About pastorcare

OUR AWARENESS

According to Focus on the Family . . .

The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.
70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend.
50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job.
45 percent of pastors say that they've experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry.
40 percent report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.

According to the Ministering to Ministers Foundation . . .

Over 1600 protestant ministers in the United States are forced out of their positions each month.
Nearly 1 in 4 ministers experience a forced termination at least once during their ministry.
Only 54% go back into full-time church related positions.

OUR MISSION

Based upon Biblical principles, PastorCare provides personalized support and encouragement for pastors and their families.

Preventing
Intervening
Connecting

OUR METHOD

When pastors are reluctant to seek help .............. we initiate contact and follow-up
When pastors fear vulnerability .............. we provide safe and confidential listening
When pastors face personal struggles .............. we express empathy and compassion
When pastors feel guilt and shame .............. we offer grace without condemnation
When pastors feel lonely and isolated .............. we step in beside them
When pastors need counseling .............. we provide networking and referrals

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Renwick Brutus, Chairman
     President, Achievement Resources; CEO, Udecon
Larry Orange, Vice-Chairman
     Executive Vice President, Retired, Foremost Insurance
Curtiss Chadwick, Treasurer
     Director of Finance, Retired, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
Ken Stults, Secretary
     Agency President, Stults & Associates, Nationwide Insurance & Financial Services
Joseph Horness, Director
     CFO, Retired, Integra Investments, Inc. & Turnkey Funding, Inc.

OUR MINISTRY TEAM

John W. Smith, M.Div., D.Min. Regional Director
John Kimmons, M.Div. Field Representative

OUR VOLUNTEER MINISTRY TEAM

Sharon Brown, M.Div. Pastor's Wives & Women Clergy
Mike Cook, M.Div. Spiritual Formation & Direction
John Frye, Th.M., D.Min. Speaking & Mentoring
David Garrett, J.D. Conflict Resolution
Rod Jones, M.Div. Pastors Transitioning into Business
Ginger Jurries Personal Caregiving & Seminars
Peter & Susan Krugman, M.Div. Personal Caregiving
Bob and Bette Smith, D.P.M. Detroit Area Pastors & Families
Mark Vander Meer, M.Div. Recovery from Addictions

OUR GRACE TEAM

Several PastorCare team members (names not listed) are available to walk alongside Christian leaders desiring to gain victory over pornography addiction. These individuals have experienced freedom from bondage in this area and desire to serve as confidential friends.

OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Dr. John W. Smith served as the pastor of New Life Community Church, in Sayville, Long Island, New York for 23 years. The culture was radically different from John and Sue's families of origin in West Michigan. Pastoral ministry on Long Island was demanding, challenging, exciting and fulfilling as people found new life in Christ, grew in their faith, and experienced joy in serving others.

By God's grace, John and Sue navigated the highs and lows of pastoral ministry. One of the special high points was serving on the Executive Committee of the Long Island Billy Graham Crusade. John was asked to chair the Minister's Committee and was invited to offer the closing prayer on the final night of the Crusade at the Nassau Coliseum in September, 1990.

Through the years John and Sue learned that relationships with people provide the context for the greatest blessings and the deepest pain in ministry. People who love God can do very hurtful things to others who love God and are trying to serve Him. John and Sue's deepest wounding in ministry happened in 1999, by a group of discontented church members, just a few weeks before their twentieth anniversary at the church. They were so hurt and confused they didn't know who to trust or where to turn for help. Rev. Paul Williams came alongside them and told them about Blessing Ranch in Colorado where they could get the help they needed. Through intensive counseling with Dr. John Walker, God began to heal their wounds, and enabled them to continue in ministry. God led them through a three year journey in forgiveness, inner healing and restoring relationships.

In 2002, God called John to leave New Life and begin a new ministry that He would show him. John responded in surrender, obedience and faith. God gave John a new vision and a new calling to become a pastor to pastors and their families.

Faith and obedience required walking away from safety, security and everything familiar - and stepping into the flowing river of uncertainty-trusting that God would part the waters and provide a way through. The transition was not simple, smooth or easy. After selling their home and moving back to Michigan, John experienced the realities of being unemployed for 7 months without a severance package or unemployment benefits. He spent the remainder of 2002 working odd jobs to help make ends meet.

John served for 2 years as the Director of Development and Pastor Care at Alongside, an intensive counseling ministry for pastors and missionaries. He raised sufficient awareness and funding to keep the ministry going. Through circumstances beyond his control his position ended on December 31, 2004.

John could not abandon or forsake God's calling upon his life to serve Him as a pastor to pastors and their families. As he investigated other ministries it became clear that PastorCare was the best fit for his gifts, passion and experience. In January, 2005 John began developing the Great Lakes Region of PastorCare.

OUR HISTORY

PastorCare, The National Clergy Support Network, was founded in 1995 by Dr. Filbert Moore. His purpose was to provide a confidential, Christ-centered ministry for pastors and their spouses in need or distress, with the goal of helping those who are called to ministry, stay in ministry.

God used the experiences of Dr. Moore's life to prepare him for this ministry. In 1990 Dr. Moore was serving as an Associate Pastor on the staff of a large Presbyterian church when his wife told him to choose between her and the church. His resignation from the pastorate was very emotional, and a short time later his wife filed for divorce. Dr. Moore moved back to North Carolina feeling wounded and broken.

As Dr. Moore wrestled with depression, one night he received a phone call from the Dr. Warren Thuston, the leader of Biblical Wellness-a local ministry in his home town which existed to help hurting pastors. Dr. Thuston ministered to him and over time brought him back to health both physically and emotionally. Dr. Moore learned much of what PastorCare would become from the care he received from this kind man.

Dr. Thuston later invited Dr. Moore to join the ministry at Biblical Wellness where he served on staff from 1992 - 1995. It was there, while serving on the staff of Biblical Wellness, that Dr. Moore began to think about what a ministry to hurting pastors and their spouses might look like.

On August 7, 1995 on the campus of Peace College in Raleigh, NC, 54 people from 10 different states attended the first meeting to discuss the forming of PastorCare. Dr. Bert Moore launched the ministry of PastorCare with a simple and clear vision: "Wherever a pastor lives and serves, there will be people called by God ready to offer a variety of practical supports to under gird the pastor and family."

Dr. Bert Moore spent the last 10 years of his life developing the ministry of PastorCare, The National Clergy Support Network. His Lord and Maker took him home to glory on August 15, 2005.

For more information about PastorCare . . .

Telephone: 616-940-9860 or email: john@pastorcaregreatlakes.org