FINAL TALK ABOUT GENESIS
Chuck DeGroat, professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Western Theological Seminary, will be on campus to speak at November’s Ngage talk, which he has titled, “What Dance Are You In?” DeGroat will be speaking on how people interact with God, whether it be resting in the knowledge that God has made us enough or the tedious struggle of trying to measure up by the world’s standards.
“I’m going to use portions of Genesis 3 to highlight the difference between the ‘dance of intimacy’ for which we were made and the ‘dance of hiddenness’ that plays out with the different masks we wear and games we play with one another,” DeGroat said.
“The ‘dance of intimacy’ is when we experience our deep enough-ness in God and the ‘dance of hiddenness’ shows us how we go around trying to be good enough, smart enough, successful enough, in a way that is ultimately exhausting,” he continued.
In the last Ngage of this semester, DeGroat will leave students to ponder their sufficiency in Christ throughout the holiday season that can often make people feel inadequate.
DeGroat has committed his life to the training and health of pastors, and has 20 years of experience in pastoral ministry and seminary training.
“I am excited to see women and men formed for mission,” DeGroat said. “In particular, the changing realities of our culture and world. Increasing secularity and complexity in the world presents us with an important ‘missional’ moment, and my own unique contribution is to the formation and health of the next generation of pastors and leaders.”
DeGroat has founded two church-based clinical counseling centers, as well as co-founding Newbigin House of Studies, which is a missional training center located at City Church in San Francisco. DeGroat has served as the teaching pastor at City Church, as well as other numerous church plants. His passion in academia is studying the intersection of faith and psychology.
He has written three books, which are “Leaving Egypt: Finding God in the Wilderness Places,” “The Toughest People to Love” and “Wholeheartedness.” All three focus on different aspects of church leadership, care and counseling.
“Leaving Egypt” examines what the Bible teaches about care, counseling, mission and formation using the story from Exodus as a parallel story to the lives of Christians.
“The Toughest People to Love” explores how people “tick” and how to apply that knowledge in church leadership.
“Wholeheartedness” explores the phenomenon of human dividedness and how God is the key to wholeness, in heart and soul. It brings a vision of wholeness to a culture that is based on shame, fear and perfectionism.
In addition to studying and writing, DeGroat speaks at numerous schools, conferences and churches, teaches at Western Theological Seminary and spends time with his wife and two daughters in Holland, Mich.
DeGroat also has his own counseling practice and is a certified therapist in both Michigan and Florida. He serves as a consultant for churches and leaders across the country in need of guidance.
Lastly, DeGroat coaches individuals to meet their goals in life and ministry. Many of these sessions are done over Skype so he can reach people nationwide.
DeGroat will speak at Ngage at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, in Christ Chapel.
