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Stephen
Ministry
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Stephen
Ministry is a program of listening, caring, sharing...the living healing
presence of the saving Christ in our church, families, and in our
community...
Stephen
Ministry addresses the following needs of people who are:
-hospitalized
-lonely
-dying
-in trouble with the law
-having financial setbacks
-separated or going through divorce |
-grieving
-depressed
-struggling with their faith
-experiencing loss of job
-new to the congregation |
Our entire congregation benefits from the Stephen
Ministry.
- We have a new and lasting lay commitment to caring.
- Our congregation as a whole is growing in warmth
and love. Caring is contagious!
- People receiving caring and support will experience
and increase closeness and involvement with our parish.
- Stephen Ministers themselves will experience
personal growth and enrichment of their own lives.
The Stephen Ministry is...
- A lay, caring ministry in which one person reaches
out to another in time of need.
- An on-going helping relationship in which people in
need get help.
- A meaningful way for us to more fully use our
talents in sharing on another's burdens and joys.
A Stephen Minister is...
- A caring Christian - desiring to offer support to
others in time of need.
- A sharing Christian - bringing who she/he is to
each helping relationship as a partner in another's life experiences.
- A trained Christian - having developed personal
helping skills through intensive coursework.
- A dedicated Christian - commissioned by our
congregation in confidential, in-depth sharing.
A Stephan Minister is not...
- A professional counselor or psychologist.
- A social worker providing lots of physical
services.
- An expert in law, finance, church doctrine, etc.
- A brief, superficial visitor, "touching
base" with people now and then
A Stephen Minister undergoes 50 hours of training
in the following areas:
-feelings
-assertiveness training
-telecare
-use of prayer and the Bible
-crisis theory and intervention |
-listening
-confidentiality
-being professional
-the "small step" approach
-other specialized needs such as topics on grief, divorce,
depression, older persons, stress, etc. |
Following training, the Stephen Ministers are
commissioned by our parish into active, caring ministries.
People in need of support who are willing are
matched with a Stephen Minister through contact with the pastor.
The Stephen Ministers work in continual consultation
with our supervision team and receive on-going education in the helping
ministry.
If you have need of a Stephen Minister, please
speak to one of our pastors.
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