Die funksie van 'n Bybelse beradingsentrum in die toerusting van gelowiges vir hul roeping in 'n gemeente en in 'n gemeenskap / Johannes Matthys Earle

Abstract

Although there are many examples of counselling centres with an evident and defined function as a supporting source of congregations and communities in the USA and Germany, it is not the case in South Africa. According to previous research there is a huge deficiency in South Africa with regard to scientific research results and studies concerning the functioning of a Biblical Counselling Centre with regard to equipping believers to fulfil their vocation in a congregation and community. The next overarching research question came up for discussion. How can the functioning of a Biblical Counselling Centre be applied and implemented while equipping believers for their vocation in a congregation and community? The purpose of this study was to evaluate the function of a Biblical Counselling Centre to equip believers in fulfilling their vocation in a congregation and community, in the light of the Scripture and to investigate whether a Biblical Counselling Centre extends to the advantage of a congregation and community, especially with regard to equipping persons in their position as believers to guide them to spiritual maturity. It usually includes pastoral help which is ,the main function, the equipment of counsellors and people who believe in Christ in an evangelising way to canvass the churchless and to support them. It has a supporting function in the same context as that which occurs in certain congregations and communities in the USA and Germany. The method of this study proceeds with the model, designed by Zerfass (1974:166 aft.) with a view to Practical Theology. The method of work was as follows: In Chapter 2 (2.5.1-2.5.8) it was indicated how God operates to extend his church, calls people who believe in Him and equips them. Well-grounded on the Scripture and guidelines from history, five basic-theoretical guidelines were derived from the function of a Biblical Counselling Centre in equipping believers for their vocation in a congregation and community. In Chapter 3, meta-theoretical perspectives from other scientific literature studies such as Sociology, Communication, Psychology and empirical studies were formed on the functioning of a Biblical Counselling Centre in equipping believers for their vocation in a congregation and community. A quantitative and a qualitative empirical study were executed by means of personal interviews and questionnaires to determine the effect of a Biblical Counselling Centre with regard to equipping believers for their vocation in a congregation and community. In Chapter 4, practical-theoretical guidelines were formulated arising from the hermeneutical interaction between the basis-theoretical principles, the meta-theoretical perspectives and the existing practice in congregations in South Africa. General practical-theoretical guidelines were formulated as a result of the functioning of a Biblical Counselling Centre in equipping believers for their vocation in a congregation and community. In Chapter 5 the researcher drew a final conclusion, namely that, in the light of the problematical question (cf. 1.2.2) and ,the central theoretical argument (cf. 1.4) derived from this study, as well as the study undertaken in chapters 2-4, a Biblical Counselling Centre can indeed fulfil a supporting function which is to the benefit of congregations and a community, especially by equipping and empowering members of a congregation in their position as believers and to guide them to spiritual maturity, unity and knowledge of the Son of God. A Biblical Counselling Centre can fulfil it's purpose by lending pastoral help to a congregation, minister to the spiritual needs of the people and support them, which is the main function, and to equip members of the consistory, members of the congregation, counsellors and lay-counsellors in an evangelising manner to canvass the churchless and to support them.