Pastoral Care

The Bible defines religion (ministry) as simply "visiting the Fatherless and widowed and doing so with a heart that is pure before the Lord" (James 1:27). To me, that is the essence of pastoral care. Simply taking people where they are and freely imparting to them the consolations of our Lord. Oswald Chambers calls this "becoming broken bread and poured out wine" for His sake alone. This is a sacramental, inviting lifestyle. Nothing draws people to the Savior more than this. It pleases our Lord also as He tells us in Matthew 25:40, "when you've done it unto the least of these, you've done it unto me."