The church exists as a triage of care in the midst of a world that is broken. We come to Christ and we find ourselves put into a diverse community called to help and serve each other. In the average congregation there are people who are visibly suffering, quietly suffering, and others who are not currently afflicted. This is a diverse group with the priority to help and serve one another. We are called to care and care for each other. How can we do this better?
Dave Furman has written a helpful book called Being There: How to Help Those Who Are Hurting. Dave is qualified to write this book because he is a pastor who cares deeply about the church. He is also someone who suffers from a very painful disability. Furman opens up his life and his suffering to serve the broader church. He speaks of his painful disability and the difficulty that it presents personally, in his marriage and family, and his ministry. The book is deeply personal and pastoral. Dave opens up and shares his heart—the good and the bad. He also lets us in to see how this affliction affects his wife, children, and the local church.
In reading through this book I was reminded again of how God uses suffering for good. It sounds trite to say that doesn’t it? But it is true, and we must believe it. Dave details how suffering has been a surprising minister to lead him and those close to him into a more abiding trust and treasuring of Christ.
Who will be helped by this book? Clearly those who are suffering will be served by Furman’s personal and pastoral wisdom. He is an encouragement. But also Dave serves those who want to help those who are hurting but often don’t know how. In his chapter “Whatever you do, don’t do these things” he provides a Ten Commandments of what not to do when you attempt to care for someone. This was really eye-opening for me. Having never suffered like many of my brothers and sisters I can use a few words of counsel from a brother who knows and cares. Forman helps us to help others.
The book encourages and equips. Remember, Dave is a gospel-loving pastors. He sneaks in all kinds of exegetical nuggets that are like sweet morsels in an oatmeal cookie. He is equipping us to better care but he is doing it in such a way that helps us to see and savor God’s care for us.
I was helped by this book and can definitely see how it will serve to help the church.
Pick up a discounted copy of Being There: How to Help Those Who Are Hurting at Amazon.