Since my area of training and experience has included counseling and Family Ministries, I have been invited to assist with the birthing of like ministries in several different churches. One should not go into this type of ministry without weighing the costs and evaluating the nature of your particular church and its pastoral relationship to mental health.

Philosophical differences dictate variations in mental health ministry. If a pastor feels that all a person needs to do with mental health issues is take them to God in prayer, then a mental health ministry isn't going to go very far. But if a pastor preaches about real pain in real people and self-discloses his or her own journey, then an environment is created that could turn a counseling center into a viable ministry to the church and surrounding community.

Within the Adventist culture counseling has not been well received because of our past emphasis on "being perfect." Adventists don't know who they can trust with their journey, and anonymity is always an issue. Few Adventists, except those relegated to the "troubled" in the church's pecking order, ever have the courage to come forward and seek help for specific issues. To change this, a groundwork must be established that tolerates people who are less than perfect and who are willing to share their pain. If a pastor's philosophy of openness conflicts with the viewpoints of the church's leadership, or vice versa, then a counseling ministry is probably not viable.

Let me move on to the details. The most inexpensive way to establish a counseling ministry is to invite mental health professionals to utilize your church for various specialized classes and follow-up groups. Offer a specific class, such as "Parents of Adolescents," and charge a nominal fee per night, which the presenter can keep for remuneration. Make sure the charges are sufficient to warrant the professional's time and expertise. This will also notify the participants that they should be serious and do the work necessary to improve their skills.

Using this suggested model, a large variety of classes and groups can be established with no cost to the church except utilities and whatever advertising is deemed prudent.

Tips for Starting a Family Ministry

Here are six suggestions for starting and maintaining an active Family Life Ministry in your church:

1. Know your congregation and its needs. Surveys are often helpful; but if used, make sure every member receives one. Family Life Ministries is not only for married persons with children, it also includes singles, elderly, young people, children, women and men.

2. Know your community and its needs. Family Life Ministry can be an effective outreach tool. Invite the community to programs such as "Parenting Teens," "Drug Prevention Education," or "Cooking for a Healthy Family."

3. Be willing to start small. As people are blessed, others will also wish to be involved.

4. Form a committee that will brainstorm new ministry ideas and will also be willing to divide up the work.

5. Find effective speakers by listening to what other churches do. If it's uncomfortable for some of your members to have a non-Adventist speaker, have a question and answer time after the presentation when you or your pastor can help answer questions or dialog with the speaker.

6. Nothing takes the place of personal invitations. Be willing to provide transportation, child care, or anything that will make your programs available to all who feel the need. Make your meeting rooms attractive. Make your bulletin announcements attractive and well worded. Show you care.

The article was written by Bev Bretsch when she directed a local church Family Ministries program in Portland, OR. The "tip section" was written by Halcyon Wilson, who was associate pastor of the La Sierra University Church at the time this article was submitted.