Life is marked with ups and downs, and when a Christian is not doing well, he/she often seeks out a pastor or a counselor for help. For many, discerning how to respond faithfully to uninvited feelings of depression or intrusive fears often can’t be done alone.
However lately, a section of Christians no longer feel safe or comfortable opening up to any one in Church because the people they trust to pray with, are the very people that make fun of their situations.
This is what
“If you truly love the couple and may be they mean a lot to you, pray for them to reunite. Avoid engaging in irrelevant conversations concerning the breakup with different parties,”
Her submission, brings to the spot light a recent Pew Research poll that found that the favorable view of those who hold church offices had declined to 37 percent of those surveyed.
Most Churches in Uganda today have a pastoral counselor or a counseling personnel however, reports purport Christians in need of help are opting for professional counselors from specified organisations, unbiblical psychologists, psychiatrists and medical centers.
Frank Semakula, a minister of the gospel who responded to
“If our ministries could understand the true concepts of biblical counselling and establish them; if Christians could understand and appreciate the difference between “meddling” and “restoring,” church would be a far better place for they that are troubled with much (which troubles are here to stay) to run to,” he said.
“Just like preaching, pastoring, making hair – not everybody should counsel. It’s a skill and a gift; it’s learned and polished with practice. Every ministry should have biblical trained counselors,” Semakula said.
You’ve spoken well, Carol replied.
Semakula continued, “Many try, but end up meddling unintentionally because there is a heavy temptation in trying to restore – It’s right not to do what you can’t do right that end up causing others harm.”
The duo shared that counselors should portray non-judgmental listening, and communication skills.
“If you are to advise a broken relationship – be as neutral as you can be. And be willing to listen to both sides – Make good research before giving advise. This helps to direct you on what advise you are to give after understanding the background of their breakup. If you have been given the chance to be a third party, kindly don’t involve a 4th and 5th party in the matter. Don’t mock a pain you haven’t endured,” Carol wrote.
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