Pastoral Counseling practices Employing among Jimma Town Evangelical Churches

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.