Abstract:
The main objective of the study is to examine the practice of pastoral counseling in
Jimma town Evangelical Churches. Kind of counseling that is practiced in Jimma town
evangelical Churches, the way of giving counseling to the members, the professional skill
of pastoral counselors working in Jimma town Evangelical churches, opportunities and
challenges of counseling service in Jimma town Evangelical churches and related issues
are discussed. The data were collected from pastors who are serving as counselors and
members who are benefited as counselee by using interview guide and open-ended
interviews. Secondary data were not gathered because counselors have no documents
that they keep during counseling sessions. Researcher used pure qualitative research
method and employed purposive counseling technique. The major finding of the study
showed that even though modern counseling is not practiced, there is a traditional type of
pastoral counseling based on biblical verses. In addition there is the lack of professional
pastoral counselors, due to this there is a skill gap among counselors in the church, there
is the lack of counseling room in all churches, the lack of sufficient attention for
counseling in the church and there is wrong perception about counseling and no practice
of modern counseling processes. Therefore, pastors should integrate spiritual counseling
with scientific method to serve people in the church and outside the church since the
church is being opened to all and spiritual leaders are trusted by all people in the church
and outside the church.
