Category Archives: Updates

September 2023 Updates

Well, we are in the middle of overlapping CPE groups. We presently have 18 trainees in multiple groups that will be finishing up in November or December.

Our next CPE groups are expected to start in January. Most likely these will be Face-to-face and Full units. It is possible one or more groups will be Extended and perhaps a Half unit will be offered. It really depends on the needs of the trainees and availability of the Supervisors.

Bob and Celia Munson will be in the US for a few months and while there will be teaching a course on “Types of Christian Counseling.”

Also, we are revamping our CPO program. Previously, it was set up to be 100 hours (ministerial and training hours) with the focus of working within a semestral school. While that may remain available, the updated version is more appropriate for the church or community setting. The present plan is:

-Training length 4 weeks

-Total hours 100

-Breakdown of hours Group Training: 36 hours (9 hours per week)

Individual supervision: 3-4 hours

Practical Ministry: Remaining hours

-Cases: 3 per trainee

-Supervision: SIT, or BCACC with supervision

-Structure: Follows the structure of CPE with lecture, practical ministry, individual supervision,

case presentation, and group work relations.

-Purpose: For some, to prepare trainee for CPE. Others, to have skill set for pastoral counseling,

and stress defusing.

-Texts: -“The Art of Pastoral Care” by Robert and Celia Munson

-Modified NOVA crisis defusing

-Handout and Visual presentations as needed.

-Practical Ministry Venues: Depends on the group… could be in church, community, or hospital

Our Status During Quarantine (and CPE)

Greetings to Everyone.

We are located in Baguio City, and it is going into Enhanced Lock-down—- meaning, in this case, no public transportation, and very limited open businesses, and limited ability to move around.

So what about us?  We are abiding by the Quarantine, so our office will not be open for visitors during this period.

The exception is that we plan to start our Summer CPE on March 26. This is a small-group trainng. We will focus on didactic work during the quarantine period, and not have the trainees go to hospital and jail. Training and pastoral conversations will be handled creatively— parts online if necessary.

For emergencies, I would recommend emailing us at bukallife@gmail.com

If you are looking to do some reading during the hours, days, weeks, of quarantine, consider some of our resources below.

  1.  Published books. We have written several books that are published. Most of them are in either Missions or Pastoral Counseling.   If you are interested, click on the following:    https://www.amazon.com/Robert-H-Munson/e/B017DGJSEW%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

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2.  Books in process. Bob is working on a book called “The Mission to Samaria.” The title may change a little, but not too much. 27 pages are done. Hopefully it will be finished in late 2020 or early 2021.  Also we are working on our 2020 version of our CPE Handbook. Unlike the others, this won’t be available online. It is only available when taking Clinical Pastoral Education with us at Bukal Life Care

3.  Articles. I don’t write articles very often… but a few are available on Academia.edu.

https://pbts.academia.edu/BMunson/Papers

4.  Slideshare.  We also put some presentations online as well… both in missions and in pastoral counseling.

https://www.slideshare.net/bmunson3/edit_my_uploads

https://www.slideshare.net/CeliaMunson/edit_my_uploads

 

September Updates

Item 1.  PMHA-CAR Symposium on Suicide Prevention.  September 13.

Item 2.  Two CPE groups are up and running now. Chaplain Lyn is leading a group that meets on Saturdays at PBTS.  Chaplains Celia and Vo will be leading a group that starts on Monday (9am start).

Updates

As of today, June 24, we are in the middle of our latest CPE Unit— well actually half unit, with 9 trainees. Diplomate Celia and SIT Lyn are leading this group. We have also added the BGH Cancer Institute and Pines Doctor’s Hospital to their ministry practicum locations.

Commissioning is expected to be on July 25th.

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The whole CPE group, celebrating the birthdays of Albert and Erica

Two more units are anticipated soon. In August we may have two half units starting. One is expected to be a half unit intensive led by SIT Vo, and the other a Saturday half unit extended led by SIT Lyn.

