Abstract:
Abstract
This paper presents a Christological approach to pastoral care, primarily focusing on addressing
the needs of grieving individuals within the Akan community of Ghana. The paper delves into the Akan
people's unique cultural context and traditional mourning practices. It draws on philosophical and
therapeutic perspectives and investigates the intersections of Christianity and Akan culture by integrating
elements of both in offering effective pastoral care for the bereaved. Through a theological analysis of
John 11:32-35, the paper proposes a holistic approach and framework for supporting grieving individuals
who recognize their cultural identity while providing spiritual and emotional healing. The paper used a
literature-based research approach whereby data collected from already published works were
thematically analyzed. The main argument is that to offer a holistic approach to grieving for those
experiencing grief in the African community that encapsulates comfort, sensitivity, empathy, and hope,
pastoral caregivers must adopt Christ's approach that emphasizes compassionate presence and solidarity
in suffering and loss. The paper contributes to African Christian theological discourse on caring for
grieving persons.
Keywords: John 11:32-35, Akan, Empathy, Grieving, Hope, Pastoral Care, Therapeutic
