One of our training partner churches shared a story that inspired me. They are a small church that has been focusing on biblical counseling for a few years now. The person I spoke with said, “Our church has come to be known as the church that cares in our community.”
I couldn’t think of a better reputation for a church to have. In a world where some churches fight, compromise, close, or stagnate, this church cares!
It’s safe to assume that all the other churches in the town would prefer a reputation of care over the one they have. However, it takes intentional choices to imitate the compassion of Christ to get there.
The question I am often asked is, “What do we do first?” When people attend conferences and hear about exemplary churches caring well for their community, it can feel unrealistic to consider your church ever making that kind of impact. However, we all have to start somewhere.
Here are five simple steps you can take to improve your care:
1. Start Talking
One of the saddest realities for me as a para-church biblical counselor is the answer I often get from counselees when asked, “Has your church ever talked about __________ sorts of problems?”
If your church isn’t talking about the issues that keep your people up at night and away from church on Sundays, you will never earn your people’s confidence to help them with the trials they experience.
2. Start Modeling
If the schedules of your church leaders don’t provide the margin for care, your lay leaders won’t embrace it either. Many training options exist, whether online, at conferences, or in written materials.
Take some time every week to grow in your ability to speak grace and truth. It’s what Jesus was known for! Shouldn’t that be the reputation of our teaching as well?
You won’t always get it right like Christ, but the disciples eventually became effective leaders by seeking to follow Christ’s example of care.
3. Start Simple
If you polled your people about what keeps them up at night, start there! Each church is different, with differing resources and opportunities. Not every church in every community needs to care for the same needs, but all our churches are called to care in generous ways.
Simple steps for your church might look like:
- Offering help to a local charity or organization with its mission
- Bringing in a speaker to address a common struggle
- Buying a relevant book for your leaders to grow
- Having a church member share a testimony of progress
- Creating a short-term support group
Make it your goal to improve the ways that you care in the year ahead by taking simple steps that communicate your intention to improve how you care for your church and community.
4. Start Empowering
If you were to dream a bit about providing better care in your church, who else feels that burden with you as a leader? At Biblical Counseling Center, we work with training groups around the country in small, medium, and large-sized churches. Still, our best training partners are usually not led by the Senior Pastor.
We have found that when several passionate lay people get the care vision and are empowered to equip care leaders, a culture of care often begins to take shape. Some churches survey their people to learn of stories and struggles that have been overcome with God’s help. Pastors are often surprised by the passion that their people have to provide care to others—they just need a plan.
5. Start Training
Seeing the struggles of life from God’s perspective is not common in many churches, but it could be. We often say to our training partners, “You have to train your way forward.” To create a culture of care, your training should be a mix of modeling, education, and experiences. Good training involves opportunities to be involved and the ability to use your story to help others.
An Offer
Our new Caring Like Christ series is a FREE small group course that is an introduction to Christlike care and the need to emulate Christ in our care and discipleship. In each of the four small group video lessons, this series demonstrates how care is the responsibility of every member and how Christ models effective care with His actions and words.
If you are looking for an easy first step for staff, leaders, and members to increase their desire to care, check it out.
Conclusion
Improving the quality of your church’s care ought to be a goal that is high on the priority list of every church leader. However, without some simple first steps, care often gets neglected.
If more churches were known in their town as “the church that cares,” we would provide further proof of God’s love to the hurting world. In reality, to glorify God and to make Him known through our love is the reason why God put your church in your location to begin with.
Take a step forward this year, and if Biblical Counseling Center can help you, please reach out to us.
Question for Reflection
What are some first steps you can take to be known as a church that cares in your community?
