We’ve been producing CareLeader.org for just over a year now. During that time a number of you have let me know how you’re using CareLeader.org to equip your own care leaders. I’ve listed a few of your ideas (and a few of my own) to come up with seven ways you can use CareLeader.org’s content in your church. Preparation for counseling sessions: If you went to seminary, … [Read more...]
The Freedom of Responsibility teaching and counseling packet
So that’s when Susie said, “Sometimes people don’t realize that their circumstances could be different—and how they’re contributing to their own mess.” Let me back up a bit. A few months ago, I interviewed Susie Howard and Wendy Herrberg. Wendy and Susie are the care ministry directors at The Creek church in Indianapolis, IN. They explained to me that often, when … [Read more...]
Common errors made in attempts at conflict resolution
You know it’s going to happen. You can’t be a shepherd and avoid mediating in conflicts. That much is certain. However, your responses to conflicts are affected by a variety of variables, which makes your role as mediator far less predictable. For example: Personality variables (both yours and those involved in the conflict): Some people are shy; others are outgoing. … [Read more...]
When a person feels trapped but may not want to change, what do you do?
Andy Farmer’s pastoral ministry includes a lot of counseling, so he’s often had someone tell him, “Pastor, I’m trapped in this and I need help.” It led him to write a book about it: Trapped: Getting Free from People, Patterns, and Problems. Recently we talked with Andy about the best ways to respond pastorally. What are some common ways that people get trapped? The … [Read more...]
Post-abortion counseling
It is estimated that 43 percent of women under the age of forty-five have had an abortion. One in six women in the evangelical Christian church is post-abortive.1 We live in a culture that idolizes personal choice and convenience, and as a result, more women than we are aware of are dealing with the aftereffects of abortion. Because of this, we have to know how to minister to … [Read more...]