Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies Bill Effler recently published his third book "Out of the Shadows, Biblical Counseling Revealed in the Story of Creation."
The ideas for this book sparked in Effler's mind 14 years ago when he started teaching counseling courses in the School of Religion at Lee and began putting pen to paper about a year and a half ago.
Around this time, he felt that God was leading him to focus on the beginning'Genesis. There he noticed an aspect of the Bible that he had never seen before.
"I saw a very practical step by step model on counseling, beginning with God," Effler said. "And what does God do? He creates."
Effler believes that God wants counselors to create a safe place for people to share. His book defines a practical, eight-step process from the idea that God sees, speaks, separates and blesses.
The title of the book, "Out of the Shadows," has great significance to Effler's work. Many of the people he counsels have recently lost something in their lives, and some may feel like they are in the shadows. Effler strives to counsel and guide them into the light.
Effler wrote the book during a time when his own son was diagnosed with cancer and his wife became blind.
"The title of the book, 'Out of the Shadows' is very much an autobiographical statement,' Effler said. 'I came up with the title prior to my son's cancer and my wife's blindness and I don't believe it was a coincidence at all."
"Out of the Shadows" is Effler's third book, and he is currently working on a fourth. A common theme in all four books is addressing human behavior.
His first book is aimed towards those involved in ministry. His other books discuss the increasing brokenness in our world.
Effler's book is currently a required text in his pastoral counseling course at Lee, and he encourages many Lee University students to read it.
Religion Major Nathan Godwin said, 'What I appreciate the most about Dr. Effler is his genuine interest in my story and his effort to provide guidance when I needed it. He took time out of his schedule to listen, understand and then invest in me [despite the fact] I'm not even one of his advisees."
