Opportunity's Hard Knocks - Christianity Today

In its bulletin each week, an Illinois church advises “When to Call the Church Office.” According to the list, in addition to the usual life passages of births, illnesses, and death, members should notify the ministry team of “termination of employment.”

Even in well-heeled congregations, there is much talk today about faltering markets, tight wallets, and job cuts. Now is the time to consider the vital role of pastoral ministry to families facing hard times.

What can you do?

Say what everybody’s already thinking.

Pray in worship services about financial markets and the effects of joblessness. Hearing the issues addressed publicly will help reticent people seek assistance they never dreamed they would need. Compile and post a list of compassion services available in your community.

Look at money from a new angle.

Beyond the annual appeal to pledge the budget, this is a good time to preach on money—especially the lack of it. Take a new look at God’s concern for the poor. For people who have never thought of themselves as needy, these Scriptures lend fresh insight. Offer a new class on budgeting for people drowning in debt. Scope out sound financial advisers and offer to pay for several sessions for church members in trouble. Don’t be afraid to ask, “Do you need help with your mortgage?” Even people who live in McMansions fear homelessness.

Ask deeper questions.

This is not a time for pat answers. Encourage people to ask, “What’s God’s purpose in this crisis?” Offer private counseling on the spiritual side of crisis: failure, disappointment, anger, and holding onto faith. People at a crossroads may need help asking “What’s my purpose now?”

When a suburban congregation felt the effects of a wave of layoffs in their region, the pastor tackled the unemployed as a new ministry field. Here are four ways to help the new seekers.

Networking: Sponsor a monthly lunch for jobseekers and business leaders in your congregation to meet. Start a new small group especially for jobseekers. Create a new prayer chain.

New skills: Job-hunting has changed in the past decade, and workers released from long-held positions may need a refresher. Invite a job counselor to teach resume writing, interviewing skills, and job-hunting on the web.

Office space: Provide room at the church several mornings per week for unemployed people to get out of the house and work on their search. Counselors recommend spending as much time on the search as they did on the job.

Jobs (even little ones): Draft a list of odd jobs around the church. Even volunteer jobs give a person reason to get up in the morning. And recruit unemployed people to lead the ministry to unemployed people.