All Pastoral care articles
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OpinionDoes death make you feel uncomfortable? That’s because we’re not made for it
As Rev Jamie Sewell watched the body of his 95-year-old parishioner weaken, he saw her faith deepen. Humans find death so hard because we were made for eternity, he says. We only make peace with it when we find the hope of heaven
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OpinionAn atheist helped me understand depression. Here’s what the Church is missing
As a loved one battled depression, Derek Hughes found himself wrestling with prayers and Christian explanations that felt incomplete. Then, unexpectedly, an atheist helped him see the fractures beneath despair, how scripture accounts for them, and how the Church can help bring healing through community
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OpinionI failed at keeping the Sabbath holy until I stopped trying alone
Burnt out from years of church leadership, Derek Hughes approached rest the same way he approached everything else: as a problem to solve. But when his small group began practising Sabbath together, he realised the answer to exhaustion was not technique, but community
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OpinionChurches are talking about mental health more than ever – but are we caring for those leading them?
While conversations about mental health have grown louder in the Church, Michael Tang argues it has neglected the structures of care needed to support those struggling. In doing so, he says, the Church may be settling for a form of ‘cheap healing’ that feels real but leaves deeper needs unaddressed
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OpinionFilling your calendar ≠ faithfulness. The Church won’t be blessed by leaders running on empty
Johnny Rivera explores why Christian leaders must learn to fill up before pouring out, moving from unsustainable ‘canal’ ministry that gives as soon as it gets, to life-giving ‘reservoir’ leadership that flows from overflow
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OpinionTrauma needs professional care, not just prayer
When a young boy was murdered near her church, a grieving mother received lots of attention from well-meaning Christians - but no sustained professional support. A psychotherapist argues churches must offer more than prayer to help trauma survivors heal
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ReviewsThe ministry we forgot? Why caring for the elderly matters more than ever
Anne-Louise Critchlow’s Slowing Down is a gentle call to rediscover the quiet power of pastoral care. With warmth and wisdom, she honours the often-overlooked ministry of supporting the elderly says Eliza Bailey.
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ReviewsTalking about death: a pastoral guide by Sue Walker
Despite the title, this is not just a book for those in pastoral ministry. All of us have to face tough questions about death, and this offering from hospice chaplain Sue Walker will help. “Christians don’t need to avoid death-talk and can confidently face death head on”, ...
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InterviewsRachel Gardner: The ‘God Sex Lady’ on why the Church needs to get better at bedroom talk
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Rachel Gardner says discussing sex may make us squirm, but not talking about it is far worse
