Who helps ministry leaders who are in crisis?
Who has the tools to help others through their pain?
That person could be you.

What is SHM Training Institute?

This 15-month Certificate Program is designed for Pastors, Messianic Rabbis, Missionaries, Lay Counseling Coordinators, Church Small Groups, and Ministry Leaders.

Key Benefits of The Program

There are many benefits of the SHM Training program including:

Study with a community of
ministry leaders who, just like
you, are learning skills that
you can teach as a benefit to
your congregations and ministry teams.

 Have access to a wide
variety of resources
pertaining to each topic
taught in every Semester.

Learn from servant-leader
instructors who bring years
of life experience and a
Christian worldview that will
enhance your studies.

Grow through a cohort
model that allows you to
develop relationships
and get to know your fellow
classmates across the globe.

This is for you if…

• You are called to help those who are wounded and broken
• Having an equipped and healthy ministry team is an important priority to you
• You want to grow in your personal life and marriage
• You are looking for a Christ-centered approach and time-tested tools
• You need tools to help avoid crisis in marriage or ministry
• You can access the training on your laptop, iPad, or desktop computer

Testimonies

Curriculum Overview

15-MONTH PROGRAM *

SEMESTER ONE

DISC Personality Profile
Priorities
Safety
Friendship & Covenant
Forgiveness
Trust
Mutual Need Meeting in Relationships: Love

 SEMESTER TWO 

The Unique Self/Identity
Core Longings & Structures of Healing
Burnout, Stress & Compassion Fatigue 
Setting Effective Boundaries
Rules of Conflict
Issues of the Blended Family/Remarriage 

SEMESTER THREE

Pitfalls of Pornography
Sexual Intimacy Pt 1/Pt 2
Six Areas of Intimacy
Building Emotional Intimacy
Grief & Loss
Creating a Marriage Vision
Spiritual Issues

SEMESTER FOUR 

Microskills
Counselor Pitfalls
Client-Centered Problems  
Counselor/Client Communication
Cross Cultural Counseling
Ethics in Counseling
 

SHMTI Student Handbook & Information
*Please note that topics are subject to change.

The 2024 Training program is now Closed. If you are interested in future training programs, you may fill out the registration form and you will be notified of the next start date.

Meet the Teachers

Larry and Lorrie Russell

FOUNDERS

Larry and Lorrie Russell are the co-founders of Shepherd’s Heart Ministry with many years of pastoral experience. They bring the authority of their Master’s degrees in Guidance and Counseling, Marriage and Family from the University of Colorado and their experience of over 20,000 of hours of counseling to pour everything they have learned into the Training Institute.

Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner

SEXUAL THERAPISTS, EDUCATORS, AND AUTHORS

Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner are internationally recognized sexual therapists, educators, and authors. Joyce, a clinical nurse specialist, holds a master’s degree in psychosomatic nursing and nursing education from UCLA. Clifford, a clinical psychologist, earned an M.A. in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and holds a Ph.D. from Fuller’s Graduate School of Psychology.

Mita M. Johnson

ED.D, NCC, LPC, LMFT, LAC, MFT-S, BCTP-II, EMDR-TRAINED

Mita M Johnson has been practicing in the world of mental health, marriage and family, and addictions counseling for the past 30 years. Mita earned her Master’s in Counseling degree from Denver Seminary. She earned her Doctorate in counselor education and supervision and is a core faculty member in the School of Counseling program at Walden University.

Kirk Samuels

AUTHOR AND MOTIVATOR

Kirk Samuels is an author, motivator, inspirator, and bona fide porn liberator. He has inspired others to join him by going into the darkest places of a man’s life with the purpose of rescuing the captive. Realizing it would be of great benefit to others, he created a class, a program called f.r.e.e. indeed, a score-based, adaptive behavior method specifically targeting internet pornography consumption.

