Biblical counseling is a comparatively new ministry idea for first-generation Korean-American church buildings.[1] Whereas some Korean-American Christians are focused on exploring the advantages of counseling, many are unfamiliar with the thought or don’t perceive the way it might be built-in into their current church ministry.
Inside this context, I’ve launched into an thrilling journey to introduce biblical counseling apply to the Korean-American society in better Atlanta and biblical counseling programs to Korean-American church leaders with Connection Level Biblical Counseling and Coaching Middle. On this article, I’ll talk about two challenges I’ve confronted all through this journey and recommend doable options for bringing biblical counseling to the Korean-American church context. Whereas the article primarily targets Korean-American church buildings, I consider it could possibly profit pastors and biblical counselors serving in any Asian immigrant church setting.
Disgrace-Primarily based Tradition
South Korean tradition locations important emphasis on disgrace and honor. Due to these values, many first-generation Korean immigrants discover it difficult to be open about their private struggles and sins. This job turns into much more daunting for them when the context is a close-knit neighborhood reminiscent of a church. Due to this, once I educate and encourage them to counsel each other biblically, many reply with anxious curiosity and generally resistance.
Though many individuals acknowledge the religious advantages of biblical counseling, they hesitate to share their struggles with each other as a result of such transparency might hurt their status and relationships. Many complain that they’ve been harm previously by gossip and rumors after opening as much as fellow church members. Understandably, such an expertise could be traumatic for Koreans who worth their status greater than something, main many to decide on to not disclose their deepest struggles inside the church neighborhood. This entrenched cultural conviction, bolstered by private expertise, appears tough to beat.
How can a pastor or biblical counselor overcome the “shame-based tradition” barrier when introducing biblical counseling and the mutual ministry of the Phrase to first-generation Korean American church buildings? Since lots of them determined by means of private expertise that sharing one’s life with others within the church is harmful, I recommend that you just assist them expertise the other—the enjoyment of collaborating in secure and real relationships in Christ.
Reasonably than imposing biblical counseling philosophy and ministries within the church, begin small teams that worth vulnerability and confidentiality. Inside these teams, the facilitator should prioritize confidentiality, stressing that the group’s well-being depends on it. When the members really feel secure sharing their struggles overtly and receiving assist by means of biblical counsel with out concern of publicity to the broader church neighborhood, they’ll progressively achieve confidence to belief and approve a biblical counseling ministry within the church.
To reinforce the effectiveness of those small teams, I like to recommend specializing in subjects pertinent to biblical counseling, reminiscent of issues associated to the center or relationships. These topics will permit members to understand the wealthy theology and practicality of biblical counseling and handle fast wants, encouraging them to develop into lively members. For example, there’s a important demand inside Korean American church buildings to grasp biblical parenting. Navigating the challenges of elevating youngsters in a international tradition could be irritating and scary, requiring God’s smart counsel. I’ve skilled mother and father genuinely sharing in tears about their struggles and receiving assist and encouragement from different mother and father who’re in the identical boat. Such a constructive expertise can domesticate a tradition prepared for biblical soul care and biblical counseling.
“All I Want Is God” Theology
One other barrier a biblical counselor or pastor might encounter within the Korean American church when introducing biblical counseling is the “All I Want Is God” theology. They are saying, “Why do I want a biblical counselor when I’ve God who counsels me by means of Scripture studying and prayer?” I’ve even heard from some Korean pastors that it’s not good to share private struggles with others as a result of it could solely result in disappointment and discouragement. They are saying, “All you want is God!”
I consider such theology emerged as a response to what I’ve beforehand mentioned. As a result of improper sharing of non-public lives and the spreading of gossip have induced ache and conflicts inside the church, many pastors have suggested a cautious strategy. They suggest that congregants confide solely in God for therapeutic to keep away from any discord.
How may pastors and biblical counselors information Korean American congregations away from this defective theology and towards a more healthy understanding of the mutual ministry of the Phrase? First, we should make them conscious that they’re already engaged in counseling dynamics, whether or not they notice it or not. Even when they don’t label it as such, church members repeatedly provide steerage on child-rearing, navigating temptations, enhancing marital relationships, and past. Moreover, they persistently present encouragement, provide warnings, and generally interact in constructive confrontations. Subsequently, the crux of the matter isn’t whether or not counseling happens however slightly the way by which it’s performed—whether or not it aligns with biblical rules or strays from them. By highlighting this realization, pastors and biblical counselors can encourage a extra intentional, biblically grounded strategy to supporting each other inside the neighborhood by means of biblical counseling.
Second, we should create avenues for educating church members concerning the mutual ministry of the Phrase as prescribed in Scripture. Many Korean-American Christians maintain a deep reverence for the Bible and are desirous to align their lives with its teachings. Once I’ve delivered lectures on a theology of mutual ministry of the Phrase, I’ve observed that many have develop into satisfied of the importance of biblical counseling and soul care ministry inside the church. In only one instructing session that centered on verses like 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, and Colossians 3:16, they started to catch a glimpse of the theological riches that underscore the significance of mutual ministry of the Phrase, recognizing their position in actively partaking in such ministry as a united church neighborhood.
Conclusion
Although Korean-American church buildings face varied obstacles in totally embracing biblical counseling, these challenges are usually not insurmountable. The notable enhance in demand for coaching pastors’ wives and small group leaders in empathetic listening abilities and smart counsel is critical. Moreover, there’s a rising motion inside church buildings to equip small group leaders to develop into proficient religious caregivers by means of biblical counseling training. These constructive indicators point out that Korean-American church buildings have gotten more and more able to embrace biblical counseling.
On this regard, I’m grateful for initiatives like Connection Level, that are diligently introducing biblical counseling to Korean church buildings. At occasions, this endeavor feels akin to missionary work, reaching out to the unreached and requiring assist from church buildings which have already benefited from biblical counseling. My hope is that extra church buildings and organizations will acknowledge the importance of bringing biblical counseling to immigrant church buildings in America, enabling them to expertise the identical pleasure and hope they’ve witnessed firsthand.
Questions for Reflection
- How do cultural values, reminiscent of disgrace and honor, affect the willingness of your church members to have interaction in biblical counseling? Are you able to establish comparable cultural boundaries in different ethnic church communities?
- In what methods can American church buildings and organizations collaborate to additional the reason for introducing biblical counseling to immigrant and ethnic church communities? How may you personally contribute to or advocate for such initiatives?
[1] First-generation Korean Individuals are immigrants who have been born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. Their youngsters, who have been born within the U.S., are thought of second-generation Korean Individuals.
