How to Start a Pastoral Care Ministry

Pastoral care ministries can work with a wide variety of ages to encourage spirituality.

A pastoral care ministry, offered through some churches, offers encouragement and support during times of stress. Different areas of pastoral care may include hospital, teen, bereavement, singles and other groups. Starting a pastoral care ministry in your church requires prayer and God's guidance as you go through the process. The process takes time and committed individuals to establish the necessary support system for those in need at your church.

Instructions

1. List your current available ministries. This will help you see where the gaps are, what you do well and the areas you need to improve. Look at budgets, staff and volunteers.

2. Develop a plan of what you will do. Work on details later; now is the time to decide what you want to do and where your focus should be.

3. Look for common needs. While your congregation may have many challenges, group these issues, such as health, financial and emotional. Remember the elderly and their need for caregiving as well. Look at community demographics, ages and prayer requests to help assess common themes.

4. Select one to three top issues that seem most important or that are not addressed through other services. You will need to decide where to focus your efforts.

5. Organize your team. You will need people to help in each area. You might need an announcement from the pulpit or in the church bulletin to help recruit volunteers. Usually people who have received ministry in a specific area will want to help others with similar problems. Ask people you know.

6. Define the details. Now you will develop the who, what, where, when and how of your plan. Schedule meetings and set milestones. You might use workshops, seminars, support groups, home fellowship groups and Sunday school classes.

7. Begin the program. Offer guidance, prayer, support, comfort and encouragement. Do the best you can but don't expect perfection. Ask for suggestions and feedback.

8. Develop and expand your program. Monitor and adjust as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to use existing resources, such as home fellowships, to identify needs and help with services.

References

• Maple Ridge Community Church: Pastoral Care Ministry
• AgingUSA: Starting or Expanding a Care Ministry Program at Your Church
• First Baptist Church of San Augustine: Pastoral Care Ministry