LE3 .A278 2021

2021

Yiu, Nelson

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

This thesis explores the critical elements of training up competent laypeople for spiritual care, which is regarded as a Christian ministry and witness to develop a practical approach of equipping volunteers for providing spiritual care to those suffered and wounded individuals in their Chinese communities. The academic discussions and research project seek the best caregivers’ examples and practices from the biblical texts, theological doctrines, academic researches, and practical experiences. A lay spiritual caring model is developed to advise a practice that is based on Scriptures. Spirit-enabled spiritual care is constructed to illustrate the relationships and cooperation between the professional caregivers, laypeople, and the Holy Spirit. The discussion explains how the integrative approach can help distressed individuals access more resources that bring them healing, comfort, hope, and insights. Dr. Charles Yu, a renowned Chinese Christian trainer of emotional intelligence, has been actively involving in caring for and supporting cancer patients and survivors in recent years. As a non- clergy, his training programs and daily writings draw thousands of Christians and non-Christians from different parts of the world to view and get benefitted. Two online surveys investigated the outcomes of his online dairy and training programs through validated tools. The findings affirm the significance of his daily messages and the psycho-spiritual approach for enhancing an individual’s well-being and confidence in helping relationships. The establishment of a lay spiritual care team that is expandable and sustainable was also investigated through the focus group and individual interviews. The findings illustrate the transforming journey of Christian terminally ill patients/ survivors to spiritual caregivers and the five critical elements of Dr. Charles Yu’s psycho-spiritual approach, which shall be adaptable to different social and cultural contexts.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3636