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One of the ultimate goals of this Ministry is the restoration of the extended family among African Americans in North Tampa. We believe that this can only be accomplished through effective pastoral care and counseling.
Unfortunately, the lack of effective pastoral counseling, which is missing in most traditional black congregations only highlights the growing need for the support that only the extended family can provide to hurting family members. Moreover, all efforts to assist individuals with addiction recovery and other issues are futile unless we follow-up with a planned, holistic approach to counseling that takes into account the support role of the family.
We also know from ministry experience that a holistic approach to pastoral care and counseling for families enables healing, empowerment and spiritual growth to take place within each member of the family, and thus, their view of and approach to relationships becomes as God intended it to be.
Therefore, an aggressive campaign to follow-up on all contacts made through evangelistic outreach and the facilitation of support groups with pastoral care and counseling. All contacts are tracked with surveys, follow-up phone calls and mail-outs. When individuals are identified as needing counseling, an in-home visit is scheduled as soon as possible with a minister that is formally trained in pastoral counseling.
Demographic data shows that females comprise over 65% of the adult population in the community served, consequently, it is the policy of this ministry to ensure that a female volunteer formally trained in individual and family counseling accompany each minister on every home visit. Female counselor volunteers also serve as mentors to teenage, single-parent mothers, and they are prepared to assist in matters unique to this population.
The centerpiece of our counseling model is active listening on the part of the minister. When we intently listen to the individual and encourage other family members to do so as well, we demonstrate caring with passion, and in doing so, we show forth Christ's love for the individual.
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