A Nigerian Pastor Talks About Counseling

In this article, David Powlison interviews Samuel Amoor, a Nigerian pastor who tells his story of coming to faith and ministering both as a pastor and as a teacher of pastoral counseling. Amoor discusses how counseling in the Nigerian context differs in many ways from the American context in types of problems, social influences, and opportunities for and limitations on ministry. Amoor shares that “People are not offended when I talk to them or ask questions about their life backgrounds. Our people are very open, so it is easy to find where help is needed. No one thinks that you are meddling. Counseling and encouragement can be done even in open market places where people normally meet.”