Kudos to CUG for a good presentation on Easter Sunday. Creatively you brought home the message that Christ is the hope of everyman. There is no situation too hopeless He cannot reach nor too deep He cannot lift. On Good Friday God showed us the depth of His love and on Easter Sunday He showed us the power of His might.
From all of us in the church to all of you in CUG, a BIG THUMB’S UP. We’re proud of you.
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Changing the subject, a question was raised at the recent AGM; whether the church has a comprehensive programme for pastoral care.
Since only a small section of the church was present at the AGM, I think it is necessary that I explain the church’s philosophy of pastoral care. It would be true to say that we do not have a comprehensive programme for pastoral care, and we can certainly do better in this area. However, that does not mean that we do not have a system in place to cover the pastoral needs of members of the church.
Needless to say, the primary place and fundamental avenue for pastoral care is the cell group. This is one of the basic reasons for cell groups: to divide up the church into small groups of people so that community can take place. In that safe environment people are able to share their needs with each other and care for one another. Together, the whole group can rally around a member who might, say, be suffering from cancer and is in need of encouragement, prayer, visitation and practical assistance. (I know that many of you are already doing that—and I thank God for you.) The corollary is that everyone in PJEFC must be in a cell group. We can’t effectively provide pastoral care for you if you are not connected to the arterial system that provides pastoral care.
Now, should the group or the cell leader be unable to provide adequate pastoral care, then the next step is call on the zone pastor to help. Maybe the person needs a level of counselling that neither the leader nor any of the cell members are able to provide. Or perhaps, the person needs inner healing or deliverance. The pastors, elders and other church leaders are only a phone call away, and we will certainly make ourselves available to help. However, don’t be surprised if we ask you to join us to minister to the person—because we want to train you to do ministry (Eph 4:11-12).
The last thing we should do is to channel every person with a need to the pastors. If and when you do that, do it not because it is the convenient thing to do, but because you have tried and you are genuinely unable to help the person. We’d be more than happy to come alongside you to help you minister to the person. I can honestly say that all those who have been brought to our attention have been provided with pastoral care.
One very common misunderstanding is to think that the primary role of pastors and elders is to provide pastoral care. Certainly it is a role, but it is not the primary role. Their primary role is found in Eph 4:11-12, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service….” (Hence, our invitation to you to join the pastors when we do ministry.)
Besides that, the pastors do really have very heavy workloads. We preach, teach and counsel. We lead a major ministry that requires a lot of planning and many meetings. We attend prayer meetings, cell meetings, and Board meetings. We run courses, Encounter Weekends, the Purpose Driven Life Campaign, and conduct weddings and funerals!
So, obviously, if more of us are trained to minster to people and to provide pastoral care we will have more hands to meet the needs of people (inside and outside the church). Hiring more full-time staff is not the total answer, but multiplying ourselves in you is. When that happens you can be sure that there will be less cracks for people to fall through.
“Don’t scream at the darkness; Light a candle.”
PrSH