Pastoral care within the Christian tradition is inextricably linked to the biblical image of the shepherd: “The Lord is my shepherd,” the psalmist declares (Psalm 23:1); “I am the good shepherd,” Jesus informs his hearers (John 10:11).
Whenever we join the company of saints in singing or reciting the “Shepherds Psalm” we are not merely giving intellectual assent to a series of propositions about God; rather, we are engaging in an act of personal and collective devotion to God, giving voice to something that wells up from the depths of the soul. The Lord is not just like a shepherd; the Lord is my shepherd – a subtle yet profound distinction. In the company of the Good Shepherd the human soul is nourished, restored, comforted, kept and guided. At its most basic level, pastoral care is the outworking of this remarkable claim. It is about the cure or care of souls. (1)
It is precisely this dimension which most distinguishes pastoral care from social work, counselling and other helping activities and professions. It is not necessarily the case that pastoral care, or the cure of souls, has a spiritual dimension that these other activities and professions lack, but rather it is an active and intentional sharing, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the pastoral work of the Good Shepherd as he shepherds his flock, which is the church. As such, it has a clear and distinctive focus.
An ancient reference to the “cure of souls” is recognized more in some church traditions than others. It comes from the Latin curaanimarum, and means “care of souls”.
Graham Redding - September 2012 - "Pastoral Care Handbook"
The pastor, regardless of his training, does not enjoy the privilege of electing "whether or not he will counsel with his people. They inevitably bring their problems to him for his best guidance and wisest care. He cannot avoid this if he stays in the pastoral ministry. His choice is not between counseling or not counseling, but between counseling in a disciplined and skilled way and counseling in an undisciplined and unskilled way".
Wayne E. Oates [ed] - An Introduction to Pastoral Counseling (Nashville-Broadman Press, 1959
THE CURE OF SOULS
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
"SUPPORTING FAMILY LIFE THROUGH ALL ITS STAGES
WITH BIBLICAL MARRIAGE & FAMILY COUNSELING"
WITH BIBLICAL MARRIAGE & FAMILY COUNSELING"
New Life Bible Institute is here to provide training for pastors in the work of the ministry in the care and cure of souls.
We are particularly interested in training candidates called to
"The Ministry of Counseling"
who desire to be N.C.C.A licensed and board certified in the area of
MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPY.
Contact us for more information & to register for this area of ministry.
PROGRAM PATH
Certification
Licensing
L.P.C. - Licensed Pastoral Counselor
L.C.P.C. - Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor
DEGREE PROGRAM
Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate Degree
in Chistian, Pastoral or Clinical Pastoral Counseling
Students are assigned to their program based on the degree level
they have accomplished upon registering.
PLEASE SEE PROGRAMS I - V ON THIS WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS
they have accomplished upon registering.
PLEASE SEE PROGRAMS I - V ON THIS WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS