Called To Care By James E Hightower

Helping People Through Pastoral Care

You as a reader have a feast of spiritual nutrition awaiting you as you pick up this book. The contents of the book are basic principles of caring written for ministers on a church staff. However, they are not so written as to be useful only to these ministers. A Sunday School teacher, a Woman's Missionary Union leader, or any other dedicated member of the church who wants to be systematic and thoughtful in caring for people will find it readable.

At the same time it could well be used as text or parallel reading in a college or seminary class. This is a remarkable achievement of the authors of the book.

Then, again, the authors of the book are themselves serious and competent practitioners of pastoral care in several different contexts. Jim Hightower works in the context of a denomination as a consultant in pastoral care. Albert Meiburg is a professor of pastoral care in a seminary. Bob Dale works in a state denominational setting. Steve Ivy speaks from the context of his work as chaplain in a hospital. Bonnie Dillon is a pastoral counselor in a counseling center. Brian Harbour speaks of caring through sermons as the pastor of a church. Finally Paul Stevenson interprets evangelism for us from the context of the whole denomination.

It is a privilege for me to commend this fine book to you.

Wayne E. Oates

Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences School of Medicine

University of Louisville

Senior Professor of Psychology of Religion Southern Baptist Theological Seminary