One of the

privileges of being in the ministry is the opportunity to

be "pastor" to people in times of joy and in

times of adversity.

Simply

"being there" and having that "ministry of

presence" are greatly appreciated by parishioners in

need. I may be slightly biased, but I feel every person

should have a pastor and church family to support and

minister to them at life's critical points: weddings,

births, hospitalizations and surgeries, deaths, family

crises, celebrations and losses.

Being God's

instrument of pastoral care is a great responsibility

that ministers take very seriously. There are times,

however, when pastors can't minister because members fail

to inform them of their need. Only God is all-knowing.

The rest of us need to be informed when a ministry

opportunity arises.

So when do

you call on your minister? Presbyterian minister Daniel

Hamby published a list entitled "Ten times to call a

pastor." I have revised it slightly.

1. Call

your minister before going to the hospital if possible.

If there is to be surgery, many ministers make every

effort to see you beforehand to have prayer and to affirm

confidence in God's care. Sometimes this visit of prayer

support happens at home the day before, or maybe in the

hospital room before surgery.

2. Call

your minister before

your marriage reaches the breaking point. Most ministers

are available to talk with about significant marital

issues. Many pastors do not do in-depth counseling, but

will refer you to skilled, trained professionals for

help. Pastors want to help families.

3. Call

your minister before planning your wedding. Many

ministers require premarital counseling of some form and

often this requires several months of meetings before the

actual wedding date.

4. Call

your minister before a young person goes to college or to

the armed services. Pastors want to keep up with what's

going on with their young people.

5. Call

your minister before making funeral arrangements. He will

be sensitive to helping in planning a funeral service

that meets your needs and desires. He will provide

support in a time of grief. When death occurs, the

minister should be among the first notified.

6. Call

your minister when a difficult decision confronts you.

Life-changing decisions should not be made alone. Most

ministers can help people think through the options that

face them in life.

7. Call

your minister when you or someone you know needs help.

Most ministers will readily admit that there are few easy

answers in life, but ministers also know about resources

and options that can help.

8. Call

your minister when you are slipping into depression.

Kierkegaard called spiritual depression "the dark

night of the soul." When God seems far off or prayer

seems unreal, ministers are there to help you reassess

the reality and confidence of the Christian faith.

9. Call

your minister when a baby is born. Babies are seen as the

symbol of new life. Ministers want to rejoice with the

new parents and ask God's blessing on the child.

10. Call

your minister when you have questions about your faith,

or about your church. When you wonder about the meaning

of your faith, let your minister know of your questions

and struggles. He will be glad to help. When you need

information about some process or happening in church

life, go "straight to the top" and seek

first-hand information. If the ministers doesn't know,

he'll be glad to find the answer to your concern.

Ministers

are there to help.

The Rev.

Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist

Church in Fayetteville.