PACO 604 Journal Article Review 2
Summary
Crisis is inevitable and will happen in all of our lives at some time or another. The article
was written to discuss the findings of a research study about church members who have
experienced situational crisis. The findings also considered the resources of social support that
helped them during their crisis. The study interested in the role of the church and faith plays in
the lives of the church members.
The authors take the time to define crisis and explain the four major elements of crisis. A
person’s perception is what will make the difference as to if the situation is viewed as threatening
or not. Another development is a person’s ability to cope using methods, strategies, or steps that
people take to respond to problems and resolve difficulties (Stone, et al., 2004). When looking at
the goal of coping the ultimate result desired is to extinguish or reduce the perception of the
threat. The authors drive home the explanation (Stone, et al., 2004) that crisis is not about the
external peril, but it is what happens within people and families as a response to the event.
The study proved to be reliable and valid. There were common themes emerging
repeatedly. The participants in the study validated the fact that social support was a key to the
church members coping with crisis. They were asked questions on a questionnaire and an in-
depth interview was conducted. The Crisis Appraisal and Coping Interview Protocol was
established as the screening committee. There were six major sections of the interview. There
were many different forms of social support given to the members, such as tangible, financial
aid, and intangible support such as feeling of security and belonging (Stone, et al., 2004).
When processing crisis there is a model with three dimensions: Self, Acts, and Others
(Stone, et al., 2004). The dimension of others was the most notable part of the interviews that
PACO 604 Journal Article Review 3
echoed. It was the emotional support and anchoring in their faith through friendship and acts of
kindness offered by friends, family members, and small groups, church presence that provided
the greatest support (Stone, et al., 2004).
Interaction
While looking back over the journal, I do believe the choice to make the study a
qualitative analysis was a good way to conduct the study. Again, the use of in-depth interviews
of the members who were in the midst of a situational crisis, proved to report important
information of how the interviewees benefited by their involvement with the church and their
faith.
Upon the creation of the Crisis Appraisal and Coping Interview Protocol, I do believe the
use of the six section semi-structure interview format was a good choice. By using section two,
“Description of the Precipitating Event,” it allows the interviewee to tell their story. Storytelling
and painting their portrait have always been a key area in all types of counseling. It allows the
minster to become a good listener and wait for the invitation to offer help. Sections three
through five are the meat of the interview process. Questioning has always been a good tool in
counseling. It gives the talker time to process and think out loud, while coming up with the
responses to the questions. “What was their first reaction? Did they feel like they had the
resources necessary to deal with the situation? How did they plan to meet the challenge? Who
or what was helpful during the situation?” The same questions are asked of all the participants
and their answers are recorded. When look at close there were recurrent themes that repeated.
For me the most important parts of the whole study are one’s appraisal or perception of
the situation as a dangerous hazard and one’s ability to cope and one’s personal resources (Stone,
PACO 604 Journal Article Review 4
et al., 2004). A person’s perception of a certain situation and precipitator can change the whole
scheme of things. Before even assessing the coping techniques to use and resources or social
supports needed, a person’s self-concept, internal talk, faith, prayer life with God, are evaluated.
Crisis begins with the individual person. Crises force us to recognize that we are unprotected
and naked before others, God and even ourselves (Stone, et al., 2004). I believe there is great
in-depth connection between perception and the coping skills used to go through the crisis and
complete the process successfully.
Application
A key part of the study is that the participants were members of and some type of
involvement with the church. While going through their situational crisis, their faith still proved
to be an anchor that helped them through the process.
A biblical crisis counselor an important take away for me to remember and even while
reflecting back to when I was going through my own crisis the sub-headings of the journal
dealing with themes and characteristics of a crisis, both have a common thread. There will be or
were times when I questioned my faith. Counselees may try to use other methods to deal with
and cope with the peril and crisis at hand. More importantly to me, they may also question their
theodicy and their faith. There are times in the crisis that you will have memories of past crises
and the victories won. This give you the confidence that one can also get through this crisis.
This is a perception to be shared when helping others. They have conquered him by the blood of
the Lamb and by word of their testimonies (Revelation 12:11). Stone, et al., (2004) noted that
ministers and counselors deal with the emotional, physical, or intellectual life and ignore the
spiritual core of crises are not responding to the whole person. People in crisis, because of their
PACO 604 Journal Article Review 5
heightened psychological accessibility, may be especially receptive to issues of faith if they are
sensitively portrayed. Conversely, upstanding members of a congregation may, during a crisis,
question what they previously had affirmed in their faith. So importantly, the minister or other
church members need to remain emotionally “with them at such times. The helper’s sensitivity
and ministry of presence can help them to weather the uncertainty.
Another take away echoed by other authors as well as Stone, et al., (2004) is that crisis
counseling is an important way in which the love of God can be expressed to persons at their
times of greatest need. Effectively done, crisis intervention will also equip them to cope with
future problems and help them to minister to others who need their care.
