Most churches recognise the importance of providing pastoral care but lack of volunteers, vision and training can prevent this vital ministry from flourishing. Andy Peck explains what is meant by pastoral care, provides examples from the Bible, and offers suggestions of how to implement pastoral care effectively. Each chapter includes examples of pastoral care, reflections and questions to encourage the reader to think about the pastoral care in their church. 'Essentials' include: - Understanding your role - A biblical approach to suffering - Creating a culture of care - Caring for those on the fringe