This dissertation concerning the training of nursing home volunteers focuses upon the need of nursing home residents to receive spiritual care from laypersons in the churches. It underscores the need of local churches to make these spiritual care visits and so make a statement about their commitment to a robust ministry for Christ.

The theological underpinnings of the dissertation include the concepts of pastoral care, the nature of spiritual encouragement and the validity of training laypersons in pastoral care. The importance of the Word of God in a ministry of spiritual encouragement is emphasized. The psychological aspect of the training involves an understanding of how important the skill of communicating empathy is in a ministry of Christian caregiving.

In addition to biblical, theological and psychological perspectives, a practical focus is a part of the design of this project. An analysis of a training project created and conducted by the writer forms the content of the last three chapters. This project to train volunteers in spiritual caregiving was conducted at the Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge, Minnesota. Volunteers from the community were recruited, trained and given the opportunity to become a "Barnabas Befriender" and relate one-to-one with a resident of the Home. Thus, the thesis was substantiated. It is possible to recruit and train volunteers from the churches in the community to provide a ministry of spiritual encouragement for the nursing home resident.