American Association of Christian Counselors 25th Anniversary -- Congratulations to Those Who Have Led the Way
FOREST, Va., October 3, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- A sellout crowd of nearly 7,000 counselors, pastors, students and other Christian leaders from all 50 states and nearly 40 countries are set to pack the magnificent Opryland Hotel and numerous overflow hotel properties in Nashville for the highly anticipated American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) 25th Anniversary "Celebrate Your Faith" World Conference.
Attendees gathered Wednesday night in the Opryland's Delta Ballroom for the opening plenary session to hear from AACC President, Tim Clinton, and best-selling author and evangelist, Luis Palau. Throughout the week, renowned Christian leaders Mike Huckabee, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, Rev. Samuel Rodriquez, Jr., Bishop T.D. Jakes, Wess Stafford, Emerson Eggerichs, John Ortberg, Larry Crabb, Ed Young Jr., Diane Langberg, Mike Lyles, John Townsend, Henry Cloud and an army of Christian counseling experts are dawning the stage.
The World Conference showcases 42 different pre-conference learning institutes, over 140 workshops and an exhibit hall of more than 250 major Christian organizations featuring the latest resources and services in this exploding field. Packed with times of praise and worship, learning, spiritual growth and development, opportunities for networking, and even a little fun, the energy and excitement is contagious with praise and worship with Michael O'Brien and Charles Billingsley and the World Conference praise band, along with recording artists and award winning groups such as Grammy Award winning Third Day, Grammy Award nominees Francesca Battistelli and Leeland, Dove Award winner Jeremy Camp, Dove Award nominees Building 429 and NewSong, comedian Michael Jr. and more.
Honors Pioneers
On Friday September 30th, at the Silver Tie Banquet, the AACC Executive Team recognized pioneering leaders of Christian counseling and the AACC with the 2011 Silver Anniversary Award. This honor signifies outstanding influence and leadership in the development and advancement of Christian counseling around the world.
The following leaders were honored:
Stephen Arterburn
Henry Cloud
Gary R. Collins
Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr.
Archibald D. Hart
Ronald E. Hawkins
Diane Langberg
Michael R. Lyles
Paul Meier
Frank B. Minirth
Gary Oliver
Cliff and Joyce Penner
Gary T. Smalley
David Stoop
John S. Townsend
Everett L. Worthington, Jr.
H. Norman Wright
Siang Yang-Tan
In addition, the following awards were given:
Gary R. Collins Award: Eric L. Johnson, Ph.D.
Paris Finner-Williams Award: Paris Finner-Williams (posthumously)
James E. Clinton Award: Siang Yang-Tan, Ph.D.
AACC Caregiver Award: Mark R. Laaser, Ph.D.
Ronald E. Hawkins, Ed.D., D.Min.
June Hunt, M.A.
