THE BODY OF CHRIST is MADE UP of many different kinds of people at varying levels of maturity, all of whom experience a variety of personal needs. Most of these needs are not viewed as serious enough to take to the Pastor or the counseling staff of the church. Instead, the individual often chooses to work through the situation himself or attempts to get help from another Christian that he or she feels close to. The vast majority of what we term "common counseling problems" are handled by the regular members of the church. Whether the person in need receives appropriate help or ministry depends upon the maturity and experience of the one who ministers to him. The problem is that many Christians are not properly equipped to handle these counseling problems and therefore, even with the best of intentions, offer inadequate advice or counsel. The purpose of this book is to better equip the believer in his ability to effectively minister to other Christians in those problem areas that are "common to man" (I Cor. 10:13). Hence we have called it the "Common Care Counselor's Handbook". It is a reference book for lay counselors that will help prepare them for the kind of counseling included in what the Bible refers to as the "ministry of reconciliation" (II. Cor. 5:18). The word "reconciliation" is derived from the Greek work "katallage" which means "exchange or restoration". It refers to the distinctive ministry each Christian is called to in order to assist others in the process of restoration into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. We are all called to minister to one another in this area. By doing so, we "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2). At the same time, we are helping to bring the Body of Christ to a place of health and strength.