Restoring the Fallen: A Team Approach to Caring, Confronting Reconciling

When brothers and sisters in Christ fall into sin, how should the church respond? Very often, Christians stumble in their attempt to address this issue. Either they ignore the wrongdoing or they banish the wrongdoer. The authors of this groundbreaking book advocate another way: the spiritual care team. A spiritual care team is a small group of mature Christians who voluntarily commit themselves to support and guide another through the process of repentance and restoration. This community-based and community-oriented approach emphasizes the importance of acknowledging sin, making repentance complete and reestablishing personal spiritual discipline. Restoring the Fallen offers practical guidance on how to form a spiritual care team, as well as how to support the spouse and family of the one working through the process of restoration, how professional helpers and the whole church body might contribute to restoration, and how to provide ongoing care after the main work of the spiritual care team is complete. It is an essential book for pastors, counselors and church leaders.

Wilson, Ph.D., is a psychologist and counselor in private practice. An experienced conference speaker on issues of addiction and restoration, he has also previously taught part-time at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia (Canada).

Wilson, M.A., is a counselor, conference speaker and instructor of counseling at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Friesen (M.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) was for nine years director of men's and family ministry at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts. Currently he is president and founder of Home Improvement Ministries, an organization devoted to equipping and encouraging local churches, families, couples and individuals to experience hope and joy as they live according to God's relational design. In addition, he is summer director of family ministry for InterVarsity's Campus by the Sea on Catalina Island in Southern California. Friesen speaks at seminars and conferences and also counsels couples and individuals on relational issues. With his wife, Virginia, and two other couples, he is an author of Restoring the Fallen.

Friesen co-directed family ministry at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts (working alongside her husband, Paul). She was also involved there in leadership of "Mom to Mom" ministry. Currently she is vice president of Home Improvement Ministries, an organization devoted to equipping and encouraging local churches, families, couples and individuals to experience hope and joy as they live according to God's relational design. On her own and in collaboration with Paul, she speaks at seminars and conferences and also counsels individuals and couples. With Paul and two other couples, she is an author of Restoring the Fallen.

Nancy Paulson, R.N., who passed away in January 2007, was an author, teacher and conference speaker. Larry Paulson, J.D., is a lawyer, church leader and brigadier general in the Oregon Air National Guard.