Okay, have to admit the term “Life Care” is somewhat of a made-up term. Of course there are a lot of mad-up terms that have become accepted ways of describing different types of care. For us, the expression describes much of what we do, and can be divided into three broad areas of care:

1. Pastoral Care. Pastoral Care is a broad term for care within a faith context. There are four broad categories that pastoral care cover. These are:

• Healing
• Guiding
• Sustaining
• Reconciling

2.  Crisis Care.  Crisis Care focuses on lives  torn apart due to major loss, disaster (particularly group or community disasters), and trauma. The focus is on defusing, debriefing, and education. Care applies to primary victims, secondary victims, and “hidden” victims.

3.  Member Care. Member Care covers the broad network of support associated with the life cycle of a professional in ministry (and family and team). Most commonly, member care here relates to missionaries or ministry professionals.

You could say that Crisis Care is Pastoral Care for those suffering from excessive stress or trauma. Member Care is Pastoral Care for those with long-term stress due to professional ministry.