One of our church elders is suffering from depression. This elder once testified how they used to suffer every so often with bouts of depression. They've missed church for the past month and half and the situation is no better. It's been one excuse after the other.
We pray for this elder, we pray for their spouse who still comes faithfully.
How do you minister to the those battling depression? Especially leadership?
We've prayed. What do we do next? We have a member who is a trained counselor but if the elder won't even come to church how do we get them to even consider counseling?
I do not know that you can really force the issue at all...you may have come to the point where, aside from prayer support, and continuing to contact and encourage, you have done all you can do. I know that is difficult.
You cannot force them to come to church nor to counseling, but you can continue to call, visit, and encourage them. I would gently encourage them to see a doctor. They need to get medication to get stabilized. How do they feel about that or have you ever approached the subject of medication?
It's interesting that you should bring this up. A/G ministers receive Enrichment magazines (quarterly I think). I read the cover of the newest one (just this week, I think), which is all about ministering to depressed people. (There's also an article I want to read about when PW's get the church blah's. -- sound familiar to anyone?) I'm not sure if other people can go to the A/G website & order a copy of the magazine, but it might be a good resource for you. Let me get it from dh. If I find an article that might be helpful to you, I'll pass it on.
Our church elder returned! Still so much work to be done. Someone called them and really encouraged them and they're back.
We will continue to pray.
When the certified christian advisor in our church approached them and said they were available if they every needed to talk...the elder immediately rejected the idea.
I can understand why they would not want to go to anyone in the church...even if they are a liscensed professional. Most people would not be comfortable with that. In fact, I always refer people whenever possible in our church because even when people talk to their pastor, they most times become uncomfortable after that (even when you help them and it works) because you "know too much." They feel uncomfortable about all that they have unloaded on you and they leave the church.
I find the best thing to do is let people know you will pray for them and be their to support them as pastor, but refer them to a counselor outside the church.
