International Association of Biblical Counselors

What International Association of Biblical Counselors does

The International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization founded in 1996 (with one source citing 2000) and headquartered in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It certifies, trains, and supports biblical counselors serving pastors, churches, and individuals across the United States, organized around the doctrinal premise of the 'sufficiency of Scripture' for counseling and a 'Counseling With A Gentle Voice' grace-centered approach. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected services including an annual membership program, an IABC Certified Biblical Counselor (CBC) credential, a network of physical training centers across U.S. states, online training centers, an annual in-person conference with virtual/digital access, a 'Find a Counselor' public directory, an educational blog, a weekly podcast (The Biblical Counseling Podcast), and free downloadable resources.

IABC is not a technology company: its digital presence is built on the Kajabi platform, and there are no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, patents, or technology products. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (subscription), tiered conference registration ($150 for military/students/seniors, $180 for certified counselors, $190 for non-certified members, $210 for non-members), certification and examination fees, training center course fees, and donations. Its go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, with the annual conference functioning as both a revenue event and a primary community touchpoint, supplemented by content marketing through the blog, podcast, and email.

The organization is led by President Jeff Christianson (also Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Glenwood Springs and host of the podcast) and governed by a Board of Directors including Dr. Kevin Carson, Tracy Gray, Dr. Alden Laird, J. Michael Baker, and advisors Dr. Howard Eyrich and Dr. Bill Hines. Operations are supported by 5 employees with Member Services located in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. IABC's primary customer segments are pastors and church leaders, certified and aspiring biblical counselors, counseling students and educators, ministry workers and lay counselors, and individuals seeking biblical counseling.

Name

International Association of Biblical Counselors

Legal name

International Association of Biblical Counselors, Inc.

Website

https://iabc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Association of Biblical Counselors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1996 that certifies, trains, and supports biblical counselors serving pastors, churches, and individuals across the United States through membership, training centers, and an annual conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Religious Counseling Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Professional Organizations (81392), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized/Single-Purpose Accreditors (e.g., seminaries, arts conservatories) (EDADACAD), Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Biblical counseling certification
• Counselor training programs
• Religious professional association
• Christian ministry education
• Pastoral counseling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide access to IABC resources, newsletters, conference discounts, and are required for certification candidacy. The organization offers member and non-member pricing tiers.
2. Conference Registration: Annual conference generates revenue through tiered registration pricing: $210 non-member, $190 non-certified member, $180 certified counselor, $150 military/students/seniors. Virtual/digital attendance available at same pricing with one-year archive access.
3. Certification Program: IABC offers a certification program for biblical counselors who meet qualifications, establishing standards for counseling excellence and biblical integrity. Certification creates an additional revenue stream through examination and credentialing fees.
4. Training Center Fees: IABC facilitates biblical counseling training through affiliated training centers across the United States and online platforms, generating revenue through course fees and mentorship programs.
5. Donations: The organization accepts donations to support its mission, with a scholarship donation option during conference registration ($210 contribution matched by organization).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IABC certifies biblical counselors, provides structured counselor training through a network of physical and online training centers, and operates a membership-based professional association. It complements certification with an annual conference (in-person and virtual), a public Find a Counselor directory, educational blog and podcast content, and free downloadable ministry resources.

Product overview

The International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC) operates as a ministry organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered on biblical counseling certification, training, and community. The core offerings include a certification program for biblical counselors (IABC Certified Biblical Counselor), a membership network, and a network of physical and online training centers. The organization also hosts annual conferences (both in-person and with digital streaming options), publishes educational content through a blog and podcast, and maintains a counselor directory to connect those seeking help with certified professionals. All services are unified by IABC's commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture and Christ-centered counseling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IABC Certification Program Rigorous credentialing program for aspiring biblical counselors that establishes standards for counseling excellence and biblical integrity, leading to the IABC Certified Biblical Counselor (CBC) designation. Membership is a prerequisite for certification candidacy.
• Membership
• Training Centers (In-Person) Affiliated training centers located across U.S. states where aspiring biblical counselors learn from mentors through structured in-person training programs tied to certification preparation.
• Online Training Centers Digital training options for biblical counseling education, offering flexible remote learning pathways for those pursuing certification or general biblical counseling knowledge.
• Annual Conference Annual in-person and virtual conferences that equip pastors, counselors, and church members through plenary sessions, workshops, networking, and certification presentations, with one year of digital archive access for virtual attendees.
• Find a Counselor Directory A referral directory service connecting individuals seeking faith-based counseling support with IABC Certified Biblical Counselors, offering a 'gentle voice' in counseling.
• The Biblical Counseling Podcast Weekly podcast hosted by IABC President Jeff Christianson featuring discussions on biblical counseling topics, including interviews with recognized leaders in the biblical counseling movement.

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Addiction Connections: An addiction-focused biblical counseling network where IABC Advisor Dr. Bill Hines serves on the Advisory Team. It is a thematically adjacent organization addressing a specialized slice of the biblical counseling market.

Direct peers

• Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC): The largest and most established biblical counselor certification body in the U.S., directly competing with IABC for certification candidates and member counselors. Dr. Howard Eyrich served as ACBC's Executive Director, illustrating direct overlap in leadership and talent pool.
• Biblical Counseling Academy: Founded by Jeff Christianson, IABC's current President, this organization offers online training and certification in biblical counseling. It operates an adjacent online curriculum that competes for the same aspiring counselors and may overlap with IABC's offerings.
• Faith Biblical Counseling: An organization offering biblical counseling training, mentoring, and certification, directly serving the same pastor and lay counselor segments as IABC with a comparable theological positioning.
• Biblical Counseling Coalition (BCC): An umbrella organization for biblical counseling leaders, with IABC board member Dr. Kevin Carson serving as Executive Director. BCC sets confessional standards for the movement and overlaps with IABC's training and certification audience.

Broad incumbents

• Birmingham Theological Seminary: Where IABC Chaplain Dr. Howard Eyrich has taught for over 30 years and led the Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Counseling program. It directly competes by offering graduate-level credentials for biblical counselors.
• Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF): The seminal biblical counseling organization founded in 1968, offering certification, training, and counseling materials. CCEF is a broader incumbent with a much larger footprint, longer history, and active integration of psychology that contrasts with IABC's position.

Regional players

• Master's Graduate School of Divinity: Where IABC Treasurer Dr. Alden Laird earned his doctorate and which offers biblical counseling degrees. It competes for the same counselor training market with formal graduate credentials.
• Horizon University: Where IABC President Jeff Christianson is an Adjunct Professor and serves as Academic Advisor. Horizon offers biblical counseling degrees that compete with IABC's certification pathway for academic-minded candidates.

Emerging players

• The Counseling Academy: An emerging organization offering biblical counseling training and certification, serving a similar audience of pastors and lay counselors with an online-first delivery model that overlaps with IABC's online training centers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-association-of-biblical-counselors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Association of Biblical Counselors