Purpose

In Acts 6, Stephen was among those chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need. Since Jesus’ time, caring ministry has been a hallmark of the Christian faith community.

The Pastoral Care Ministry here at First Baptist seeks to make disciples who love God by trusting Christ in seasons of loss, love people through meaningful Christian fellowship, and serve the body of Christ by offering comfort, prayer, and support to those who are grieving or bereaved. Through this ministry, we aim to reflect Christ’s compassion and strengthen the church as we care for one another. 

 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 

• To provide Christ-centered support, hope, and healing for those grieving the loss of a loved one 

• To walk with people through grief, not to “fix” them 

• To offer Christ’s comfort, hope, and presence 

• To offer presence, practical help, and permission to feel 

• To listen without judgment 

• To provide concrete support like meals or errands to reduce decision-making 

• To help understand needs will change, requiring long-term, patient companionship and validation of their feelings rather than attempts to “fix” their pain