Adelphicare.org is a site devoted to demonstrating the love of God through caring for and supporting Christadelphians and anyone else who might benefit from what it contains. We are a loving family in Jesus and try to show our Christianity by following his example. He was always caring and compassionate.
Who are Christadelphians?
The word Christadelphian was penned by a medical practitioner, John Thomas, who worked with other people with similar views and needed to have a 'religious' identity during the American Civil War for men who had a conscientious objection to participation in war. He used the word 'Christadelphian' to indicate that the men were brethren in Christ and followed Christ's principles of showing allegiance to God and not to the world's political entities. The name itself has its root in the Greek 'delphos' that primarily means 'womb'. Christadelphians, then, are men and women who eminate from the womb - as brothers and sisters. In a spiritual sense, this involves being 'born again'. While the original intent of the word for registration as conscientious objectors referred to men, a contemporary meaning, based on the Greek foundation, refers to men and women who are Christ's. In this website you may find references to a 'brother' or a 'sister'. We frequently use these terms when referring to one another. Access the Australian Christadelphian website here.
This site is developed and maintained within the parameters of the Association of Australian Christadelphian Ecclesias, an organisation that assists in the communication between some 120 ecclesias (churches) in Australia. The contributors are Christadelphians with qualifications and experience in the areas accredited to them.
Site contributions
Contributors to this site are men and women who can make a significant contribution because of their qualifications and experience, and, above all, are committed and practicing brothers and sisters of Christ - Christadelphians.
Christadelphians generally do not place emphasis on professional qualifications in our service to God. Ultimately it is our relationship with Him and His Son that is central to all we do. Nonetheless, to show that we have a disciplined basis for our work, a number of our editorial team do have care and health related qualifications, along with experience in the health-care sector.
Editorial team - Adelphicare.org
Laurence Lepherd, PhD, MEd (Hons), BA, FACE. Laurence is a trained spiritual carer who has worked as a volunteer with Toowoomba Hospital, and Cancer Council Queensland. He has specialised in research and caring in areas of men's health and aged care. His research was carried out at the University of Southern Queensland where, after retirement, he undertook research as an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Cathy Strachan,
BOptom, BDementia Care, MNursing, Dip Pastoral Care. Cathy trained part-time as both Pastoral Carer and a Dementia Carer. What she most wanted to do in quality, holistic end-of-life care for patients and their families, she was unable to provide because she didn’t have sufficient medical qualifications. So, at 54 years of age, she went back to university as a full-time student and obtained a Masters of Nursing. She absolutely loved every minute of it, despite Covid lockdowns. The goal always has been to specialise in palliative care. Nursing is not just a job for Cathy, and it may sound clichéd, but it really is a calling and a passion for her. She feels strongly that God has guided her to follow her heart into caring for the dying so that she can be the hands of Jesus in showing His love to those who can give nothing in return.
Dr Tamara Johansen, BVSc MBBS CWH FRACGP, is a General Practitioner working in private practice. She trained and worked as a Small Animal Veterinarian before changing careers to medicine. She has worked across many areas of medicine during her training years, gaining a wealth of experience and knowledge, before finding her niche in family medicine. She holds special interests in Women’s Health, in Aged Care and in Palliative Care. Dr Tamara is also on the Board for the TAFEA Health Care Clinic in Vanuatu.
Consultant on Mental Health matters. Dr Matthew Hocking, BSc (Med) MBBS FRANZCP Certificate General Adult Psychiatry, has undertaken extensive additional training in Addiction Psychiatry and has more than 10 years’ experience working in this area. He has a special interest in managing addiction disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. He has also developed skills in diagnosing and managing ADHD, as well as providing psychological interventions to manage chronic pain.
Editorial Team - Pastoral Visitor Program
Laurence Lepherd and Kylee Mingham (above)
Carmel Hayden has a Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Carmel is responsible for co-ordinating the day to day spiritual program to fill the residents' needs at Maranatha Aged Care, Brisbane, in line with their preferences and government requirements.
Louise Buttsworth. Louise trained as a pastoral carer in 2017 at the Toowoomba Base Hospital and has been a visitor both at the hospital and also within the Toowoomba ecclesia since that time. Louise also holds a degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Counselling. Two areas that currently interest her in her pastoral care are how important self knowledge is in order to help others more effectively, and how we each have different personalities and talents which can be used to advantage when visiting. Being creative in our care can be stimulating for both the carer and recipient. She is currently the Pastoral Care Co-odinator at the Toowoomba Hospice.
Nerida O'Neill has a Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. She currently leads a Wellbeing Team in Aged Care which involves coordinating spiritual and leisure activities and managing a team of Wellbeing Coordinators across two residential carecsites. Nerida has pastoral care training, been working in Aged Care since 2015, and is most passionate about spending time individually with residents, hearing their stories and supporting them as they adjust to life in residential aged care. "So much can be learnt from each person, their history and what remains important to them as memories and abilities fade - spiritual care is about our core self and what gives each of us meaning in our lives".
We would like to share with everyone some Christadelphian perspectives on aspects of care. As our site Home page indicates, we believe wholeheartedly in God-centred caring. We believe it is important to demonstrate our love of God to those around us. Our loving God will always help those who put their faith and trust in Him.
The site is devoted to helping people at various stages of their life. Please go to the
Site-Index to find the titles of all articles, or to the Search page to search for any word in all articles.While the articles on this site aim to present perspectives of Christadelphians, there are references to non-Christadelphian sources. We respectfully acknowledge the writers' views without necessarily endorsing their general background or specific beliefs. Visit Contact Us to seek more information about Christadelphians and the editorial team.
