Students in crisis are hard to ignore. Bible teachers might notice changes in mood, motivation, attentiveness, and more. The following frequently asked question barely touch the surface of a teacher’s role or responsibility in these situation but at least give a starting point.
How much responsibility should a Bible teacher have in crisis intervention?
The answer to this question comes down to how we as teachers view our ministry. If we’re simply filling a spot on the schedule, showing up, teaching, and forgetting about it until the next time, then we’ll tend to take on minimal, if any, responsibility. But, if we see this ministry as an investment into the lives of our students, then we’ll use these situations as opportunity for discipleship. Just how involved we get could depend on the kind of crisis and our time and ability to intervene. Sometimes the best way to help is to refer the student to someone more qualified to assist them. Other times, it may be enough simply to encourage the student and pray for/with the person. Or, perhaps God may want us, maybe even the entire class, to be the solution. To work through the bottom line issue in this question, check out this worksheet: DISCIPLESHIP: Isn’t teaching a lesson enough?
Also Read: What People Need in Times of Crisis
What if a student is really depressed, maybe even suicidal?
As teachers, we need to know our responsibilities to report or refer students who are at risk of doing harm to themselves or others. We need to think through a process or plan for such a situation before the need arises to help ensure we take the right steps. The scope of these FAQ posts doesn’t allow for getting into detail about how to help these students so click on the following link to check out some resources that help provide understanding: Helping People who are Depressed or Suicidal
In addition to these two questions, the Bible Teacher’s Handbook of Frequently Asked Questions also asks a question about warnings teachers should heed when trying to help students in crisis. The handbook responds to questions on 48 other issues in teaching, with a total of 153 questions.