Counseling: an Expression of the Ministry of the Church

This introductory article is designed to introduce the concepts of pastoral counseling to the Hispanic community, which frequently does not have a developed ministry of pastoral counseling in their churches. This article discusses the biblical basis for this ministry and helps define it in light of the strong relational nature and existing practice of advice giving found within Hispanic cultures. Seeing pastoral counseling as an extension of community care and as more closely related to the informal practice of giving advice, helps make the ministry of pastoral counseling and pastoral care more accessible to ministries within the Hispanic community