During times of hardship or stress, many people take comfort in their spiritual beliefs. Christian counseling professionals assist both Christians and non-Christians with a variety of problems, including those not faith-based. While you won't be able to practice professional counseling until you earn a master's degree, a bachelor's degree in Christian counseling may qualify you for a variety of nonclinical positions in different fields of the helping professions.

Ministry

One of the main reasons people decide to pursue degrees in Christian counseling is that they feel called to serve in ministerial jobs. A bachelor's degree in Christian counseling may allow you to work as a youth minister or lay counselor, or do missions work or prayer ministry in churches, faith-based non-profit organizations, campus ministries and other similar institutions. You might perform a variety of tasks, such as organizing events to promote your ministry, leading prayer groups or offering lay counseling services to parish and community members.

Human and Social Services

Job seekers with bachelor's degrees in Christian counseling may also decide to work in the human and social services. Bachelor's degree programs in Christian counseling teach students a variety of transferable skills, such as communication and people skills and critical thinking skills, which are often useful in this field. Depending on the specific requirements of the hiring organization, prospective candidates might find meaningful work in faith-based nonprofit agencies, community services organizations or international aid organizations in diverse positions such as social and human services assistants, outreach workers or fundraisers.

Religious Education

A bachelor's degree in Christian counseling may also qualify you to work in the field of religious education. While many religious education teachers work on a volunteer basis, you may be eligible for a position as a religious education director or administrator, depending on the specific requirements of your parish or congregation. Religious education directors are involved in a variety of tasks related to religious education, such as developing religious education curricula used for instructing children and adults, recruiting volunteer teachers, providing informal counseling to congregation members or organizing special events, such as retreats or conferences.

Advocacy

Advocacy is a broad field that may appeal to candidates with bachelor's degrees in Christian counseling. Advocates provide different services, depending on the needs and focus of the hiring organization. They might staff crisis hotlines, run support groups or provide direct assistance to people in need, such as victims of domestic violence or the homeless, by helping them locate needed services, such as housing or food. Your faith-based background may be an asset when applying for positions with Christian charities and similar religious organizations, but you may also be eligible to work in secular or other types of nonprofit advocacy organizations.