Reviving the Fellowship of Christian Care Professionals
Some Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF) members will remember that in the early 1990s and for some years following, one of the GCF Sectional Groups that used to meet on a somewhat regular basis was the Fellowship of Christian Caring Professionals (FCCP). An early initiator of this group was Dr Lim Yun Chin, a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist. He, together with a diverse group of individuals from the medical, psychological, social work, counselling, pastoral care, and other fields, came together to network and share professional experiences and resources with one another. All these professionals were in the ministry of caring for individuals with different needs in various settings.
An area of concern shared by nearly all these professionals was the visible absence of a ‘Christian perspective’ in their area of training. This led to several early discussions revolving around issues pertaining to the possible integration of ‘psychology’ and ‘theology’, and as to whether one could refer to ‘Christian counselling’ as a viable form of counselling.
For many years, FCCP had regular meetings that attracted a good number of regulars and provided a forum for discussion on theoretical issues and matters pertaining to how and when it might be appropriate to attend to the realm of the ‘spiritual’ in counselling.
JJ, at a 2009 FCCP Conference
Regrettably, FCCP began to falter in meeting regularly as it lost the presence of some of its active members, eventually leading to the group folding. Subsequently, there was an attempt to revive the FCCP meetings, this time with a focus on providing some form of ‘supervision’ for members handling cases within their workplaces where little to no supervision was available. This too continued for a time, before becoming too difficult to sustain.
Recently, a few individuals voiced the need for a group like FCCP to be revived. Clearly, over the last decade or two, there have been signs of an increase in mental health needs among various segments of the population in Singapore and beyond. Further, the Church has also become more cognisant of the mental health needs of their congregations. The ministry of caring for individuals has multiplied many-fold. With this has come the various therapeutic challenges of attending to patients with an increasing variety of needs.
Given these shifts, there appears to be a renewed need to bring to life a group once again that would gather caring professionals. Such a group would serve as a resource for newer and older members of the Fellowship who perceive a need for a clearer ‘Christian perspective’ to their caring activities.
The word care hails from the Gothic word kara, which essentially means to ‘to suffer or grieve with’. In the Christian tradition, drawing from the Old Testament, the origin of ‘care’ finds its source in nature of God, who manifests his care for his people, the children of God. This finds fuller expression in God’s care for a broken humanity, when God himself sends his only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on our behalf. The image of a God who weeps for a broken humanity becomes a powerful symbol of God’s children themselves being involved in a ministry of care to others!
FCCP served a generation of caring professionals from the 1990s into the early 2010s, and we thank God for that. Today, the growing awareness of mental health needs, both in the Church and in wider society, serves as a clarion call for the revival of a fellowship such as this, to address the challenges faced by those in caring ministries, and for mutual edification and encouragement.
The Lord lead us into what He sees fit!
Joseph John previously served as the General Secretary of FES (1989-1995). He set up his own counselling practice, Kairos Psychotherapy Services, and currently supervises students in counselling at the School of Counselling, Singapore Bible College.
— Joseph John previously served as the General Secretary of FES (1989-1995). He set up his own counselling practice, Kairos Psychotherapy Services, and currently supervises students in counselling at the School of Counselling, Singapore Bible College.
Editor’s Note: This piece is part of our August news on ‘Hospitality and Welcome’! The invitation to care for and serve others extends to life beyond graduation. Do check out this month’s feature article which prompts deeper questions about why we gather, welcome, and serve.
