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David J. Hovis, MA, MDiv, JD, LMFT
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Saved by Grace. The most important thing about me is that I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus (Galatians 2:20). God saved me at the age of 19 in 1987 and I am still a work in progress.
I love being a Christian counselor and getting to come alongside others in their journey of faith and help them overcome the challenges they face.
Prayer & Scripture. Before I became a Christian (biblical) counselor I would hear over and over as a church member and later as a pastor how believers would go to see a "Christian" counselor and that their therapist / counselor never prayed with them and never used or even referenced the Bible with them. That was very discouraging to them as well as to me. Along with a calling to become a counselor, that is a major reason I knew more Christian counselors were needed. That is what I strive to be. My goal is to provide Gospel-centered counseling that is biblical, guided by the Holy Spirit, full of prayer, and that uses the best of what I have learned and can learn from those wiser than me.
Experience: I have been serving others through Christian marriage counseling, individual counseling and Christian sex therapy (yes, there is such a thing!) at Agape since founding it in 2007. My experience also includes being mentored by a Christian Marriage and Family Therapist for two years; doing an internship in sex addiction for 18 months with a noted Christian expert in the field; being mentored by my Pastor for Counseling for two years; before becoming a counselor, serving three years as the sole ordained pastor of a church where I counseled couples and individuals with various issues; serving as a licensed attorney since 1998 (with some experience in family law); serving as a civil mediator; and four years active duty as a Medical Specialist in the Army where I first learned of my gift and joy in caring for others during clinical rotations and in the field.
Education: I hold the degrees of Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary's University of Minnesota; Master of Divinity, cum laude, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (where I received the pastoral counseling award and was mentored for two years by the counseling department's co-founder); Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota (where I served as co-chair of the Christian Legal Society, led a small group and took family law); and the Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota, Duluth (where I served as President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a "student pastor" role, for two years). I have been leading small groups and helping people grow in their faith since 1993. I have completed mediation training certified by the Minnesota Supreme Court in the areas of civil and family law matters, and have volunteered with Community Mediation Services.
Finally, I continue to further my education and have completed graduate coursework and many hours of supervision in Christian Sex Therapy (the only school of its kind in America, located in Atlanta - fortunately it is GREAT!). Why Sex Therapy? To do good marriage and premarital counseling, it is necessary to competently address sexual issues across the spectrum. Painful intimacy, trauma, hormonal issues, and practical needs are among the numerous issues that couples need trusted, competent counsel to assist them with. I felt a call to not only do the training but to help those in need of this kind of care. I continue to receive mentoring from incredibly gifted Christian counselors who are among the best in their fields.
Memberships: American Association of Christian Counselors (www.AACC.net).
I love being a Christian counselor and getting to come alongside others in their journey of faith and help them overcome the challenges they face.
Prayer & Scripture. Before I became a Christian (biblical) counselor I would hear over and over as a church member and later as a pastor how believers would go to see a "Christian" counselor and that their therapist / counselor never prayed with them and never used or even referenced the Bible with them. That was very discouraging to them as well as to me. Along with a calling to become a counselor, that is a major reason I knew more Christian counselors were needed. That is what I strive to be. My goal is to provide Gospel-centered counseling that is biblical, guided by the Holy Spirit, full of prayer, and that uses the best of what I have learned and can learn from those wiser than me.
Experience: I have been serving others through Christian marriage counseling, individual counseling and Christian sex therapy (yes, there is such a thing!) at Agape since founding it in 2007. My experience also includes being mentored by a Christian Marriage and Family Therapist for two years; doing an internship in sex addiction for 18 months with a noted Christian expert in the field; being mentored by my Pastor for Counseling for two years; before becoming a counselor, serving three years as the sole ordained pastor of a church where I counseled couples and individuals with various issues; serving as a licensed attorney since 1998 (with some experience in family law); serving as a civil mediator; and four years active duty as a Medical Specialist in the Army where I first learned of my gift and joy in caring for others during clinical rotations and in the field.
Education: I hold the degrees of Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary's University of Minnesota; Master of Divinity, cum laude, from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (where I received the pastoral counseling award and was mentored for two years by the counseling department's co-founder); Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota (where I served as co-chair of the Christian Legal Society, led a small group and took family law); and the Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota, Duluth (where I served as President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a "student pastor" role, for two years). I have been leading small groups and helping people grow in their faith since 1993. I have completed mediation training certified by the Minnesota Supreme Court in the areas of civil and family law matters, and have volunteered with Community Mediation Services.
Finally, I continue to further my education and have completed graduate coursework and many hours of supervision in Christian Sex Therapy (the only school of its kind in America, located in Atlanta - fortunately it is GREAT!). Why Sex Therapy? To do good marriage and premarital counseling, it is necessary to competently address sexual issues across the spectrum. Painful intimacy, trauma, hormonal issues, and practical needs are among the numerous issues that couples need trusted, competent counsel to assist them with. I felt a call to not only do the training but to help those in need of this kind of care. I continue to receive mentoring from incredibly gifted Christian counselors who are among the best in their fields.
Memberships: American Association of Christian Counselors (www.AACC.net).