Any feedback appreciated...

[Praising4eva]

OK...here's the situation...nothing traumatic...just would appreciate some feedback.

I am really close to finishing my degree and have been told I am in a good position to be accepted to do a Masters degree in counselling. The only thing is that in order to do that, I need to be associated with either the church or a community 'helping' organisation. I do counselling now - but while I do it out of the church, it is not for the church as a position. What I really have my heart towards is pastoral care. I am going to have a chat with the pastor about it at the end of July. I have no idea what to expect there. (other than that she has said 'definitely a possibility, we should have a chat').

Now... I am sitting here staring at my options and while I have a little of the degree to go and could easily do it within a year on a part-time basis, life circumstances mean I am doing it more slowly than that. I'm really tempted to high tail it to the end so I can be closer to what I really want to do...BUT there is only one way to do that, and that is to quit music team - which I don't want to do. Giving up the music teaching isn't an option as the education background is considered favourably in an application to do the masters. So it seems wise to keep that up. Nor is giving up the counselling an option - obviously.

The thing is, if I give up music team (sob) I have nothing to connect me to church at all. I don't have a small group right now as I don't have time. Not knowing what the future will bring doesn't help. Nex year, if I'm not doign pastoral care in the church and I need to find a community organisation, I will have to quit music team anyway. (sob) in order to have time to do the work for the community organisation.

So it's a matter of trying to sort things and choose between all good options. The study option is fine although I will really, really miss music team (which is a huge time commitment) but I don't think the isolation it will put me in, albeit temporarily, is ideal.

Any thoughts?

 

[Solidlyhere]

If you want the Counseling degree to make $$, this changes the equation.

If you like the Music ministry, but you are planning to give it up to pursue this other thing, then you must not like the Music ministry THAT much.

Personally, I avoid anything that would interfere with my Music ministry work.
So, if I had an either/or situation, Music would win.

That being said, you made it clear what your priorities are: "What I really have my heart towards is pastoral care."

If this is True, then what's the BIG deal?
Your Pastoral Care position can give you "goodies" for years to come. Anyone can sing, but only some people are any good at Counseling.

 

[Praising4eva]

I'm in the privileged position of not having to make $$$ though obviously, any extra is helpful for the family. If it was the $ I was after I'd go into private practice, not look for church work. I want to work for a church. Ideally I would love to do both pastoral care and music ministry. They are very different really. If I had to choose one over the other, I would choose pastoral care (while feeling the pain of giving up the music) but I'm not in a pastoral care position at this time. I have no idea if my church are going to give me a position, which makes it hard to decide. Otherwise it would be clearcut.

I am a good counsellor and I am very academically oriented ... however the degree is merely a means to an end.

The dilemma is doing what I need to do IF I don't have the pastoral care position as a given.

 

[Solidlyhere]

"I have no idea if my church is going to give me a position, which makes it hard to decide. Otherwise it would be clearcut."

Could you ask the person in charge of hiring for the Pastoral Care position, if you have a good chance of being hired (after you complete your course of study)?

Is it more like: Someone's doing it now, and you would bump him/her out of their position?

Anyway, the way I see this training course is: When you finish it up, you will be a different person. You will have learned new and powerful methods to converse with people, and help people to feel better about themselves.

And, if your own Church has no need for your Counseling, other Pentecostal Churches surely WILL want it. So, you could "volunteer" at a neighboring Church, and assist your Church-mates THERE.

Only you know if you have a knack for Counseling others. The World needs good Counselors.

 

[Praising4eva]

I have 30 hours counselling practicum to go and the course is complete. Then onto the masters. I am a natural counsellor - I've done it all my life. I'm just trained now ;-) I might wait until I've had my meeting with the pastor and then decide. But any time I mention the possibility of quitting the music team she does not like it. So I might ask her, if I can work with the church, if quitting music team would impact on that at all. Because I can't do everything and music is a huge time commitment.

I wouldn't be bumping anyone out of their position. Couldn't do something like that.

Thanks for your thoughts solidlyhere

 

[Johnnz]

Your study will give you opportunity for a career. It is a time of necessary preparation. It will end. Music will be there as long as you live.

I know that MBA students virtually cease to exist for two years. Study becomes their world. Afterwards its back into a broader life again.

John
NZ

 

[Praising4eva]

I'll be doing it over four years. I'm a mum first

 

[Michael2308]

Hey

I must say i am not like a pastor or anything like that but hey, heres my 2 cents. I am about to decide what to study, and what to do wityh my life and the one thing that helped me decide is prayer

I have been praying to be guided and for God to show me exactly what he wants me to do. i got this advice from a friend who's in the same position, and believe it or not it worked, i have been looking for a place to find my way into ministry and i was looking for an old Silver ring thing bible, because there was a sermon type thing i liked in there and when i opened it, in the first few pages i looked at i saw their details on applications page etc.

I really do recommend praying for guidance and if you could get a friend to pray for you also, that would help too

My prayers are with you

God bless

Mike

 

[Taylor43]

I am also a trained crisis Christian counsellor. My church has not used me in that area as a Status. I use my gift online and to those that need comfort face to face. I just amd gifted in that area, the pastor wife ar my church says for me to keep using the gift. God does not expect us to have a phd or doc behind our names. God uses us in so many ways.

I do hope you can be known in the church to counsole I think it would be great but if not your training was not a waste of time. Just reach out to those you can.

For the music ministry can you be on Volunteer when you can you will helpout. I hope things workout for you and i will keep you in my prayers. You can pm me anytime.

Hugs
Taylor

 

[Praising4eva]

Thanks everyone While I am making counselling appointments I am not charging right now. It just doesn't seem right to shut out people that otherwise couldn't afford the counselling when they need it so much. I do plenty of informal counselling.

I've set up a meeting next week with a pastor I like. She's kind of academically oriented so I'm sure she will be good to talk to. I really don't want to give up music team but can't do everything in life ...