FOR MORE INFORMATION (working media only): Pamela
Burdine, (502) 569-5839
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance welcomed an eight-member team representing the various faith families in Lebanon to the Davidson Clergy Center in Davidson, North Carolina. The group was formed of clergy and non-clergy church representatives, both women and men, and was accompanied by the director of the Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief, the emergency response unit of the Middle East Council of Churches. The visit was a result of conversations with church leaders in Lebanon following the July 2006 war.
The purpose of the visit was for PDA to provide the opportunity for the team to recover their strength, focus and energy in order to resume their responsibilities in caring for Lebanon’s people. The second objective was to explore the feasibility of developing a similar model of care for exhausted and affected caregivers and clergy leaders in Lebanon.
The team spent the first week focused on individual care, support and counseling. The approach at the center included morning prayers, physical training, clinical assessment, counseling and spiritual guidance — a comprehensive and integrated methodology of renewal.
Weekends included recreational outings and visits with local churches to educate about the situation in Lebanon and the needs.
The second week was spent developing a plan for building a similar program in Lebanon with the express goal of reaching a minimum of 50 additional church workers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION (working media only): Pamela Burdine (502-569-5839) or pburdine@ctr.pcusa.org
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