Importance of making available pastoral counseling as a competence course for cross-cultural missionary trainees (PDF)

Academic Paper from the year 2022 in the subject Theology - Practical Theology, , course: PhD in Intercultural Studies (IN View), language: English, abstract: The purpose of this study is to make the readers examine and understand the importance of making available Pastoral Counseling as a competence course for missionary trainees that will be working among the unreached people group.

Missionary trainers and agencies often design their training with a profile of an effective missionary in mind. Intercultural training programs are increasing in importance. Intercultural competence is an extremely complex phenomenon, and a combination of different training methods seems desirable, because combining different training approaches makes optimal use of their advantages while compensating for their shortcomings.

A missionary is someone who has been trained and sent on a mission (preaching the good news about the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus to Heaven). Pastor is a shepherd of the flock (sheep); someone with a divine mandate (spiritual authority) to watch over the spirit, body and souls of people. Being a graduate of theological seminary / missionary institute, doesn't automatically make one become a pastoral counselor. It will take some level of training in pastoral counselling for a pastor / missionary to earn the title "Pastoral Counsellor". The pastoral counselor must be a trained therapist (pastor or missionary) that has been saddled with the responsibility of using the bible (as the main tool) in helping people (individual and family) to come to realization of possible options to attained a balanced life.

One of the biggest responsibilities of training institutions is to help people develop the ability to respond appropriately to diversity in society. Furthermore, educators can contribute solutions to issues associated with unsuccessful intercultural interactions internationally. Providing instructions on how to interact appropriately with people from other cultures is essential, and the development of effective intercultural and Pastoral Counseling training programs is urgent.