Leading through the dark: Helping yourself and those around you to see the light at the end of the tunnel during a crisis.
Let's be honest pastors, lay counselors, prayer teams, and ministry leaders are those on the frontlines of helping people in crisis. It is important to have proactive measures in place, to help you navigate through helping others in times of need effectively.
#1 - Take care of your mental health
As leaders, it is important, to have some established healthful routines in place before, during, and after a crisis. You are not only having to manage your personal dilemmas but also listen to, coach, counsel, or provide some level of psychological triage to others.
Having your set of counselors, mentors, coaches, and spiritual advisors to go to is vital to ensuring you have a community of care accessible to you.
#2 - Do your research
This step will take patience, some trial and error in learning, and godly wisdom on what is most needed in your local area. Don't be afraid to get out and into your community, poll your pastoral team and congregants, and ask the hard questions. Find out what people really need. You may be surprised to know that the need may be less on the tangible side, and more on the mental and emotional support side.
"Though prayer, reading our Bible, and worshiping through music can be helpful during times of distress, we also need the connection and fellowship of people to help us as we process through painful times."
– Life & Hope Coach, Equalla Foster
#3 - Set up care ministries
What does your church have to offer those in crisis? Are you, your ministry staff, and volunteers trained to handle certain things that keep reoccurring amongst those who come to you in need of valuable services and resources? These are just a couple of questions that we should ask ourselves.
There are a plethora of amazing organizations and ministries that may offer assistance, training, and other suitable resources.
For the intent of example:
GriefShare
Inspire To Hope
Celebrate Recovery
No church or organization has all the answers or solutions, but we should all have at least one.
#4 - Resource out
Build rapport and trust outside of your church and ministry with others more skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area. For those needing a high level of professional care for their mental or emotional needs, don't feel embarrassed by referring them to licensed mental health professionals or even in some dire cases the need to contact emergency services.
If someone needs assistance with accessing food supply, there are many dignified ways this type of care can be given. One way is by being the bridge of connection between the person in need and the organization that offers food assistance.
Creating a current organized listing with active local, state-wide, and national resources with their name and contact information, website, pricing, and a brief overview of their services is always beneficial.
The safety, healing, and care of an individual should always be our main priority.
#5 - Read to expand your awareness
Maintaining the correct perspective is crucial when helping those dealing with crisis, trauma, and pain.
Here are a few suggestive readings:
Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness by Matthew S. Stanford
When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert
The Complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What To Do and Say When It Matters Most! by Dr. H. Norman Wright
Would you like to read more posts like this one?
Yes, thank you.
No thanks.
To read about our writer, click the button below.
Comments