Justine Allain Chapman – författare

How can I help others to be strengthened during difficulties in life?How can I cope when I'm overwhelmed with the demands of helping othersPastors, including clergy, need to be able to provide the right kind of circumstances, teaching and care to enable people to face crisis and come through difficulties stronger as human beings and as Christians. They also need the quality of resilience to be involved in Christian ministry.Justine Allain-Chapman's thoughtful book draws on the stories and themes of Christian theology and tradition, on contemporary research into resilience and the insights of psychology to help people make sense of the personal costs of pastoral care.This book is an important resource for pastors, written to help them recognize the dynamics of developing their own resilience as well as enabling them to strengthen others. It is an essential guide to understanding how what is preached and taught in churches prepares people for life's difficulties.

The art of kintsugi `repairing with gold' not only restores cracked objects but makes them even more beautiful than before.Alone on an 8-day retreat in the Egyptian desert, Justine Allain Chapman experienced first-hand the physical, spiritual and mental struggle many have endured before her. Our own desert experience may involve attending to challenges that come upon us suddenly - such as an illness or bereavement - or to difficult relationships or patterns of thinking that have long been draining us of life and joy. A Lenten pilgrimage is testing. We have to search within ourselves for answers which lie hidden, to draw on each other's strengths, to reflect deeply and to trust that we will be enabled to integrate our many experiences. But there is a `bright flame before us, a guiding star above'. And the God, who always calls us to love beyond ourselves, offers tender healing for our brokenness, longing that we may be consoled and renewed. This vividly written book includes wide ranging prayers and scripture readings, along with guides to using the material with groups and in preaching and worship.