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Pastoral Care

“Healthy pastors beget healthy churches.” In the complex world of ministry today, there are times when care-giving pastors and church leaders need their own support and care to navigate the demands they face. This may be an absolutely confidential conversation or offering other supportive resources so that they are not just “surviving,” but “thriving” in ministry…and ultimately finishing well.

Superintendent Rich Guerra has intentionally established this position for the help, well-being and care of our SoCal Network pastors, staff leaders and their spouses/families.

If you would like to talk in a confidential environment about your life, marriage and/or family, or ministry, please contact George directly by phone or email. He is available to meet at a mutually convenient location to offer care and support to our SoCal Network.

George-pixGeorge D. Fessler, D. Min
gdfessler@gmail.com 
(714) 469-1808
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Pastoral Care Reps

Regional & Intercultural (as of June 2022)

Region 1 – EP Ted Pugh
Ricardo Quintana (Karen)

Region 2 – Rod Haro
Richard Amparano (Linda)

Region 3 – EP Chuck Atherton
Eric Pearson

Region 4 – EP Steve Vinson
Dale Rose (Martha)

Region 5 – EP Joshua Gerbracht
John Meadors (Donna)

Region 6 – EP Eli Simental
Sammy Vazquez (Terri)

Region 7 – EP Robin Donley
TBD

Region 8 – EP Fred Rodriguez
Bill Weaver (Kandle)

Region 9 – EP Adam De La Vega
Tommy May (Gisele)

Region 10 – Moses Aleman (Jamie)

Region 11 – EP Brian Ross
Arnel Aquino (Dianette)

Region 12 – EP Dan Bruce
Dale Stout (Donna)
Jerry Adams (Linda)

Hispanic PC Rep
Tanya Paniagua (Rudy)

LICENSED CHRISTIAN COUNSELORS/THERAPISTS

AG Help Line
833.932.0433
Staffed by Emerge Counseling Ministries (anonymous hotline calls)
As listed on AG credential card

Emerge Counseling Ministries
www.emerge.org
800.621.5207
900 Mull Ave, Akron, OH 44313

Center for Individual & Family Therapy (CIFT)
Southern California's largest Christian Counseling Center (5 locations in/near Orange County)
www.ciftcounseling.com
714.558.9266
Email: info@ciftcounseling.com

Breath of Life Foundation
Dr. Tanya Paniagua
www.breathoflifefoundation.info
949.236.7420
Email: admin@breathoflifefoundation.info

Link Care Counseling Center
1734 W. Shaw Ave
Fresno, CA 93711
www.linkcare.org
559.439.5920

Ministry Resources International
PO Box 1030 Woodinville, WA 98072
www.ministryri.org
425.827.3036
office@mrap.org

Pacific Beach Counseling
Stephanie Nigh, MFT
1112 Chalcedony St. San Diego, CA 92109
858.488.5732

Resources

Free Resources on Depression, Recovery, and Loss 

RightNow Media is an online streaming resource with an extensive Christ-centered mental health digital library.  As a pastor, leader, credential holder, missionary or student with AG USA, you have free access to this resource!  On this site you'll find amazing content on the subjects of depression, recovery, and grief from speakers like Henry Cloud, John Townsend, Les and Leslie Parrott, Max Lucado, Mike Foster and more. 

Our National AG Mental Health Care Committee will be adding content to help train and equip ministers as well. Here are the two easy ways to get immediate access to this amazing resource: 

  • Go to ag.org/rightnowmedia and follow the instructions to set up your account. 
  • Text “RIGHTNOW MENTAL HEALTH” to 41411 for an invitation to activate your free account.

If you have questions about how to set up your free account or about giving it to your church, go to ag.org/rightnowmedia and RightNow Media will connect with you.  Trusting this is a blessing to you and your families. 


American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) 
Offers a vast array of training programs on counseling and specialty areas.
www.aacc.net
800.526.8673

Soul Shepherding 
www.soulshepherding.org
4000 Barranca Pkwy, #250, Irvine, CA 92604
Dr. Bill Gauthiere (Ph.D, psychologist, spiritual director) and Dr. Kristi Gauthiere (Psy.D., psychotherapist and spiritual mentor to women pastors and pastors’ wives).
Counseling, spiritual direction, podcasts and other valuable resources.

Cloud Townsend Resources
www.cloudtownsend.com
Valuable books, webinars and other online training resources.

Center for Vocational Ministry (CVM, Azusa Pacific)
www.apu.edu/vocational-ministry
Dr. Chris Adams
626.387.5749
Cultivates resilience in ministry leaders through formational resources and periodic forums.


Get connected to other pastors with the SoCal Network.  Get encouraged, build relationships, and be apart of something bigger by attending one of our events.  Hosted by George and Sherry Fessler.  Contact them at gdfessler@gmail.com for more info on events.

Click Here for All Pastoral Care Events

READING RESOURCES

The Emotionally Healthy Leader
Peter Scazzero
How to develop a deep inner life and stay healthy in ministry.

A Guide to Ministry Self-Care
Richard P. Olson, Ruth L. Rosell, Nathan S. Marsh and Angela B. Jackson
Helps us navigate today’s ministry challenges with resilience and grace.

Managing Stress in Ministry
David & Lisa Frisbie
Helpful insights in facing the varied pressures and stresses of life, family and ministry.

The Minister’s Guide to Psychological Disorders and Treatments 
(2nd Edition), W. Brad Johnson and William L. Johnson
Highly recommended—covers all of the major ailments and disorders in conjunction with the DSM-5 manual, written specifically for pastors).

The Struggle is Real: How to Care for Mental and Relational Health Needs in the Church
Tim Clinton and Jared Pingleton, Editors (Expanded Edition)
Offers a wide range of chapters on vital topics by various key authors.

Lay Counseling: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry(Revised and Updated)
Siang-Yang Tan & Eric T. Scalise
Dr. Siang-Yang Tan from Fuller Seminary (a pastor, licensed psychologist and professor); our speaker at 2017 Ministers Retreat. His more technical book, Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective, part 3 of the book excellent, “A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy”).

Helping Groups Heal: Leading Small Groups in the Process of Transformation
Jan Paul Hook, Joshua N. Hook and Don E. Davis.
Focuses on the “Healing Cycle” for enrich relationships and enhance growth within groups.

Contact us

Using the contact form to send us email at below

Keep in touch with us

You can use the following information to contact us if you wanna join us or anything need to communicate.

Name: George D. Fessler, D. Min
Phone: (949) 252-8400
Fax: (949) 252-8435
Address: 17951 Cowan Irvine, CA 92614