God’s Care for Congregations in Times of Crisis is a training designed to help congregations respond effectively to crisis situations. In times of crisis and disaster, a well-prepared congregation can be a source of strength and compassion for those who have been affected. The format used in Illinois is a half-day training event, consisting of a PowerPoint presentation, group discussion based on vignettes and support manuals for congregations.
Training Objectives:
- Recognize the need to be prepared for crises and disasters.
- Understand how individuals and communities typically respond to crises and disasters.
- Develop an appreciation for how compassionate and competent response can improve crisis outcomes.
- Develop next steps for increasing each participating congregation’s capacity to respond to crises and disasters.
Each participating congregation receives a God’s Care manual, which outlines basic crisis concepts and provides resources such as checklists and forms for implementing a response team. It would be helpful if prior to registration, participants have secured the support of their pastors/congregations.
The God’s Care training was developed and refined by Rick Armstrong, a Lutheran pastor, and Ann Eissfeldt, a Lutheran school psychologist, in Florida. Their experience with disasters, such as hurricanes and various internal congregational crises, led them to develop a training and a manual designed to help congregations prepare for times of crisis.
Please join us on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Springhill Suites, located at 8101 West Higgins Road, in Chicago. You may register in advance by contacting Joy Medrano, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, 847/635-4653, or at Joy.Medrano@LSSI.org. Registration is $10 per person and can be paid either by check or cash the day of the event.
This event is sponsored by Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Child and Family Services and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.