Our plan is to take a break in leading CPE starting in October. However, we may be leading CPO (clinical pastoral orientation) at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary during that down-time.

Our book, Dynamics in Pastoral Counseling, is getting close to completion. The first draft is done. It is presently in editing. Will update you when it will be published.

 

Pastoral Theology Website

Robert Munson, the Administrator of Bukal Life Care, recently created a website on Pastoral Theology.  It is called “Adventures in Pastoral Theology.” You can visit it at https://adventures-in-pastoral-theology.org/

This website will be used primarily for new, and updates related to Bukal Life Care, while articles related to Pastoral Theology (and its related concerns) will be located there. You are welcome to visit any time.

 

Big Congratulations

Chaplain Renato Eustaquio and his wife Dr. Joy are establishing a care center at Dr. Yanga’s Hospital in Bocaue Bulacan.

Chaplain Renato is a staff member of Bukal Life Care. His work as an industrial/corporate chaplain is part of a pilot program of Bukal.

However, based on a 3-day visioning here in Baguio last week, it was agreed that the correct direction is for the Eustaquio’s to set up their own center in Bocaue. This is an exciting opportunity and we wish them well.

That is not to say that we are breaking all ties. Celia will serve as the supervisor for Supervisor-in-Training Renato in CPE. Additionally, he is on the board of trustees of Bukal. We look forward to working together for years to come.

Their website is:   https://hesedlowvisioncare.home.blog/

Book Updates

  1.  The Art of Pastoral Care.  Just finished making corrections on this book. The corrected copy is now on Amazon.com and should be active in the next 24 hours. The corrections are mostly minor.  You can go to Amazon.com to see it. Otherwise, updated copies should be available at our office by the Lide-Walker Conference (January 8, 2018).
  2. Dr. Sim Dan-Awan’s book on Ministry and Alcoholism will be done soon. It is actually a dissertation, and it is being moved to book form. Hopefully, it will be done and available by March.
  3. Dynamics in Pastoral Care. We keep pushing off the completion date… but will be done, prayerfully in 2018. Will keep you updated.

December Updates

We recently had a few small holiday events.

On December 12th, we had our Drug Surrenderer Christmas celebration at Lualhati barangay. We are presently meeting with the Lualhati group monthly, and with the Pacdal group weekly.

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On December 15th, we had the last CPO (Clinical Pastoral Orientation) meeting of 2017. We did several case presentations, most of them done while having merienda at Noodle King.

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On December 16th, we went to the La Trinidad District jail for counseling, and some gifts for all of the female inmates. Afterwards, our team went out to lunch at Future Diner. . This is our last ministry day until the holidays is over.

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Some pictures from Huey on the jail ministry (can’t take pictures inside the jail)

December 19. We will have our last CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) on this date. This is for one of our two groups. The other group is already off for the holiday and will return in 2018.

January 8.  This is the start of three activities. One is the Lide-Walker Conference 2017. The focus will be on from the Grimes of The Relationship Warehouse. Second is a module course on Marriage Counseling, January 8-19, led by Dr. Chuck Henderson. Third is the SEE conference. All of these are at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary.

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January.  We will be having the Annual Board Meeting of CPSP-Philippines. Details as they become known.

Summer Intensive and Beyond

 

The Wednesday after Easter, Bob and Celia led training “Conflict in the Field” with Asia Vision-Short Term Missions. This is part of their prefield training before their two month mission trip into Asia.

Thursday was the first day of our CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). CPE lasts for 10-11 weeks. We have 8 trainees this time. So far, it looks like it is going to be a great, but busy, Summer. We meet as a group Thursdays and Fridays for 11 weeks.

Other events:

May 2nd.  Monthly “Minister Heartlink” Planning meeting.

July 4-15.  Minster Heartlink CPO Intensive. training.

September.  CPE Extended

October 4-10.  Heartlink Project in Mindanao