De-escalating depressors in disciples: A post-COVID-19 spiritual care drive

Abstract

When the church doors reopened after the pandemic, congregating may have sparked some loss reminders since some individuals lost their significant others. This poses some questions that need consideration by the pastors. Which identifiable loss reminders are present in the church? What do such members think about God? How is the church prepared to reintegrate such parishioners? To what extent will the existence of depressors be? In this article, the term “depressors” is used to mean all factors that impact the members’ mental well-being. This article aims at providing ways of de-escalating these depressors among members. It seeks to create awareness of identifiable loss reminders and how they can be reduced. The impact of ambiguous loss on the church members is explored. The caregiver’s negative responses to personal wounds and how they may impede care provision are given some attention. A four-dimensional approach to the provision of spiritual care, pastoral care, and counselling is developed and suggested as a tool to enhance the provision of care to church members. The article adds a voice to the ongoing dialogue on having a needsbased ministry and provides practical solutions and a spiritual care drive that facilitates the healing of those who lost their loved ones during the pandemic. It also stirs further research on the impact of the absence of rituals of burial on mental well-being.