Who We Are

Serving the Anabaptist community through discipleship and Christ-centered care.

Our Name

The name Anabaptist Discipleship Center was carefully chosen to reflect our identity as a counseling organization.

Anabaptist

Identifies our theological heritage within the broader Christian church. Anabaptism formally emerged during the 16th century Protestant Reformation as a movement promoting life practices consistent with Biblical teaching. Today, it is represented in groups such as Brethren, Mennonite and Amish. Our counseling ministry seeks to serve from within this Anabaptist tradition.

Discipleship

Signifies our counseling procedure. In obedience to Christ’s command to make disciples of all people groups (Matthew 28:19-20), we view counseling as an opportunity to help people grow into faithful followers of Jesus Christ through sound doctrine and practical Christian living. As people grow in Christlikeness, they experience increasing spiritual, relational, emotional, and personal wholeness.

Center

Reveals our approach to ministry. We believe that face-to-face relationships provide the best environment for biblical counseling and discipleship. While we do offer some services remotely when appropriate, our strong preference is in person at our facility.

Our Story

In the fall of 2020, the Anabaptist Discipleship Center (ADC) began its journey in Elnora, Indiana, with the acquisition of a former Methodist church building. Founded from the vision of Paul Emerson and Delbert Kemp, ADC was established to be “A Safe Harbor for All”—a place where individuals and communities could find safety, support, comfort, and guidance rooted in biblical discipleship.

After months of prayerful planning, the original board from Daviess County helped shape the center’s mission, laying a foundation for counseling, training, and community care. In 2021, ADC opened its doors for counseling, offering a place to navigate life’s challenges while growing in faith. In 2022, the ministry expanded its facilities with the purchase of a neighboring house, providing additional space for counseling.

By 2024, ADC strengthened its team with a three-member administrative staff, enhancing its ability to equip leaders, support counselees, connect leaders with biblical counselors, and coordinate programs. Today, ADC continues to serve as a sanctuary for the hurting—training Anabaptist biblical counselors, fostering Christlike spiritual maturity, and walking alongside individuals toward faithful discipleship while living out its founding vision in the communities it serves.

Mission Statement

We exist to help church communities deepen discipleship by equipping Anabaptist biblical counselors, providing sanctuary for the hurting, and helping individuals grow in spiritual maturity.