Novosaratovka
An intensive course on the basics of
psychological counseling and pastoral care over the Internet
("Chat of Trust") was held September 23-25 at the
Theological Seminary. Teachers from Germany - Stephan Loretz and
Ludmila Hoech led very informative and extremely interesting lessons.
Participants were ministers and active lay persons from Russia and
from neighboring countries. Both the theoretical lessons and the
first experiments in online work were held in a warm and friendly
atmosphere .
It was thanks to this positive
environment that it was easier to take on the sometimes difficult
subjects that arise in pastoral care, such as work with the dying,
various aspects of work with the mentally ill, with those who are
suicidal, etc.
It is thought that such online pastoral
care might become the first such service in Russia - analogous to the
ministry that is already functioning with the support of the
Evangelical Church in Germany. The project is aimed at helping in
especially painful, dangerous or critical situations when the person
needing help also needs full anonymity and confidentiality. Such work
helps prevent suicides and depression and sometimes it is the only
way to support our neighbors in their difficult hours of loneliness,
suffering and grief.
Anastasia Arsenieva
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