PASTORAL CARE

Pastor, your health matters to those you lead, to those you minister to each week, and most importantly, to your family. The Northwest Ministry Network offers two excellent resources to help you stay mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. Also, there are resources outside the Northwest Ministry Network that are available to you.

Elders

Ministry is a Team Effort!

You do not need to struggle alone through difficult seasons of life and ministry. We have a team of Elders (ministers) who are ready and willing to listen, pray, and support you whenever you need it. Connecting with an elder is an opportunity to draw on the strengths and grace of others, to gain insights from the wisdom of seasoned ministers, to receive encouragement, and, when needed, to find accountability.

We have provided a LIST of elders you can contact directly, or you can contact our Pastoral Care and Connection Specialist, Kim Wigestrand.

What is the Role of an Elder?

Elders are credentialed ministers with the Northwest Ministry Network who have a heart and passion to minister to ministers. They understand the joys and challenges of life and ministry. Any NWMN minister or minister family member can reach out to an Elder at any time.

Elders are not involved in pastoral discipline. Their primary function is to listen, counsel, care, and pray with you. You will be able to talk with the assurance that what you share will be kept completely confidential. The only exceptions to this policy are in the case of child abuse or threat of violence to self or others. Should this occur, Elders will report such information appropriately. You can depend on our Elders in your time of need.

Counseling

The Benefit of Counseling!

In 1 Timothy 4:16 ESV, the Apostle Paul provides an equation for a healthy life and ministry: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Stewardship includes self-care. A resource for stewarding yourself well as you go through life and ministry is meeting with a counselor. Ministry can be wearying as you help people walk through emotional and spiritual challenges and the highs and lows of their lives. At times, ministry is overwhelming. Even the Apostle Paul was overwhelmed by his ministry assignment (2 Corinthians 1:8). Acknowledging the need for professional counsel at times in life and ministry is a path toward health.

Looking for a Counselor?

Our counseling Network is a resource for pastors and their families. The NWMN provides counseling referrals to ministers and their immediate family members. In addition, the NWMN covers the cost for a limited number of sessions. For a list of counselors in your community, please contact our Pastoral Care Assistant, Ashlee Beers.

Widows

The NWMN desires to honor and support the widows of our credentialed ministers or widows who are credentialed ministers.

Our Elder, Mary Beth Woll, oversees our ministry to widows and is available for care, a listening ear, and prayer. If you are a widow or know of a widow in need, please reach out to Mary Beth Woll.

Aged-Ministers Assistance

Many Assemblies of God ministers have served faithfully and sacrificially to build our Fellowship. Yet many made so little during their ministries that, today in retirement, they need our help to meet their daily needs.

What is Aged-Ministers Assistance (AMA)?

Aged Ministers Assistance, a ministry of the Assemblies of God, helps provide the necessities of food, housing, and medicine for aged or disabled ministers and their spouses living on a monthly income below the national poverty level. AMA is not a pension, but an emergency fund. It is underwritten solely by contributions from concerned churches and individuals. A minister can retire at any age, but to qualify, a minister must be at least 65 years old and have been ordained for at least 10 years of active ministry.

AMA provides for two types of assistance: monthly and medical. To learn more about AMA, click here or contact our Pastoral Care and Connection Specialist, Kim Wigestrand. To apply for AMA, click here.

Vacation and Retreat Resources

As ministers, you work hard to serve people. One of the challenges of ministry life is learning how to care for yourself so that you can lead from a healthy soul. Research suggests that the best way to thrive in ministry is to take time off for personal retreats and vacations. We hope these resources provide you with affordable options. So, what are you waiting for? Carve out time on your calendar to unplug and replenish!

PastorStays

The mission of PastorStays is to provide life-giving and affordable vacation stays for pastors and their families! To learn more, click here.

Renewals Retreats and Vacations

The General Council of the Assemblies of God provides an informational listing of vacation spots for couples or the whole family to enjoy. To learn more, click here.