The following resources deal with the church as a caring community. Some deal with care for individuals or specific needs, while others concern the ideals of true fellowship.
Augsburger, David. Caring Enough to Confront. Ventura, Calif.: Regal, 1973. A fine resource for encouraging accountability.
Augsburger, David. When Caring Is Not Enough. Ventura: Regal, 1983. Others in this series are also excellent in fellowship building: Caring Enough to Forgive/Not Forgive and Caring Enough To Hear and Be Heard.
Baker, Don. Pain’s Hidden Purpose. Portland, Oreg.: Multnomah, 1984. Good for building compassion as well as for counseling the suffering.
Bergmann, Mark and Elmer Otte. Engaging the Aging in Ministry. St. Louis: Concordia, 1981. Understanding the older members and incorporating them into fellowship and service.
Bolt, Martin and David G. Myers. The Human Connection. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1984. How people change people.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. New York: Harper & Row, 1976. A look at a committed community. Useful in helping set high standards for the fellowship.
Claerbaut, David. Liberation from Loneliness. Wheaton, III.: Tyndale, 1984. Examines causes and cures. Helpful both for counselors and the lonely.
Colston, Lowell G. Pastoral Care with Handicapped Persons. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1978. Guidelines from a pastor who is also a handicapped person.
Drakeford, Jack. The Awesome Power of the Listening Ear. Waco, Tex.: Word, 1967. The skills required for effective listening. A good training tool. Author has also written The Awesome Power of the Listening Heart (Zondervan, 1982).
Getz, Gene A. The Measure of a Church. Ventura: Regal, 1975. Measures Christian fellowship using biblical standards of love, hope, and faith.
Gish, Arthur G. Living in Christian Community. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald, 1979. Evaluates the church’s fellowship and mission by such standards as discipleship, discernment, sharing, and worship.
LeFever, Marlene. Creative Hospitality. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1980. Ways to use the home as an environment for caring and service to others.
Mace, David and Vera. Marriage Enrichment in the Church. Nashville: Broadman, 1976. Help on structuring the church to build marriages in strength and intimacy.
Mains, Karen Burton. Open Heart, Open Home. Elgin, Ill.: David C. Cook, 1976. Using the home and natural contacts to communicate care and concern.
Menking, Stanley J. Helping Laity Help Others. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1984. Teaching church members, by practical instruction and personal example, to care for one another.
Rupprecht, David and Ruth. Radical Hospitality. Philipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1983. Ways to care for others, particularly the needy, troubled, and homeless.
Schaller, Lyle E. Assimilating New Members. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978. Good ways for incorporating newcomers into the body.
Sell, Charles M. Family Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981. How to enrich family life through the church.
Stone, Howard W. The Caring Church. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1983. A guide to getting laity involved in active pastoral care.
Tournier, Paul. Escape from Loneliness. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1962. A good resource for the lonely.
Ver Straten, Charles A. How to Start Lay-Shepherding Ministries. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983. Ways to equip lay people to do pastoral care.
Wilke, Harold H. Creating the Caring Congregation. Nashville: Abingdon, 1980. Guidelines for ministering to the handicapped.
Wilson, Earl D. Loving Enough to Care. Portland: Multnomah, 1984. A useful resource in training others in deepening the love of a fellowship.
Worthington, Everett L. When Someone Asks for Help. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1982. Practical teaching on reaching out to peers in need.
Wright, Norman. An Answer to Loneliness. Irvine, Calif.: Harvest House, 1977. A brief tool best used as follow-up to personal counseling with the lonely person.
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