We interviewed Pastor Ken Wytsma, author of The Myth of Equality about why pastors should view seeking justice for the oppressed as a form of care ministry. In light of recent events in our nation, his insights are particularly timely and beneficial for church leaders to hear. Why are you passionate about helping the underserved? When I was eight years old, a refugee … [Read more...]
5 mistakes pastors make in “helping” grieving people
Even though people begin to look and act normal after the death of a loved one, grief is their constant companion for a long, long time. And if you are not talking with them about the grief and the story behind it, you may miss opportunities for ministry that can help these individuals make their way through the healing process. Here are five common mistakes pastors make, … [Read more...]
“Complicated grief” and how a church can help
What is “complicated grief”? For a grieving person, grief is the 24/7 awareness of the tragedy that’s befallen him or her. It’s the thought that keeps running through that person’s mind, saying, “My wife died, my husband died, my daughter died.” The person can still function but carries the grief wherever he or she goes. It still lingers without much movement or progress two … [Read more...]
Help grieving people survive the holidays with hope
Most people look forward to the holidays and the attendant family celebrations and traditions. But during the holidays, those who have lost loved ones will be even more potently reminded of their pain and grief. Nancy Guthrie, cohost of GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays, discusses ways for pastors not only to help grieving people make it through this difficult season, but to … [Read more...]
How to help people who plan to protest
Soon I’ll be seventy years old. My decades as a Christian activist have taught me valuable lessons about protesting injustice. I’ve had to learn a lot of these things the hard way, but I've boiled a handful of “lessons” down to eleven common-sense and overlapping principles of protest, some of which are adapted from my book Free at Last?—all of which are based on familiar … [Read more...]
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