PASTORAL CARE

I am convinced a church can only be as good as its' ability to care. People could care less what the church knows until they know the church cares.

Do We Care?
Do we really care if our church grows?
Do we really care if more people come to our church?
Do we really care if anybody leaves our church?
Do we really care about the members we have?
Do we really care if people are going through problems?

True Shepherds Care, Hirelings do not
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:11...“The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. John 10:13

There's a lot of discussion, people are sharing their experiences at TRC with others and sometimes they can run into those who once attended a church that didn't care. Non-caring churches create casualties and it is most often very difficult to get a person with damaged faith to consider church again. That's why we need to make caring for people a high priority.

Getting the de-churched back connected requires a large amount of intentional care. Here is a list of ways to care for those in and outside of church.

* Pray with people for their needs around altars, after services, in church hallways, etc.
* Take time to greet people before and after services (slow down)- in auditorium, in lobby, in hallways. Get to know more people (smile more). Use name tags also.
* Fellowship and take people out to eat after church services and spend time with them.
* Host a Reach Team and have people over to your house (at least once a month).
* Go to people’s homes, work, school and minister to them.
* Help people with their tangible and financial needs. Have $20 bills in your pocket to give away.
* Call people to check up on them, e-mail, birthday cards, notes, visits, etc.
* Give answers to people’s questions, teach and train them in the process- personally, at church, over the phone, email, etc.
* If you are a pastor remember half of the work is correcting (2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2) and it may be necessary to gently and lovingly adjust someone’s ways, speaking the Truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
* Sense needs in people’s lives whether or not you know them personally.

Let's take care of our church!