5 Core Needs that Every Church Should Meet

Here at The Church Cares, we aim to nurture the congregational care helpers. That’s why we’re proud to offer free high-quality support to those who want to pray, care, and engage more effectively with the hurting world around them.

by Jennifer Ripley, Ph.D., co-Director of The Church Cares, Psychologist and Professor at Regent University.

Helping Every Church Be a Place of Healing, Hope, and Presence

When someone walks through the church doors carrying invisible wounds, grief, anxiety, family tension, or deep spiritual discouragement, what do they need most?

Not a polished answer.

Not a professional diagnosis.

They need someone to see them. Listen to them. Walk with them.

Congregational care is not a niche ministry; it’s a reflection of the gospel. Every church, no matter its size or setting, can become a place where people feel held by the love of Christ and the support of His people.

Here are five key needs that your congregation is likely experiencing and how your church can meet them with wisdom, warmth, and practical care.

1. Presence in Life’s Pivotal Moments

Do you have people in life transitions in your church? Life transitions: births, deaths, illnesses, job loss, marriage, divorce, are emotional fault lines where people often reach out for help. They don’t necessarily need theological depth or logistical fixes right away. They need presence.

What churches can do:

• Train lay leaders to simply show up, listen well, and pray faithfully.

• Normalize asking for help. Include a “need care” checkbox on your connect cards or church app.

• Put administrative resources to communicate and ensure there is follow-through. Presence over time builds trust.

  
  

"Care begins with showing up, listening well, and walking with people through their pain"

2. Support for Mental and Emotional Distress

Are people struggling with emotional distress in your community? Anxiety, depression, trauma, and burnout are not rare, they're in your pews every week. While pastors often feel overwhelmed or undertrained, the church can meet this need without becoming a counseling center (or in addition to it, if you have a counseling center).

What churches can do:

• Offer lay-led listening ministries rooted in spiritual encouragement.

• Build a referral network of trusted counselors.

• Adopt a “referral with” model, stay connected even when someone seeks professional help.

"The church becomes a place of long-term presence… not just a waiting room for outside help".

3. Care for Families in Crisis or Transition

Are there families navigating parenting challenges, elder care, addiction, or relational breakdowns who often feel isolated? What they need is community, not critique.

What churches can do:

• Offer small groups focused on life stages or topics such as grief, parenting, or caregiving.

• Empower mentors, "been-there believers” to walk with younger families or couples.

• Keep family needs visible in your church rhythms: sermons, prayer lists, volunteer training.

"Lay leaders are essential—and uniquely positioned—to meet those needs with wisdom, humility, and compassion"

4. Spiritual Encouragement for the Weary and Wandering

While many people hide their spiritual doubts and longing, do you think there are people in your congregation with this need? Sometimes the pain isn’t circumstantial; it’s spiritual. People who feel disconnected from God, wrestle with doubt, or are overwhelmed by shame often won’t raise their hand in a Bible study. But they may show up in your care ministry.

What churches can do:

Train volunteers to offer nonjudgmental, biblically rooted encouragement.

Create spiritual pathways back to community such as prayer teams, retreats, or re-entry small groups.

Don’t over-spiritualize pain, but don’t under-spiritualize care either.

"Healing happens in community, through presence, prayer, and the love of Christ shared person to person"

5. A Clear, Coordinated System of Care

Do you get so many requests for these things, or become aware of needs, and get overwhelmed thinking "What can one person possibly do?"

Without structure, care can easily fall through the cracks. When it’s everyone’s job, it’s no one’s job. What your congregation needs is organized compassion.

What churches can do:

• Designate a Care Coordinator to triage needs and equip volunteers.

• Launch a one-day/ 6-week care training course to build a team of listeners and prayer partners.

• Use a simple model like The Church Cares system to organize your team.

"This step lightens pastoral load and increases care capacity"

You Don’t Have to Fix Everything

Just Start Something

No church can meet every need, but every church can do something.

By doing so, we reflect the love of Jesus in ways that transform lives, families, and communities.

You don’t need a license to love people well. You just need a willing heart—and a clear path forward.

If your church is ready to take the next step, The Church Cares offers a free, research-backed model to train your congregation in Christ-centered care. Because no one should have to hurt alone.