by Allan Miller, Executive Director

Our 2026 conference theme was “The Sacrifice of Submission.”

Guest preacher, Pastor Kevin Binkley, opened 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 for us through two powerful expository messages: “Submission Defined” and “Submission Delivered.” Together, they helped us understand both what biblical submission is and what it looks like when that truth moves from our theology into the attitudes and actions of everyday life.

One statement especially captured an important truth that continued to resonate throughout our time together:

Biblical submission is first an attitude before it is an action.

Allow that to sink in. 😯

Before submission ever becomes something we do, we have to examine the posture of our hearts. Do we trust that God's design is good? Are we willing to surrender our preferences, pride, and desire for control to what He has commanded?

Pastor Binkley challenged us not only to understand the biblical basis for submission, but to pursue the attitude, find our place, feel the pain, take the risk, and enjoy the result of living in submission to God's design.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Nicolas Ellen, a respected teacher and trainer in biblical counseling, brought a wonderfully complementary perspective through his session, “When Authority Functions as God Intends.” He reminded us that authority is not self-derived—it is entrusted to us by God and is meant to build up, protect, serve, and benefit those placed under our care.

Whether we are husbands and wives seeking to honor God’s design for marriage, parents caring for children, employers leading employees, pastors shepherding congregations, or ministry leaders caring for those entrusted to us, the authority we exercise is never ultimately our own. It belongs to God, and we are accountable to Him for how we use it.

That should make us humble, careful, and intentional. Biblical authority should never be exercised for our own benefit, but for the good of those God has placed in our care.

National Conference is also an important opportunity to sharpen the practical skills of our Healing Hearts Certified Biblical Counselors.

Dr. Ellen also taught on “The Need for Biblical Counseling,” reminding us why we remain committed to the sufficiency of Scripture for addressing life's issues at their core. He walked us through the pattern of 2 Timothy 3:16–17—teaching, conviction, correction, and training—showing how God's Word leads people toward genuine transformation.

Under the helpful guidance of our gifted Regional Directors, we also spent extended time examining some of the “counseling buzzwords” our leaders increasingly hear: codependency, triggers, gaslighting, narcissism, estrangement, boundaries, and PTSD.

These terms have become part of the everyday vocabulary people use to describe their pain, relationships, experiences, and struggles. Our goal is not simply to accept or reject the terminology, but to listen carefully, understand what someone is trying to communicate, and then help them examine their experience through the clarity and sufficiency of God's Word.

Through these workshops, we explored how Scripture has already described and prescribed the heart issues, suffering, fears, relationships, responses, and patterns that can lie behind these contemporary terms—equipping our counselors to provide a clear biblical pathway toward hope, healing, and growth in Christ.

As our conference teachings exemplify so well, certification is not the end of learning. We want our leaders to continue growing in biblical wisdom and discernment so they can care well for every person God brings to them.

Some of the greatest benefits of National Conference, however, are harder to put into words.

There is something uniquely encouraging about being surrounded by people who simply “get you.”

Many of our leaders have their own stories of how God met them in places of hurt, sin, loss, or brokenness and used His Word to transform their lives. Today, they share a common calling as Healing Hearts Certified Biblical Counselors, walking alongside others with the same hope they themselves have received.

That shared history and calling create an almost immediate bond. Conversations move quickly beyond the surface. Fellowship becomes richer. Encouragement comes from people who understand both the privilege and the weight of this ministry because they carry it too.

For a few days, our leaders and trainees are surrounded by brothers and sisters who understand where they have come from, what God has called them to today, and why this work matters so deeply to them.

They worship together. They pray together. They learn together. They laugh together. Old friendships are renewed and new ones begin.

And then they return home reminded of something very important:

They are not serving alone.

That is difficult to measure on a spreadsheet, but its value to the health and longevity of our ministry is tremendous.

When you pray for Healing Hearts, give financially, or encourage one of our leaders, you are helping us invest in people who are investing in people.

And this brings us back to #StandWithMe. We encourage each of our leaders to have a personal #StandWithMe page, giving friends, family members, churches, and others an opportunity to come alongside them financially in the ministry God has called them to. For some, that support helps make attending National Conference possible.

You can learn more about #StandWithMe and meet some of the leaders currently raising support here.

We want more of our leaders to experience these days of teaching, training, fellowship, and encouragement. So when a Healing Hearts leader invites you to #StandWithMe, I hope you will see that invitation for what it really is: an opportunity to invest in someone who is continually investing in the spiritual lives of others.

We are grateful for the 96 people God brought together this year, grateful for everything He taught us, and grateful for friends like you who help make this ministry possible.

As our leaders return home and continue serving in their churches and communities, would you join us in prayer?

❤️ For hearts of humble submission — Pray that what we learned together would continue to bear fruit, and that each of us would joyfully submit to God's design and faithfully steward whatever authority He has entrusted to us.

📖 For wisdom as our counselors serve others — Pray that our leaders would listen carefully, handle God's Word faithfully, and have discernment as they walk alongside people facing difficult circumstances.

💪 For renewed strength and encouragement — Pray that the fellowship our leaders received at Conference would sustain them in the everyday work of discipling and caring for others.

👥 For more leaders to gather with us — Pray that God would provide the resources and opportunities for even more leaders and trainees to attend future National Conferences.

Thank you for standing with us as we seek to equip God's people to heal God's people through the power of His Word.

Serving Him Together,

Allan Miller
Executive Director