Handling Crisis Situations: A Guide for Those in Ministry

Handling Crisis Situations: A Guide for Those in Ministry

A crisis usally begins with a phone call. Time is limited. Resources are short. It may not be possible to reach a pastor or professional counselor on short notice. HANDLING CRISIS SITUATIONS is a ready tool for helping Christians (and others) when they need excellent, time-proven, direction immediately. Everyone needs HANDLING CRISIS SITUATIONS because everyone faces crises. Chapter subjects include medical crises, financial disasters, death situations, and other crises. Handling Crisis Situations A GUIDE FOR THOSE IN MINISTRY By LONNIE V. SCOTT AuthorHouse Copyright © 2010 Lonnie V. Scott All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4490-6170-8 Contents 1. Abortion...................................................32. Alcohol/Drug Addiction.....................................153. Computer Addiction.........................................314. Depression: Including Bipolar Disorder.....................395. Eating Disorders...........................................536. Miscarriage................................................677. PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.......................738. Adultery...................................................859. Child Sexual Abuse.........................................9110. Divorce....................................................9911. Domestic Violence..........................................10912. Gay or Lesbian Child.......................................12113. Rebellious Child...........................................12914. Death of a Child...........................................14115. Death of a Loved One.......................................15116. Friend of a Suicide Victim.................................15917. Friend of One Who is Dying.................................16718. Suicide/Suicidal Gestures..................................17919. Financial Crisis/Debt......................................19120. Loss of Employment.........................................19921. Personal Disaster..........................................22522. Friend/Relative Incarcerated...............................23123. Lawsuit - Being Sued.......................................24124. Church Split/Conflict......................................253 Chapter One Abortion I was in my office going over my notes for Sunday's message when Stacey entered. "I need to talk," she said as she closed my door. My policy has always been to have someone outside my door when I do counseling, especially with a woman, but she had entered by surprise. Just as I stood up to find someone, I noticed another person, one I knew and trusted, enter the outer office. I resumed sitting. "You look distressed," I observed, "quite unlike you." I had known Stacey for a little less than a year, and she had been active in the chapel program. "I am distressed, like never before in my life." She reached over and took a large wad of tissues from the box on the coffee table. "I don't know how to start." I remained silent as she developed the courage to continue. "I feel horrible," she said after composing herself. "About two months before I came here, I went and had an abortion." Surprise must have registered on my face. I can usually keep it in check, but apparently not in this case, for she reacted to it. "Yeah, me-I can't believe I did it, either." She dabbed her eyes some more as she continued. "I couldn't bear the thought of what my parents would say if they found out I had gotten pregnant. I knew Stacey's mother from meeting her in the prison camp's visiting room, and she was very religious, quite conservative-and she was outspoken against abortion. "I take it that you aren't going to tell them about this." I already knew the answer to that. "No-not in a hundred years!" she exclaimed. "Well, Stacey, what brings you here?" I thought I knew already. "What can I do for you?" Stacy broke down crying again, "I feel so guilty for getting the abortion. I know I killed a baby." UNDERSTANDING THE CRISIS Abortion is highly controversial topic, both in political and religious circles. The primary reason is that both views are vastly diverse. The pro-abortion or pro-choice view is that the woman who is pregnant has the right to choose what happens to her body. The zygote or fetus does not have the status of being a human being at this point, and is considered mere tissue. The pregnant woman thus has the right to have unwanted tissue legally removed from her body the way she could have unwanted fat tissue removed in a liposuction procedure. The anti-abortion view is from the point of conception, even as cells are being formed, the womb contains a human being. The termination of the pregnancy by any intentional means is sinful, and could be considered a homicidal act. This is especially so in partial-birth abortions where the fetus is capable of living, had a medical provider not pierced the brain causing death. In my research of the abortion topic, I discove