One of the privileges of being in the ministry is the opportunity to be “pastor” to people in times of joy and in times of adversity.

Simply “being there” and having that “ministry of presence” are greatly appreciated by parishioners in need. I may be slightly biased, but I feel every person should have a pastor and church family to support and minister to them at life's critical points: weddings, births, hospitalizations and surgeries, deaths, family crises, celebrations and losses.

Being God's instrument of pastoral care is a great responsibility that ministers take very seriously. There are times, however, when pastors can't minister because members fail to inform them of their need. Only God is all-knowing. The rest of us need to be informed when a ministry opportunity arises.

So when do you call on your minister? Presbyterian minister Daniel Hamby published a list entitled “Ten times to call a pastor.” I have revised it slightly.

1. Call your minister before going to the hospital if possible. If there is to be surgery, many ministers make every effort to see you beforehand to have prayer and to affirm confidence in God's care. Sometimes this visit of prayer support happens at home the day before, or maybe in the hospital room before surgery.

2. Call your minister before your marriage reaches the breaking point. Most ministers are available to talk with about significant marital issues. Many pastors do not do in-depth counseling, but will refer you to skilled, trained professionals for help. Pastors want to help families.

3. Call your minister before planning your wedding. Many ministers require premarital counseling of some form and often this requires several months of meetings before the actual wedding date.

4. Call your minister before a young person goes to college or to the armed services. Pastors want to keep up with what's going on with their young people.

5. Call your minister before making funeral arrangements. He will be sensitive to helping in planning a funeral service that meets your needs and desires. He will provide support in a time of grief. When death occurs, the minister should be among the first notified.

6. Call your minister when a difficult decision confronts you. Life-changing decisions should not be made alone. Most ministers can help people think through the options that face them in life.

7. Call your minister when you or someone you know needs help. Most ministers will readily admit that there are few easy answers in life, but ministers also know about resources and options that can help.

8. Call your minister when you are slipping into depression. Kierkegaard called spiritual depression “the dark night of the soul.” When God seems far off or prayer seems unreal, ministers are there to help you reassess the reality and confidence of the Christian faith.

9. Call your minister when a baby is born. Babies are seen as the symbol of new life. Ministers want to rejoice with the new parents and ask God's blessing on the child.

10. Call your minister when you have questions about your faith, or about your church. When you wonder about the meaning of your faith, let your minister know of your questions and struggles. He will be glad to help. When you need information about some process or happening in church life, go “straight to the top” and seek first-hand information. If the ministers doesn't know, he'll be glad to find the answer to your concern.

Ministers are there to help.

The Rev. Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville.

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