Helping Ministries Training & Resources

Online Training

• Helping Ministry
    Overview
    Assisting Physical Needs
    Comforting Those Who Grieve
    Counseling
    Crisis Intervention
    Listening
    Support Groups
    Visitation
   
  
• Body Life
• Christian Education
• Church Purpose
• Finding Your Best Fit in Ministry
• Leadership Ministry
• Outreach Ministry
• Prayer Ministry
• Shepherding Ministry
• Spiritual Gifts
• Staffing Ministry
• Teaching Ministry
• Worship Ministry
   
  

Bible Curriculum
Devotionals
Discussion Guides
Teacher Training
Specials
 

Children's Ministry
Church Life
Equipping Resources
Ministry Ideas
Seasonal / Holiday Resources
Teacher Training
 

Order the
Walk the Walk
Even When It Hurts
Devotional Guide

Click on the bookcover
for more information.

• give it to those who are grieving a loss
• use it in a support group
• give it to a counselee
• use it for your own understanding

Directories of Our Affiliate Stores to Help You Find What You Need:
	Books, Bibles, Music, DVD's
	Church Supplies
	Novelties, Crafts, Gifts, More

Life can be disrupted by the unexpected. Emergencies arise. Sickness and death threaten normalcy. Disaster strikes. People can get overwhelmed by life's circumstances.
 
The training and resources provided here are for the lay person desiring to bring people hope to help them cope in life's difficult moments.
 

Click on a topic below:

• What constitutes a crisis?
   
  
• Precipitating events & resources to help
   
  
• Intensifying factors in a crisis
   
  

• How to help people in crisis
   
  
• What if the person is suicidal?
   
  
• What if the person is depressed?
   
  

Intensifying Factors in a Crisis

Certain factors will make a difference in how a person responds during crisis. If you want to truly help someone in crisis, these issues must be addressed, usually after the turbulence settles. If they are not dealt with, the person will not learn from the experience as they ought.

Clicking on the helpful resource links below will take you to one of our affiliate bookstores. While seeking to choose books that are doctrinally sound, the Ministry Tools Resource Center makes no claim to total endorsement of any listing.
 

Negative Personality Traits
 

Some personalities are more sensitive, pessimistic, and critical. When troubles hit, these people naturally experience an intensification of pain and stress. Some personalities are so driven that they often bring on problems. They may run rough shod over other people. They may wear themselves out and deplete their resources thus rendering themselves ineffective during time of crisis.
 

NEED: to bring their personalities under the control of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCE:
         Spirit-Controlled Temperaments by Tim LaHaye
 
 

Unrealistic Expectations
 

Some people do not have a realistic view of their strengths and limitations. They may wear themselves out trying to meet these expectations and burnout or fall into depression. Some think life owes them and when it doesn't happen as they expect it should, anger or despair set in. When the opposite of their expectation occurs, they are particularly distressed. These negative emotions will block them from effectively coping with their troubles.
 

NEED: to measure themselves and what they have against the grace of God (Romans 12:3)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCE:
         How to Beat Burnout by Frank Minirth (Out of print. May find it used at Amazon.com.)
 
 

Faulty Sense of Identity
 

If a person's sense of identity is wrapped up in another person and that person dies, or if it is found in one's job and the job is lost, or if it is tied into one's physical appearance and an injury or illness disability occurs, that person will struggle to survive. It will seem like this person has nothing left for which to live.
 

NEED: to find their identity in God and who they are in Him (Eph. 2:4-10)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCE:
         The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee
 
 

Disconnectedness
 

The person who doesn't have good friendships or isn't a vital part of a church body will have to face problems alone. A vital resource for coping is missing. That raw sense of aloneness adds to their troubles.
 

NEED: to develop friendships and meet regularly with the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:24; 1 Corinthians 12:20-26)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCES:
         Hiding from Love by Dr. John Townsend
         The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy McGinnis
         Connecting by Larry Crabb
 
 

Poor Coping Mechanisms Due to Background
 

What people have seen modeled may affect the way they respond to problems. Those who haven't learned how to properly express or accept their emotions may find themselves in a quandary. They may become defensive, proud, fearful, or co-dependent.
 

NEED: to trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding and to let Him renew their hearts and minds (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:1-2)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCES:
         When People are Big and God is Small by Edward Welch
         Making Peace With Your Past by H. Norman Wright
 
 

Faulty Belief System
 

What a person has been taught to believe about himself and life may affect the way problems are interpreted. What a person believes about God and His ability and willingness to help will affect his level of hope.
 

NEED: to refuse to believe lies and to take thoughts captive and to replace them with what is true (2 Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:4-9)
 

HELPFUL RESOURCE:
         Telling Yourself the Truth by William Backus & Marie Chapian
 

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