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 Grief, job loss, or other times of challenge or transition can often overwhelm us. Diakon Family Life Services - Northeastern Pennsylvania's Pastoral Care Team ministry was designed to help congregations realize the Christian calling to be present with one another during these times. For more than 23 years, Diakon Family Life Service has been involved in helping congregations identify and train teams that are composed of the pastor or pastors, a professional counselor, and eight to 10 laypersons from the congregation. After an initial weekend of training and team-building, the team meets on a monthly basis to develop ways to provide care and support to persons in the congregation and community. The ministry is confidential and the individuals with whom the team works have requested support or have responded to a team member's offer of team involvement. Support is given directly by team members and by connections the team makes for the family or individual with other resources within the congregation or community. The Diakon Family Life Services counselor ensures that team members don't overextend their role and that appropriate referrals are made. As one team member has noted, "This ministry really creates a sense of community within the congregation. We are able to reach out effectively to those in need, with everyone experiencing the reality of being God's children." Adds another team member: "The Pastoral Care Team invites us to become ministers to our members, helping all of us live out our mission of knowing, sharing and celebrating Christ!" Pastoral care teams also help to broaden the ministry of the ordained pastor. "I am not the only person who can offer help to members of our congregation," says a pastor. "Part of the hope for the whole ministry is that people who focus their caring efforts through this ministry will help to strengthen the congregation with its own caring and its gifts for supporting one another in community." |
 Diakon Family Life Services - Northeastern Pennsylvania (multiple locations) ©2000-2012 Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries |
