Dr. Wayne & Susie Vanderwier

Wayne and Susie founded the ministry of Overseas Instruction in Counseling in 2006.

Wayne served as Executive Director of OIC from its inception until October of 2019. His new role, Director at Large, includes building biblically healthy relationships with churches and theological schools, completing the OIC strategic objective in nations around the world, and training both OIC missionaries and national pastors.

Our Field is the World

Since the inception of OIC, Wayne and Susie have traveled to thirty nine countries representing OIC. Their strategic objective is to train pastors and Christian leaders who will be able to train others in their nations in Biblical Counseling. Ultimately these men and women will establish a national Biblical Counseling training and certifying organization.

Please pray with us that God would continue to raise up new missionary couples that would help expand the training of Biblical Counseling around the world. We have many excellent invitations for new fields. We just need compelling trainers who can commit to meet the need with us.

Wayne’s Story

I was raised in a Christian family in West Michigan by parents of Dutch heritage and saved at age 7. As a teenager I had the honor of being voted “Outstanding Teenager of Michigan,” 1970. I graduated from Western Michigan University (B.S., Speech Pathology and Audiology), Grand Rapids Baptist Theological Seminary (M.R.E., Christian Education), Trinity Theological Seminary (D. Min., Biblical Counseling), and Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, PA (D.Min., Biblical Counseling)
I served as a pastor from January, 1974 through June, 2006, and was ordained to the ministry of Christian Education in 1976. I served as Adjunct Faculty at the Moody Bible Institute, 1992-2007 (MBI) and Piedmont Baptist College Graduate School and as a Visiting Lecturer at the Word of Life Bible Institutes in Hungary, Germany, and the Philippines. I hold certification in biblical counseling from and am a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC formerly NANC). I also hold certification in Biblical Counseling from the International Association of Biblical Counselors (IABC). In addition, I am a certified teacher/trainer with Evangelism Explosion.

Susie, my high school sweetheart, and I have been married for 50 years, and we have been privileged to raise five children, who, together with their spouses, have produced 21 grandchildren.

Susie’s Story

I was raised in a Lutheran family in Muskegon Heights, Michigan by parents of German/Danish heritage and saved at age 17. I graduated from the University of Michigan (School of Dental Education).

I have completed the Basic Counselor Training Program at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries, Lafayette, IN, and am working to complete my ACBC certification. I have had the opportunity to speak at numerous conferences and women’s retreats on heart issues related to marriage, relationships, women’s ministries, child-training, and priorities/time management. Together with my husband, we are the founders and first missionaries of Overseas Instruction in Counseling. Though most of my duties with OIC are behind the scenes, I do teach seminars and share in devotions with and for pastor’s wives, staff wives, and other women.

Wayne and I have been married for 50 years. I had the privilege of being a “homeschool mom” to our five children for 17 years.  Wayne and I have 21 grandchildren so far.

Our Growing Family

We have been married for 50 years. The Lord has graciously given us five children and, together with their spouses, 21 grandchildren.