India, Feb. 18 -- Pastoral ministry attracts people who care deeply about others and feel responsibility for the spiritual and emotional life of their community. Day after day, pastors listen closely, hold stories that carry grief and fear, and stay present in moments that matter deeply to others. Much of this work happens quietly and repeatedly, without resolution or release.

Over time, the act of staying attentive, compassionate, and available requires more than skill or conviction because the emotional weight of listening and care does not automatically dissipate. This understanding shapes how the Association of Related Churches supports pastors, and it places care for the internal weight leaders carry at the center of long-term churc...