Dr. Don Welch

Counseling/Marriage Saver Pastor: Ext 5451, e-mail

Dr. Don Welch brings a unique voice to understanding relationships and the Bible and has served as Counseling Pastor of Skyline Wesleyan Church since June 2006. In addition to offering counseling services here at Skyline, he oversees the Marriage Savers Ministry, a multifaceted team of 50 volunteers who help couples develop stronger marriages. For over twenty years, he has been a pastoral counselor, including a private counseling practice and employment as a marriage and family therapist staff member at Charter Behavioral Health System of Kansas City (a psychiatric hospital). As an active psychotherapist, Dr. Welch’s credentials include Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (Kansas), Fellow in Psychotherapy for the American Psychotherapy Association, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (California), Certified Human Behavior Consultant, and Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (Washington, DC).

In 2005, after serving fourteen years as full-time Professor of Christian Education and Family Studies at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Dr. Welch moved his family and his Enriching Relationships seminar company (founded in 2003) from Kansas to California. Joining with the San Diego Healthy Marriage Coalition, Welch’s seminar company has evolved into The Center for Enriching Relationships, Inc. where Welch serves as Founder, President and CEO. This center is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in Kansas and California, and committed to providing biblical counseling and resources to local churches through practical application of biblical truths and respected research. The purpose of the center is to strengthen marriages and families with locations in Mission Valley, La Mesa, Coronado, Eastlake, Rancho Bernardo and Carlsbad (www.enrichingrelationships.org).

Dr. Welch also provides professional counseling at Family Consultation Services, Inc. This institution is known as San Diego County’s first (since 1971) and now oldest Christian Counseling Center with counseling sites located throughout the county including Mission Valley, La Mesa, Coronado, Eastlake, Rancho Bernardo, and Carlsbad. With a team of fourteen psychotherapists, Dr. Welch offers individuals and families the most effective therapeutic approaches that will help to make positive changes and improve one’s quality of life (www.fcschristiancounseling.com).

His previous pastorates and ministerial assignments include: Associate Dean of Students and Assistant Chaplain, Point Loma Nazarene University (1980 – 1983), Pastoral Staff, First Church of the Nazarene, San Diego, California (1981 – 1983), Senior Pastor, Rainbow Boulevard Church of the Nazarene, Kansas City, Kansas where he received denominational recognition (1983 – 1987), Pastoral Ministries Coordinator, International Headquarters, Church of the Nazarene, Kansas City, Missouri (1987 – 1989), Professor of Christian Education and Family Studies (1991 – 2005) at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas where he was honored as Teacher of the Year (by vote of faculty and student body) and included in several editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Additionally, Don is listed in Biltmore Who’s Who, International Who’s Who of Professionals, Cambridge Who’s Who National Register, Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, and several editions of Outstanding Young Men of America. He has served as preaching/interim pastor of six rural and suburban churches in Kansas, Missouri, and California (1987 – 2006).

As a published author, Don has made numerous contributions to several books, devotionals, biblical commentaries and methodologies, and a wide variety of magazines, including Evangelical Dictionary of Christian Education (Baker Books), Introducing Christian Education (Baker Books), For Bitter or for Worse (Tate Publishing), Children’s Ministry Magazine (Group Publishing), and a video on Learning How to FORGIVE as We Forgive Each Other (Word Action Publishing). He is on the Editorial Advisory Board and a Fellow in Psychotherapy for the American Psychotherapy Association.

Don’s education includes Kansas University (Ph.D.), Friends University (M.S.), Nazarene Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity), and Point Loma Nazarene University (M.A., B.A., and Certificate in Youth Ministry). He has held professorial, administrative, and leadership positions at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Friends University, and Nazarene Theological Seminary. More recently, Don has served as an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University’s Graduate Program in Clinical Psychology and Point Loma Nazarene University’s Psychology Department and its School of Theology and Christian Ministry.

Pastor Welch and his wife, Robin, have two young children. Robin is a former junior high school English teacher and has a Master of Science degree in Library Science-Information Systems Technology from Emporia State University. This led to a faculty position at MidAmerica Nazarene University.

Don and Robin’s passion for compassionate ministry compelled them to lead numerous Work and Witness teams to places like Mexico, the Philippines, the former Soviet Union, the Caribbean, and several suburban and inner city churches where evangelism was conducted, buildings constructed, relief supplies distributed, and medical assistance provided.