Pastoral Support

Pastoral Care is a very important area of the church. There is a full guide available to download which goes into detail about the ways in which we can most effectively provide pastoral care within Faith Life and a number of underlying scriptural principles.

As a church, we desire to be a body which pursues a greater and greater experience of the fullness of God. A body which encourages and supports each other to grow and to move on from the bonds and hurts which have held us captive...to become “overcomers” and those who grow strong in faith and in passion for the Kingdom.

Our pastoral care approach is firmly grounded in our values as a church and seeks to:

  • Support and encourage you to receive the ministry that you need.
  • Be rooted firmly in the Agape love of God.
  • Equip you personally to deal with issues that present themselves in your life.
  • Provide a firm foundation that supports, encourages, stands with you and releases you into all that God has for you.

We believe ministry can have many different faces…practical help, friendship and fellowship, prayer, encouragement, studying the word, being accountable to each other for actually doing what God’s word says, prayer , healing etc.

In pastoral care we have one over-riding aim; that is “to help you to be strong in God, strong in the Word and strong in the Spirit”.

The Pastoral Care structure operates as follows:

Through Life Groups:
We believe that care is best received in the context of Kingdom-focussed close relational groups called “Life Groups”. In these the focus is community around Kingdom mission and on providing a safe environment and safe relationships for support and mutual care. Life Groups are so everyone to be cared for, prayed for, encouraged and built up; and where you can care for, pray for, encourage and build up others. Much more detail regarding Life Groups can be found here.

Through the Word:
We believe that in order to grow and be set free you will need to receive Knowledge (literally “revelation”, “new experiential insight”; not empty intellectual fact) and truth. Knowledge and truth that leads you to an encounter in your heart with Jesus, which then changes you and sets you free. As a body we strongly believe that by providing a strong and deep foundation of Scripture and Holy Spirit ministry that you will be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”. This means that one of the greatest elements of pastoral care within a body of believers should be teaching and preaching of the word with the Holy Spirit anointing our hearts. So, a core part of our pastoral care is in providing a sure foundation in the Word.

Through Extra Ministry
We recognise that sometimes it can be difficult to receive a complete breakthrough and that extra in depth ministry is needed. Sherryll Baines has Pastoral Oversight and heads up a team of experienced mature couples/individuals who form our Pastoral Care Team. They are trained in ministries such as RTF, ILM ministry etc. Exceptionally, we may also suggest attending an external course such as a “Father Heart” course or encourage you to attend one of the regular “Encounter Weekends” we run as a church.

New Members:
Please note, for those that are new to the church, we operate an extra level of pastoral care through “Heart to Heart”. Please see the guide Heart to heart your guide.