Pastoral care

Bible passage
"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare." - Philippians 2:19-20

Description
Persons who provide pastoral care nurture individuals and small groups of Christian believers in their faith walk, or comfort them in their pain and suffering.

Philosophy
Pastoral care is an activity that all members of the church are naturally involved in, giving and receiving support and encouragement from others in the faith family. Mission workers usually work in partnership with local congregations or other church institutions, which therefore means nearly continual pastoral care relationships with fellow believers and organizational staff.

Process
Pastoral care is the mutual responsibility that all church members have for one another. Leaders of such communities have special responsibility, and often special training, for coordinating and taking the lead in walking with people who are going through periods of special need. Mission workers who focus on church planting and inter-church liaison work are also engaged in pastoral care. Pastoral care may also be a part of professional ministries in institutions like hospitals, prisons and schools.

Workers

Amstutz

C. Paul and Hildi's ministry is in the areas of business chaplaincy, spiritual retreats, and speaking engagements on the topics of marriage and family and of inner healing.

Beyler

Mary works with the Mennonite congregations in Hokkaido, teaching, preaching, leading music, and serving on several conference committees.

Blough

Janie and Neal serve on the staff of the Paris Mennonite Center in Saint-Maurice, a suburb of Paris. Neal also teaches at the Vaux-sur-Seine Evangelical Seminary, the Mennonite theology school (Bienenberg) and the Catholic University of Paris.

Byler

Dennis teaches at a Protestant seminary near Madrid and edits "El Mensajero" the monthly paper of the Anabaptist network of churches in Spain.

Fahrer

Wally and Sue provide a Mennonite/Anabaptist witness within a British charismatic new-church network called New Frontiers International.

Falla

Amanda and Gamaliel began working in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 2002 to develop a new congregation and consolidate the emerging Caribbean Coast region of the Colombia Mennonite Church.

Fox

Brian and Noelia are working to support and strengthen the ministries of the growing Mennonite church in Burgos, Spain. They work with youth in the church and in the community, and explore local business opportunities.

Houmphan

Pat and Rad are involved in evangelism and church planting among the Isaan people in northeastern Thailand. The majority of Isaan, or Lao-Thai, practice Buddhism mixed with ancient animism. A number of Isaans have become Christians.

Hurst

Since 1990, Mark and Mary have served as resource people and pastors in Australia with the Anabaptist Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Hurst

Moriah, located in Melbourne, works in youth ministry.

Martin

Jenna and Peter work with the Edgehill Theological College Reconciliation and Integration Partnership Project.

Miller

Kenton and Kidron are part of a church-planting team at Evangelische Freikirche in Treptow, Berlin.

Nafziger

Dale and Bethsaba serve in a variety of economic development positions. They are also part of the pastoral team in their church congregation in Kathmandu.

Oyer

Linda is a staff member of the Paris Mennonite Center. She teaches Anabaptist theology, speaks at women's groups throughout French-speaking Europe, and teaches courses at the Vaux-sur-Seine Evangelical Seminary.

Raber

Mary Raber is based in Odessa and teaches at Odessa Theological Seminary (OTS), Donetsk Christian University, Tavriskiy Christian Institute (Kherson), and other theological schools in Ukraine and the Russian Federation as requested.

Rutschman

Tom and Disa are middle-school and high-school teachers in the town of Jokkmokk, Sweden, located on the Arctic Circle. They have been involved in the leadership of Jokkmokk Free Church since 1983.

Schlabach

Laura serves as the Joint Christian Services (JCS) representative for Bayanhongor, a province 630 km (394 miles) from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.