Counseling can be an excellent addition to the care strategies of a church. It cannot, however, make up for inadequacies in other areas. Below we will explore four levels of caregiving ministry. It is within this context that a counseling ministry fits best.
Friendship
No congregation can thrive without a friendship-care strategy. Friendships offer care that is genuine and natural, and therefore above ...
Some churches may resist a rigorous and time-consuming selection process; but it is wise to choose counselors carefully.
Selection
Careful selection is key to lay counseling effectiveness. Many people want to participate when a lay counselor program is first announced. But it is important to keep classes small and selective. To do this, some churches give training by invitation only. While this creates ...
DEVOTIONS Problems and Solutions Anticipate the challenges of lay counseling and learn how you can overcome them. Gary R. Collins
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Lay counseling is a current trend. It is also more than that—it is a biblical requirement commanded by the Lord and taught by Spirit-inspired biblical writers. They instructed us to reach out in love to help the needy and to bear one another's burdens. Lay counseling in the local church is an important move in this direction.
But counseling is draining work. It is time-consuming and schedule-disrupting, ...
Counseling ministries can serve a significant nurturing function. But they are not immune from legal risk. Church leaders need to know the risks of a lay counseling program and how to manage them before offering counseling services.
Risks1. Negligent counseling The risk of negligent counseling can arise in a number of ways: a counselee may claim that his emotional problems were aggravated rather than ...
DEVOTIONS How to Make a Referral The next step when you lack either the time or the qualifications to counsel. Randy Christian
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Lay counselors sometimes need to make referrals, but how? Start with these questions.
1. Should I refer?
Use these questions as a guide to determine if you should refer:
• Do I have the skills to help this person? I want to be sure I'm the right person at the right time. When a need is outside my expertise, referral is obvious; other times it's a matter of someone else being better equipped ...
Families in crisis have a need that church-based counselors can meet. This kind of involvement usually begins with a phone call, and family conflict is on the other end. Here are some of the things I've learned in my many years of family counseling.
Don't Decide for People
A counselor should not make big decisions for people. Why not? Because people are responsible before God themselves. They will ...
It's essential that a counselor be a very good listener. The persons I find easiest to talk to seem to have the following characteristics.
1. They look you in the eye, and they do it with what I call a "soft eye." Their eyes are not blank, but neither do they pierce nor probe. Listening eyes are soft, sympathetic eyes that say, "Talk to me."
2. The good listener keeps an interested expression. Some ...
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