Carsten and Linda Pellmann

CANADIAN INTENSIVE PASTORAL CARE SPECIALISTS

Having been in pastoral ministry and other leadership roles, Carsten and Linda Pellmann understand the need of caring for pastors and spouses. Carsten holds a Master of Theology degree and has extensive experience in pastoral counseling. He served as senior pastor for 30 years. Linda holds a Master of Divinity degree with a focus in Spiritual Formation.

Katie Brown

MA, LPC, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND GRIEF SPECIALIST

Katie is a follower of Jesus, wife, mother of 3 blossoming children, and has worked countless hours over the past 17 years with various cultures and populations in the counseling setting. Along with her private practice and ministry work Katie is also an author and speaker and is passionate about her belief that even in darkness the light shines (Psalm 112:4a).

Sandy Malone

NCC, LPCC

Sandy is a dedicated and experienced counselor with a Master’s in professional clinical counseling. With a passion for teaching and counseling and years of experience counseling individuals in both ministry and clinical settings, Sandy is committed to providing compassionate support and guidance to help others on their journey toward healing and personal growth in Christ.

What Graduates Are Saying

I have a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and I have worked as a counselor in both the secular (professional) setting and in the church. I was a bit skeptical about this training program and if it would just be a review of things I already know. I can honestly say I have been pleasantly surprised!

I have learned more hands-on, practical tools in the past 9 months from Shepherd’s Heart than I did in 2.5 years of graduate school. This program, and Larry and Lorrie, are the real deal! I would highly recommend this training to anyone who is interested in working with married couples.

RUTH WILLIAMS

What graduates are saying

 

This was a great program! Wish we would have had this information at the beginning of our marriage or had it to share with our kids. K.M. Arizona

Amazing course to build your toolbox for marriage. Ministry leaders especially will have a good foundation to apply to their own marriages and to support others. J.H. Colorado

Thank you! I am so incredibly blessed that the Lord opened this door for me to do this course. It has been life-changing, and it will also change our ministry and our nation. I am so grateful for the opportunity. M.F. Belize

What graduates are saying

 

This class was excellent, and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Our cohort and leaders were all amazing and we learned a lot through our group discussions. We hope to put all we learned into practice in our own marriage, and after experiencing healing, to be able to impart what we learned to other couples in our ministry. N.L. Portugal

I have used this information both personally and professionally. It is so practical! Loved the strategies and helpful ways to create a climate of professionalism in the counseling experience. D.T. Arizona

What graduates are saying

 

Loved the training and the examples! Also, liked that there were scriptural references for the lessons that were taught. T.W. Colorado

It’s amazing how our cohort group built trust and we could share practical examples with each other and how they applied after watching the teaching and doing the homework. L.B. Illinois

This program will be a great aid to the Body of Christ and their marriages. E.W. Colorado

What graduates are saying

 

This Training Institute is a laboratory for your own marriage and for your potential impact on the spiritual health of your congregation and the Body of Christ. R.M. Colorado

I recommend diving in wholeheartedly. The connection of lives has been the Institute’s most powerful part. The excellent teaching gave us the springboard for conversation, sharing, and learning from each other. S. M. Colorado

These practical, biblical teachings have not only made a huge difference in our marriage, but I am using them with our church, and we are seeing such great growth in our congregation. C.B. Illinois

Apply Now

The 2024 Training program is now Closed. If you are interested in future training programs, you may fill out the registration form

and you will be notified of the next start date.

NEXT STUDENT ORIENTATION (Mandatory)

SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 at 6:00 pm Mountain Time

CLASSES AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS BEGIN

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

GRADUATION

WEEK OF DECEMBER 8, 2025

Begin learning biblically-based tools that you can use to improve your own life, share with others in small groups, teach your congregations or ministry teams, and help others.

• I have access to Wi-Fi
• I have access to laptop/iPad/computer
• I can make a 15-month time commitment
• I can commit to 4-6 hours of homework per topic
• I can commit to group discussions every other week

Contact Us

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 4808
Parker, CO 80134
USA

Phone Number

303-884-8030

Email

hello@shministry.com