Last Saturday, December 3, 2022, Christians from Poland and Ukraine participated in the fifth congress of the Polish-Ukrainian Biblical Institute in Lublin. We dealt with the topic „Pastoral care in the prevention of mental dysfunctions, diseases and disorders”. The lectures were conducted by Pastor Ireneusz Dawidowicz.
The first part of the lectures was devoted to introducing us to the mental dysfunctions, diseases and disorders that we may encounter. We looked at the causes of their formation, and discussed the background of these problems from a biblical perspective. We also analyzed specific biblical verses talking about health problems and looked at what the Bible says about how to deal with illnesses.
In the second part of the lectures, we focused on pastoral aspects – how church members should treat people with mental diseases, dysfunctions and disorders, which behaviors should draw our attention, how to talk to and what to ask people who manifest certain symptoms. An important part of the lectures was a discussion on the principle of prevention and healthy living.
In the last part, the lecturer presented the main ways to help people suffering from mental diseases, disorders and dysfunctions. We analyzed what help the church can and should provide, and when to seek specialized medical or clinical advice.
There was also time for asking questions, as well as one-on-one conversations with the lecturer.
Lectures from the fifthconvention are available on the YouTube channel of the Polish-Ukrainian Bible Institute.
Ireneusz Dawidowicz – pastor of the „Way of Salvation” church of the Baptist Church in Poland and a psychologist with a clinical specialty. Pastor Dawidowicz is also co-founder and vice-president of the Association „Towards Good Hope”, where he works and contributes as a psychologist, therapist and pastor of the association’s mentees coming mainly from the community of homeless, poor and addicted people. He also works as a psychologist at the Psychiatric Hospital in Choroszcz and the Podlasie Psychogeriatric Center. Pastor Ireneusz Dawidowicz is also a lecturer at the Higher Baptist Theological Seminary in Warsaw.
The Polish-Ukrainian Bible Institute in Lublin is the first such project in Poland. The main goal of the Institute is to integrate biblical Christians from Ukraine and Poland in order to implement joint evangelization and church projects and exchange experiences of working for Jesus in Ukraine and Poland, learn from each other and pray together for the future of our nations. During the school year, ten sessions will take place – one per month.
The lecturers are pastors, professors and Christian leaders drawn from various evangelical churches and organizations.
Those interested in the activities of the Polish-Ukrainian Bible Institute in Lublin are welcome to contact: [email protected]
