Pastoral strategies for dealing with depression in Chinese church context

Almost everyone knows what it means to be depressed. It seems that no one can be exempt from depression. Depression is becoming epidemic. The pace of our society combined with a breakdown of traditional values can easily lead us to depression. Under the circumstances we feel that we lose security, personal worth, and dignity. Who gets depressed? As I have observed, depression afflicts us all: rich and poor, old and young, men and women. From the descriptions given in the Scripture, we may clearly see that many biblical figures suffered at times from depression. Historical and modern servants of God, too, have suffered from it. Although depression is becoming epidemic, it seems that not everyone knows how to handle it. For this reason, the pains of depression have caused many to end their lives prematurely. In the United States, there are many immigrants from Chinese cultural background. Due to cultural changes, many of them are undergoing the pains caused by depression. This accounts for my writing of this dissertation.; The dissertation is divided into four sections. The first section provides a biblical perspective of depression as well as a general description of it. And the related issues are also included. Through the description, a reader will realize that the causes of it can be various if viewed from cultural perspectives.; The second section refers to the case studies of depression among Chinese immigrants. These studies are selected from the models which I have encountered in ministry in the United States. The third section explores the theories and symptoms of depression. The case studies are also provided in this section. It is reminded that there are various reasons for depression besides the spiritual one.; The fourth section sets forth the strategies for dealing with the cases of depression in the Chinese church context. These strategies include biblical approach, human relationship, communication prayer, and adaptation, etc.; The dissertation's goal is to provide the strategies for ministers and lay leadership in dealing with the issues of depression in the Chinese church context.