Our Pastoral Care Programs address the growing need for social support in North Raleigh shown through an increasing number of individuals facing social isolation and depressive symptoms, as well as national trends showing a decline in happiness, life satisfaction, and mental and physical health. The Harvard Flourishing Program reported in 2020, a decrease in happiness and life satisfaction as well as mental and physical health. Residents of both North Carolina and Wake County experience higher than average poor mental health days and the numbers are trending upward. In Wake County, 9.2% of people do not have health insurance, 12.4% have frequent mental health distress, and 19% of people on Medicare have depression. Not only is there inadequate access to health care in Wake County, the people with health care do not have enough coverage to receive adequate care for their mental health. While the Pastoral Care Programs do not aim to replace professional mental health care, they are designed to break down social isolation and connect people to natural support systems in their environments, as well as formal support when needed.

Our approach to Pastoral Care encompasses emotional, social, and spiritual support and is inclusive of all cultures, beliefs, and faiths. We know that in order to thrive the body, mind, and soul must be cared for.

Guidance and Support
Allows individuals to engage with a professional who will listen to their unique experience and help guide them toward the appropriate support or the opportunity to pray with someone through challenging life circumstances.

Building Hope Small Group
Life often leaves us with questions that leave us hopeless and unsure of what to do next. Building Hope Small Group alleviates the isolation caused by crisis and connects participants with others facing similar hardships. During these sessions, we explore ways to find hope and resilience amidst life’s challenges together.

Pathways
Pathways offers individual support for those feeling stuck in their situations. This one on one program offers a non judgemental listening ear for people who want to share the things that are hard to talk about with a friend or family member. This nonclinical support program provides listening and encouragement as participants work toward stability and flourishing. Over 3-6 weeks, participants collaborate with a member of the Pastoral Care team to envision their desired future and the steps needed to achieve it. Intended outcomes of the Pathways program are increased well being in areas such as emotional health, social relationships, and life satisfaction.

Guidance and Support
From June to December of 2024, the Pastoral Care Programs team connected with 156 individuals who received Crisis Food Assistance, up 60% from the monthly average prior to our move in May 2024. Through relationship building and motivational conversations, two thirds of these individuals and families were referred to further engage in our transformative programming.

In that same time period the Pastoral Care Programs team connected with 386 community members who came to us in a financial crisis. Through relationship based needs assessments we were able to connect 52 individuals and families to our deeper programming and 245 to external resources within the community.

Pastoral Care Programs Client Feedback: 

“I learned something about myself.”

“His encouragement has provided me with the strength and resilience to overcome the sadness of the passing away of my dad and keep moving forward.”