nicole Heppner – From Pillars to Practice
** Keith Palmer – The Doctrine of Spiritual Growth
** Andrew Rogers – Sanctification: God’s Design for Human Flourishing
Ryan Trzeciak – The Holy Spirit’s Role in Counseling
Various
Sybrand de Swardt – Escaping the Emotional Maze
** Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
Biblical Counseling Diagrams and Visual Tools
Tony Anderson – Picturing the Armor of God to Understand Spiritual Warfare
Keith Christensen – The Gospel Box: A Visual Aid for Gospel-Centered Growth and Change
** Ryan Trzeciak – The Pyramid of Care for the Local Church
Wayne Vanderwier – Picturing the Root-Fruit Dynamic and Having Some Fun Doing It!
Common Problems That People Face
** Julie Ganschow – Caring For Aging Parents
** Joshua Greiner – What Are Emotions and Why Are They Essential?
**Logan Williams – From Grumbling to Grace: Cultivating Contentment in a Discontent World
** Heath Wilson – What to do When Your Counselee is Ashamed
History of ACBC
Eric Abisror – Rediscovering David Powlison’s View of Sufficiency
John Babler – From the Counseling Room to the Seminary
Austin Collins – Standing Against the Tide: ACBC’s Historical Commitment to Scripture’s Sufficiency
** Jeremy Pray – Characteristics of an Exemplary Counselor
** Josh Weidemann – Critical Counseling Lessons from Randy Patten
Key Tenets of Biblical Counseling
** Bill Slattery – The Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence of God in Counseling
Various
** Johanna Pressley – Illustrating Scripture Through Visual Tools
ACBC Process
Addie Musheff – How to Become ACBC Certified
Sam Stephens – How to become a certified Training Center
**Indicates that these sessions are offered in-person and virtually
| If Registered By 11:59 PM Central Time on | October 31, 2025 | January 31, 2026 | March 31, 2026 | July 31, 2026 | August 31, 2026 | September: Full Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual and Pre-Conference (IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL) | ||||||
| General Registration | $265 | $285 | $305 | $325 | $345 | $365 |
| ACBC Certified | $200 | $220 | $240 | $260 | $280 | $300 |
| Annual Conference Only (IN-PERSON Only) | ||||||
| General Registration | $240 | $250 | $260 | $270 | $280 | $290 |
| ACBC Certified | $175 | $185 | $195 | $205 | $215 | $225 |
| Pre-Conference Only (IN-PERSON Only) | ||||||
| General Registration | $80 | $90 | $100 | $110 | $120 | $130 |
| Group Watch (VIRTUAL) | ||||||
| Group Watch for 10 attendees to watch on one screen | $2,060 | $2,060 | $2,060 | $2,060 | $2,060 | $2,060 |
| For each addition attendee above 10 | $206 | $206 | $206 | $206 | $206 | $206 |
| For each additional room above 1 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
All cancellation submissions must be made by logging into your Cvent account or contacting our office. Please note that refunds will only be given up to September 1st.
Cancellation Fees:
· No refunds will be given after September 1st, 2026
· Prior to that up to a 90% refund will be given
During registration you can add members to your registration group (spouse, fellow church member etc.); however, each attendee will need a unique e-mail address.
To make our 2026 Annual Conference as accessible as possible to local churches, ACBC is offering deeply discounted group packages for church and ministry groups of 10 or more.
ACBC has secured discounted room rates for hotels near the conference venue. Simply click the links below to book a room using the discounted rates. The room rates allow for a October 3, 2026 arrival through October 11, 2026 departure based on availability. You must book before September 15, 2026 to secure the prices below.
Hotel | Rate | Brand | Notes |
$129 | Marriott | ||
$129 | Hilton | ||
$149 | IHG | ||
$129 | Marriott | ||
$119 | Marriott | ||
$169 | Marriott | ||
$139 | IHG | ||
$159 | Hilton |
Affliction is an inescapable part of this life, and biblical counselors must be prepared to minister God’s Word to those who are suffering.
Drawing from the book of 1 Peter, our 2025 Pre-Conference, Suffering Saints, will focus on helping believers withstand the various trials of life and find strength in Christ, our cornerstone.
The Pre-Conference, which includes four plenary sessions, will take place on Monday, October 6th, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.