PASTORAL VISITING

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1. What it is -

a. The visit of the elderly, sick and people shut in.

This requires regular visits to the same person. A pastoral visitor would have allocated to them, one or more people to visit on a regular basis - say once a month. The number of people to visit allocated to one person will depend on how many the visitor felt he or she could manage.

b. The visiting of new members of the congregation to give the right hand of fellowship.

This requires one or perhaps two visits in order to make a person welcome and integrate them into the life of our church.

a. Much prayer. For personal strength and wisdom. For the one to be visited.

b. A healthy spiritual life and the ability to feed oneself on the Word of God. It is out of the spiritual nourishment we receive in our own quiet times with the Lord, that our spiritual ministry will mostly come, both in personal strength and in spiritual content.

c. Planning ahead and setting aside the regular times to visit. Such visiting can not be done on the spur of the moment. It mostly will not get done, if we don't plan ahead.

d. Selecting, reading and obtaining suitable literature which can be used from time to time to give away. All literature we give away we must be familiar with and have read ourselves. You should not give away literature you are not familiar with.

e. Making sure that you have the current copy of the church magazine to give to each person visited.

f. Seeking from the Vicar/Pastor or Pastoral Visiting Coordinator, an allocation of people to visit. Or, if you have someone you would particularly like to minister to, clear this person or persons with the Vicar or the Coordinator as your allocation of people to visit.

a. Pray before you start out.

b. Allow at least 30 minutes for the visit. It may take more or less. The person visited must never feel that you have not got much time for them. Do not be surprised if sometimes a visit you think will be fairly short, turns out to take a whole afternoon.

c. Never leave from a visit without praying with the one visited, or at least seeking an opportunity for such prayer. Rarely do people refuse a word of prayer when asked if they would like it, and very often are very grateful for it. Usually we pray just before we go, but prayer can come at any time in the visit which is felt the most appropriate. Be ready for the one visited to offer a pray after you have prayed.

d. If possible find an opportunity to read a passage of the Bible, and say a spiritual word from it. This might not always be possible. People are not so ready for this as they are for a word of prayer. Be ready for the one visited to contribute to the spiritual discussion.

e. Much of the visit will be spent in conversation and caring. Be a good listener. People who are shut-in like to be able to talk. Don't be impatient. Be prepared to hear the same stories over and over again. Some will be reluctant to let you go. Wait for an opportunity to break into the conversation, and as gently as possible indicate you must leave, but assure them you will call again.

f. Always leave a copy of the Church Magazine.

N.B. The practice of praying and ministering God's Word is developed by doing. One sentence prayers and leaving a text of Scripture may be the small start we make. As we gain experience and confidence, God will open us out into more ministry, specially as we get to know the person we are visiting.

a. Make a record of your visit, if only to record the date and time you went. Add any details which will help in your praying.

b. Respect all confidences.

c. If you have promised to do something for the person you visited, be sure that you do it, and as quickly as possible. To forget or neglect to do something promised will not help to build your relationship.

d. Seek, where appropriate, to get the prayers of the church fellowship for the people you visit.

e. Book in your dairy the date and time when you will next be visiting. Never break this date unless it is totally unavoidable. It is not just a date for the person you visit, but a commitment to the Lord. With regard to visiting new people in the congregation ask whether a further visit in say a months time would be appreciated.

f. From time to time make sure the parish record on each person you visit is kept up to date. In the case of new people make sure that the person or person's are entered on the parish records.

a. Don't be impatient for response and spiritual results. Confidence and friendship need to be built up. Spiritual growth or conversion may take along time to come. In faith expect God to work and to use you and to bless your ministry. Pray much in faith for the ones you minister to.

b. Don't be discouraged if time spent on spiritual things is small or rare. You have not wasted your time even if you haven't even been able to pray with the person. You have still brought a flavour of Christ into the the home.

c. Be gentle, patient, caring and willing to help.

d. Don't get too emotionally involved. Be able to forget the person and their problems when not engaged in prayer for them, or in ministry to them. Don't feel that you have to shoulder all the problems yourself.

Most have something to offer in this ministry. If it is only friendship, offer this, but explain how far you are able to minister. You will be surprised if you start in this way, how soon you will be ministering spiritually as well.

Visiting elderly and people shut in - this visiting requires regular commitment.

Visiting new members - this visiting requires being available to be asked to visit when needed. How often visits will be needed will depend on how many new people are coming into the church.