by Mabel Roukema
The pastoral elders have asked a number of men and women to assist with pastoral care at Willoughby Church - they are known as pastoral visitors. The pastoral visitor's role is to befriend, encourage, comfort and nurture a small number of people by connecting with them at least three or four times a year through visits, phone calls, or emails. Like the pastoral elders, pastoral visitors represent the church. Unlike the pastoral elders, pastoral visitors are not officially commissioned and they do not have a three year term of service. Both the pastoral elders and visitors want our congregants to know that our church body cares about them. The pastoral visitors connect with the pastoral elders on a regular basis sharing the joys and challenges of the people they have connected with. Presently we have 30 pastoral visitors for 92 members. If you would like to be a pastoral visitor, or know someone who would benefit from having one visit, please let us know by contacting Ray Breedveld, Pastor Elders Chair.