What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Biblical Foundations of Pastoral Care"
Answer
The biblical foundation of pastoral care is rooted in the example of Jesus Christ as the \"True Shepherd\", who turned to suffering, sinful, and helpless people with tireless love. Pastoral care, following this model, means cooperating with God to restore the moral image of God in humanity and to provide both physical and spiritual healing. This task requires from those who serve a personal connection to Christ, patience, and the desire to, as Christ's representative, meet the wayward with compassion and self‑control.
Christ as a Model for Service to the Soul
»Christ, the True Shepherd, directs His work through the instrumentality of these subordinate shepherds. Thus the position of those who work in word and teaching becomes very significant. In Christ's stead they ask people to be reconciled with God. The people should not regard their preachers as mere speakers and orators, but as ambassadors of Christ, who receive their wisdom and power from the great head of the congregation. ... He is in Christ's place; and the voice of the healer should be heard in His representative.«
Restoration of the Divine Image
»Each time someone assumes the responsibility of teaching youth, they will encounter stubborn hearts and willful dispositions; their task is to cooperate with God to restore the moral image of God in each child. ... Those who teach the children should be men and women of principle. ... The spiritual life of Jesus Christ always has a renewing, restorative power on the soul that has felt its own weakness and has fled to the Unchanging One who can give grace and strength to resist evil.«
The Healing Mission for Body and Spirit
»The work of the Christian physician does not end with the healing of bodily infirmities; his efforts should extend to the diseases of the mind and the salvation of the soul. ... The teachings of the divine Teacher are always appropriate. He should direct the attention of the lamenting to the ever‑fresh signs of God's love and care, to His wisdom and goodness as manifested in His works of creation. The spirit can then be led through nature to the God of nature and oriented toward heaven.«
Pastoral Care for the Discouraged and Burdened with Guilt
»Pastoral care is not limited to preaching. Those who serve relieve the sick and suffering, help the needy, and offer comfort to the timid and lukewarm believers. ... It is not hardness, toil, or poverty that degrades humanity. It is guilt, injustice. This brings unrest and dissatisfaction. Jesus wants His children to minister to sin‑sick souls. ... When you visit the discouraged, bring a cheerful face, hopeful words, and a firm handshake.«
The Parable of the Lost Sheep as the Basis of Care
»In the parable of the lost sheep, the wonderful love of Christ for the erring and wandering is portrayed. He does not choose to stay with those who accept His salvation ... The true shepherd leaves the flock that loves Him and goes out into the wilderness, enduring hardships and facing danger and death, to seek and rescue the sheep that has strayed from the barrier and would perish if not brought back.«
The Responsibility Toward the \"Least\"
»In view of the value that Christ places on the treasure purchased by His blood, He adopts people as His children and makes them the object of His tender care; and so that their temporal and spiritual needs are met, He entrusts them to His church and says: Whatever you did for one of My least brothers, you did for Me.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
