Many times the shepherding and pastoral ministry of a church falls on one or two leaders. What happens though when the pastor reaches out to the other leaders in her church? What happens when Pastoral Care is taken on by a whole team instead of just a few?
This article is a personal story of a pastor who invited his elder team in the service of pastoral care:
There was a key moment in a church retreat when our lead pastor realized we were never going to be the larger churches on the other side of town. He rejoined the rest of the leadership group and said "We are Park Place Church and in our neighborhood for a reason. Let us not try to be someone else, but work to be the best Park Place Church we can be." This moment was extremely important for the next 3 years of ministry.
Many times it's easy to compare our selves, our churches, and our people to those down the street. This practice usually doesn't bring life, but only discouragement and distraction. This article speaks specifically to the leadership of small churches and looks to be an encouragement to those who give their lives in service.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2014/february/5-myths-about-small-church-pastors.html
I've been reminded this year of the many people who have particular difficulty during the holiday season. Whether it's grief over a loss, loneliness, or one of many other reasons holidays could be difficult, the article below brings some good reminders.
http://www.mindandsoul.info/Articles/423701/Mind_and_Soul/Resources/Leaders/Pastoral_Care_at.aspx
I didn't know what to say, that first time as a pastor being called to the hospital bed of a beloved soul who had just passed on... And you know what? That is ok. It was in that moment I realized the power of silence and presence. Often times as human beings silence can make us uncomfortable. When we are able to remain in that silence however, the Holy Spirit has room to live, move, and have being in our presence with one another.
This resource article is by Richard Foster and is a great resource for anyone who is in relationship with someone experiencing loss or suffering.
There has been a growing trend in the last few years recognizing the importance, not just of stored information (Intelligence Quotient or IQ), but of EQ. Emotional Intelligence (EI or EQ) is the capacity of an individual to recognize their own and other's emotions. With that ability, the individual is able to identify those emotions and use them to guide thinking and behavior.
The following videos are an introduction to Emotional Intelligence and how one might apply Emotional Intelligence in beneficial ways.
A short animation breaking down the concepts of emotional intelligence and how it's an integral part of thinking and decision making. For more of my work visit my youtube channel or my website www.brendongouveia.com Follow me on twitter @BrendonGouveia
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) by Daniel Goleman For the book click here: http://goo.gl/CeK7hx Emotional Intelligence - big ideas Emotion helps us remember a particular situation by attaching feelings to it They also push us to take action But sometimes they can lead us to make bad judgments or act irrationally.
