CAI Spotlight

Equipping Called Counselors Through Calvert Christian Training Academy

An NCCA Certified Academic Institution

Dr. Lynette Entzian

When the Lord calls someone into the ministry of Christian counseling, that calling must be nurtured with sound biblical teaching, clinical pastoral training, ethical supervision, and spiritual formation. That conviction is at the heart of Calvert Christian Training Academy, a Certified Academic Institution of the National Christian Counselors Association with locations in Huntingtown, Maryland, and New Bern, North Carolina. 

I have the privilege of leading Calvert Christian Training Academy in partnership with Dr. Michael Lea, a fellow Clinical Supervisor whose years of ministry, counseling, and leadership experience bring great strength to the Academy. Together, we share a deep commitment to equipping pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian counselors to serve with wisdom, compassion, and biblical integrity. Our work through the Academy is more than an academic program; it is a ministry of preparation.

My own journey into pastoral counseling has been shaped by more than fifteen years of walking alongside individuals, couples, and families through seasons of pain, transition, grief, conflict, and spiritual growth. Again and again, I have seen how deeply people need counselors who can offer more than technique. They need counselors who are able to listen carefully, discern spiritually, speak truth in love, and help others understand how God has uniquely created them.

Through the NCCA model and the use of the Arno Profile System, students learn to understand temperament, identify core needs, recognize patterns of behavior, and apply biblical truth in practical and meaningful ways. This training gives future counselors a strong foundation for helping people move toward healing, maturity, and renewed hope in Christ.

 One of the greatest blessings of Calvert Christian Training Academy is watching students grow in both confidence and humility. Many begin the process with a strong sense of calling but uncertainty about how to counsel effectively. As they progress through their coursework, supervision, case studies, and practical application, they begin to see how God can use their gifts, life experiences, and training to serve others. It is deeply rewarding to witness students become better equipped not only in knowledge but also in compassion, discernment, and spiritual responsibility.

Working alongside Dr. Michael Lea has also been a tremendous blessing. Dr. Lea brings decades of pastoral counseling experience, ministry leadership, and a genuine shepherd’s heart. Our partnership allows us to provide students with a balanced and supportive learning environment. We share the same desire: to prepare counselors who are biblically grounded, ethically responsible, clinically thoughtful, and deeply committed to the care of souls.

Our vision is to raise up Christian counselors who can serve effectively in churches, ministries, counseling centers, and communities. The needs around us are great. Families are hurting. Marriages are under pressure. Individuals are struggling with anxiety, grief, trauma, loneliness, and spiritual confusion. Churches are often the first place people turn when life becomes overwhelming. For that reason, it is essential that pastors and Christian counselors receive training that prepares them to respond with both truth and grace. 

Calvert Christian Training Academy gives us the opportunity to invest in those who feel called to this sacred work. We are not simply helping students complete a program; we are helping prepare laborers for the harvest. Each student represents future lives touched, future families strengthened, future ministries supported, and future counselees pointed back to the hope found in Christ.

I am grateful to the National Christian Counselors Association for providing a pathway of training, credentialing, and professional development for those called to Christian counseling. I am also grateful for Dr. Richard and Dr. Phyllis Arno and the continued work of the NCCA in supporting Certified Academic Institutions across the country.

As we continue this ministry, our prayer is that every student entrusted to us will grow in wisdom, character, competence, and calling. May they counsel with humility, serve with excellence, and faithfully reflect the heart of Christ to those who are hurting.

It is an honor to be part of this work, and it is a joy to help equip the next generation of Christian counselors through Calvert Christian Training Academy.