BEYOND COUNSELING

OFFERING HOPE

The church has much more to offer in the area of Pastoral Care. When it comes to Pastoral Care the mandate given to the church in Isaiah 61:1–3 is to offer hope for the hurting, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free. This mandate was God’s plan for the church to evangelize the world. For the church to do this, we must train leaders in the ways of deep heart ministry. I’m not referring to something new, however it is the best kept secret in Christianity. This model of inner healing has been used since the early eighties by John and Paula Sanford, Derick Prince, Dr. Bruce Thompson, Neil Anderson, only to mention a few Christian leaders of that time. Referring someone who needs spiritual healing to a psychologist who does not apply the power of the cross will not help the seeker become whole. Some counselors may be Christians, but they may not be Christian Counselors. The default for most Christian churches to help someone with needs they aren’t comfortable with is to refer them to a counselor. Most pastors operate from the spiritual gifts of pastor, teacher, or evangelist most are not equipped with the tools necessary for deep heart ministry to help a member find freedom from spiritual and emotional bondage. The truth is Most pastors will not have the time for the hours it takes to this level of ministry with all the needs in the church. In fact, this ministry model is not even taught in the Bible Colleges or Seminary.

            The various ministries and groups within the church provide much-needed healing and recovery for members at different stages of the healing process. Some groups: disciple individuals who are recently saved, offer support to ones who have been released from rehab facilities or directly from jail, there are groups for recently divorced or widowed. Other church groups  help the unemployed, those who are hungry, or even those who are homeless. Each group meets a person at different stages in their life and time of need. I was impressed with the ministry vision in Youth With a Mission, YWAM continues to minister to the nations by a slogan “go to the nations taking the two-handed Gospel” the meaning being, (meet a person’s felt need and present them the Gospel of Christ). This is also described in Isaiah 61.

           Pastoral Care offered by the local church can be so much more. This book offers a model of ministry offering hope to those in bondage from wounds of their past. This book offers solutions with Biblical principles and redemption, to free the prisoners from  spiritual and emotional bondages.