Saundra, D. Nelson Written in December 2002;

¶ … Saundra, D. Nelson written in December 2002; was written for the members of Living Waters Christian fellowship in Newport News, Virginia. It was written to address the question on the best method Christian lay leaders, can develop and train on how to provide pastoral counseling for the congregational members of Living Waters Christian Fellowship (LWCF).

This literature review is based on chapter two of the dissertation. It functions to critique the dissertation paper; it also gives the reader knowledge of ideas in the topic. It acts as a guide on the question being discussed while it gives summaries and different references available. The author wrote the review as a guide for deacons, elders and ministers in counseling due to the demand for pastoral counseling by congregational members.

The research problem seeks answers as to the effective methods of developing and training Christian leaders in an effective way. The literature review gives different theories, differences uniqueness and references of effective counseling psychotherapy. It gives clarity, by definition of different terms and also gives different forms of counseling. The different forms of counseling include psychotherapy and ministry approaches, which address living, situational problems. The author further discusses Christian lay counseling, pastoral counseling, and selected models of psychotherapy and theosphostic ministry. The literature is also relevant to the question because it provides procedures to be followed for one to qualify to be a pastoral counselor by specifying time for different levels of pastoral counseling.

The review provides leaders with advantages, disadvantages and challenges when counseling; this gives them a better understanding of their congregation hence can effectively help them. Some of the advantages are like the trust they gain from their clients during counseling and they act as a mediator between them and God. The literature gives guidance on the Steven's series, which is a complete guide on the resources, training and structure in the lay-caring ministry for the congregation. The Steven's series provides effective ways in congregation and the pastor quality caring ministry.

The literature has the theme based on Christian counseling, which attempts to guide on pastoral counseling. The thesis of the dissertation is based on religious or pastoral counseling using the scriptures; the scriptures act as an authoritative source for counseling. The author uses a framework with sub-topics which are well organized and easy to understand. The author describes the meaning of different counseling methods in details for better understanding by the readers. Pastoral counseling methods are discussed in detailed, step by-step sub-topics, which are properly arranged. The Steven's format, which is applicable to other faith communities, is used to lay down the pastoral program for LWFC; it also provides coverage to ensure accountability.

The author has properly synthesized effective methods for developing and training Christian lay leaders, because he has used different models to describe pastoral counseling methods. The models include psychoanalytic, Jungian and behavioral models, which focus on human behaviors, others do not hence provide alternative methods of pastoral counseling. The theoretical framework explains the meaning of pastoral counseling, Christian lay counseling and other terms for better understanding and clarity.