Ways to Minister in Crisis

It’s 2AM. You and your family are sleeping peacefully.

Suddenly, the phone rings. You push ignore. It rings again. You answer.

Next thing you know, you’re throwing on your favorite hoodie and speeding down the driveway.

We have all gotten that phone call. (If you haven’t, it’ll come.)

An intoxicated student needs help….a student is in a car accident….a church member passes away….someone is about to make a terrible, life-altering decision - the degree of crisis varies greatly. However, one thing remains the same - Jesus brings hope and peace in the midst of crisis.

You may be wondering what your role is in these situations? You aren’t a clinical counselor or Biblical counselor…..so what (if anything) should you do? Grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about some ways that we, as ministry leaders, can serve in crisis situations.

First…..

“Pray without ceasing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray continually. As soon as you get the phone call, start praying and do not stop. Pray, recognizing that the Spirit of God goes before you and with you. Ask the Lord to bring comfort and peace in a way that only He can do. May the Lord forgive me for the times that I have entered crisis situations in my own power and strength. Those times of crisis that I have relied on the Lord always end up better.

Second….

Drop everything and be present with those who are hurting. Yes, there are times when you need to say “not right now.” However, crisis situations aren’t those times.

In 2019, my husband and I lost our first son when I was 20 weeks pregnant. During delivery we received a text message that said “We are downstairs praying. No need to come down, just know we are here.” Knowing that the body of Christ was praying and present in the midst of crisis was irreplaceable. It reminded us that in the midst of pain…..God was present and He cared.

That situation taught me that presence matters. Be willing to roll out of bed or drop whatever you are doing in order to be present with those in crisis. As you are prayerfully on your way to being present, ask the Lord to help you be a calming presence in the midst of whatever is going on.

Third…

Listen. Oftentimes, we feel the need to offer a ton of advice in the midst of crisis. There are many times where those hurting simply need us to listen and pray. Listen closely and ask the Lord what He would have you say and do. Simply being a shoulder to cry on may be the only thing needed for those hurting to know that the Lord cares.

When it does come to speaking up, be extremely careful of what you say. Oftentimes we like to “speak for the Lord” in the midst of crisis. Offer a reminder of the heavenly hope we have in Christ. Give reminders of God’s promises in Scripture. However, be sure not to make statements about the Lord that are outside of His Word. The only sure hope we have is in Christ, not in earthy healing or possessions - be rooted in that truth alone instead of trying to make sense of the craziness surrounding the situation.

Coming from someone who has been through recent crisis….”We love you. God loves you. We are so sorry” goes much further trying to rationalize what God is doing. Honestly, rationalization was hurtful, but encouragement of our heavenly home was lifegiving.

Last…

There is a time to get more help. As a ministry leader, I am not trained in counseling. There is only so much that we can do in the midst of crisis. Relationally…… being present and interceeding is the best thing that we can do as the body of Christ. Jesus always brings hope and comfort to those who are hurting.

There are many crisis situations where I cannot offer any assistance outside of prayer and presence. In these situations, I have to be willing to find outside help. This is where Biblical counseling comes into play. We can continue to help our students and families by getting them set up with a certified counselor. It’s extremely helpful to build a relationship with a counselor before these crisis situations happen. To find a counselor in your area check out the Association of Biblical Counselors website.

*Important…Prayerful presence goes a long way in the midst of crisis. There are some crisis situations that require immediate intervention in additional ways. If a student is ever in a situation where they or someone else is in immediate danger, first priority (in addition to prayer) should always be removing that danger. In many situations, this means contacting parents or authorities immediately.