12.4 Pastoral care

12.4 Pastoral care come involved in the congregation’s many activities after confirmation, and to practise, profess, and stand up for their faith in their surroundings. Youth leaders, who are trained and supported for their work by the Church, assist our young members at the congregational and district levels. They stand by them as personal contacts for confidential conversations in various situations of life as well as for questions of faith. In many District Churches the offer to the young people also includes an annual youth weekend, as well as divine services for the youth on a district level. Youth meetings provide an opportunity for conversations about ques- tions of faith and life in general, as well as a chance to exchange information and ideas. Committed young brothers and sisters will find multiple opportunities to engage their gifts and talents both within and outside of the congregation, and thereby fulfil the call to love their neighbour. SUMMARY Parents should teach their children to act in personal responsibility in accord- ance with the fundamental values of the gospel. It is the task of the ministers and Church teachers to support the parents in this effort. (12.4.1) In divine services for children the young believers feel the nearness of God and are supported in faith in child-appropriate fashion. (12.4.1) In the various levels of Church instruction the children are taught to lead their lives in awareness of their responsibility before God (12.4.1.1) In Pre-Sunday School children who are not yet of school age are introduced to faith in child-appropriate fashion. (12.4.1.1.1) In Sunday School, children are given insight into God’s activity by way of bib- lical stories. Other points of emphasis in content include: the sequence of the divine services, the significance of the sacraments and acts of blessing, as well as Christian holy days. (12.4.1.1.2) In Religious Instruction, age-appropriate knowledge is imparted concerning the stories of the Bible and the origin, development, and spread of the church 433 12 Divine service, acts of blessing, and pastoral care of Christ. The history of salvation is also addressed with reference to the life of faith of the children. (12.4.1.1.3) Confirmation Instruction prepares adolescents to take over responsibility for their life of faith as Christians who have come of age. (12.4.1.1.4) Young people receive special pastoral care. The objective is to strengthen them in the values of the Christian faith. They are to develop into personal- ities who are aware of their responsibility to God, who practise their faith, and who profess it. (12.4.2; 12.4.2.1; 12.4.2.2) 12.4.3 The pastoral care visit Every New Apostolic Christian is offered personal pastoral care. This care is modelled on the example given by Jesus. For example, He of- ten visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. From this a special rela- tionship of trust developed between them: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11: 5). Likewise Jesus’ visit to Zacchaeus in Jericho was characterised by His serving and helping love: “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house’” (Luke 19: 5). This visit resulted in blessing: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’” (Luke 19: 9). Today we derive the significance and purpose of pastoral care visits from what has been handed down to us about Jesus. All members of the congrega- tion have a Priest who is responsible for their personal pastoral care and also for these visits, during which he is usually supported by a Deacon. The principal focus in this effort of caring for our brothers and sisters is the endeavour to deepen their love for God and His work, cultivate their life of faith, and enhance their understanding of God’s activity. This is primarily done by way of discussions about matters of faith. 434