On Belay (ePub)

The most concise and complete summary of the Gospel is to be found in II Corinthians 5::17-20:
v.17-20 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not counting their trespasses unto them; and has given to us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did urge you by us: we pray in Christ's stead, be reconciled to God.
The book ON BELAY! was written to help train ministers and lay persons alike in the basic skills of Christian counseling. Since the book and teaching program based upon it was first developed, both have undergone many changes and improvements. As a part of the teaching team, and also one of the original developers of the program, this writer can safely say that this present format of the program and book is by far the most complete, representing thousands of hours of study and prayer.
To reiterate what the scriptures state in a paraphrased form, "God sent Jesus into the world to bring sinful man back into a right relationship with Himself." Jesus then gave unto all Christians the same ministry, "bringing others into a right relationship with God (and it might be added with each other)." Every Christian is called as an ambassador of Christ to bring sinners into a right relationship with God and each other through Jesus Christ."
It has become increasingly evident that the On Belay! program is specifically designed to train men and women with gifting and calling to bring reconciliation of man to God and man. So many Christians, although sure of their relationship to God, are not in a right relationship with some other significant person(s) in their life. Or, they simply have not made peace with themselves. In order to be able to love others and to "love ourselves" as Jesus said, the Christian must come into a right relationship (be reconciled) to others and to themselves. The book you have in your hands was written to prepare men and women to be effective caregivers or reconcilers of people to God and man.