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So you've got to visit a dear one who's ill and hurting - what do you do?

Tending to the sick and hurting is one of the most obvious ministries Jesus passed on to us – but one of the most challenging for Christians to undertake.

Whether it’s in the hospital, retirement facility, funeral home, or the house across the street, Christians are called to be Jesus’ healing hands to a hurting world - and this course can help you do so.

In this class, Dr. Joyce Mercer, professor of practical theology at Virginia Theological Seminary, will share with us:

Why we should visit the sick and hurting
How to initially approach persons who are sick and hurting
How to listen to the sick and hurting
Supporting family members of persons who are ill or troubled
Praying with the sick and hurting
How to give communion to the sick and hurting
A few things to avoid or watch out for in pastoral care with those who are ill or hurting
Keeping in touch with the sick and hurting

This course is perfect for anyone who's looking to bring comfort to those who are hurting.

Here's a video preview:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take me to complete this course? It will take an average student about 45 minutes to complete this course. You can pause at any time and come back. You can even re-take lessons. Each course features 3-6 video lectures that are from 5-7 minutes in length. Also included are downloadable Mp3s of each lecture plus Discussion Questions and a one-page synopsis of the course called The Takeaway

Who’s teaching this course? Our instructors come from a variety of traditions, mostly mainline Christianity - Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian. They meet two criteria: 1) they are well-studied, even experts, in their fields, 2) they offer a moderate viewpoint

How long will I be able to access the course material? Those who purchase individual courses (for $10) can access all the course materials for 6 months from the date of purchase. Those who purchase individual subscriptions ($15/mo unlimited) can the course materials for all of our courses as long as their membership is current.

Is this course downloadable? Parts of the course are - Mp3s of the lectures, the Takeaway, and the Discussion Questions. However, the course is designed to be an online learning experience and the video lectures, quizzes, and discussion are only accessible online. However, if you'd like to take the course in a small group, feel free to hook your computer up to a projector or big screen

Can I cancel my subscription anytime? You bet. It's easy, click here for instructions as well as answers to more Frequently Asked Questions.

Also, a technical note: This platform works best on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, which are both free downloads. Internet Explorer 9 and above also works well. However different computers have different anti-virus and spam filters installed that can inhibit the downloading of lots of different materials, so if one browser is not working for you then try another.

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Video lectures with Joyce Mercer.
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