Our new Stephen Ministry training class has been underway since January 18. Every other Monday meetings through April plus four Friday/Saturday week-ends will complete our 50 hours of training before commissioning the new Stephen Ministers in Worship on May 2nd. Our discussions have been lively and informative covering topics such as "The Art of Listening” and "Distinctively Christian Caregiving". Our trainees are excited about and committed to providing Christ-centered support and encouragement to those going through difficult times. Our current seven Stephen Ministers/Leaders also meet on alternate Mondays for ongoing education and peer supervision. We are blessed with these 11 members of the congregation involved in this part of St. Paul’s ministry. Pastor Brandon and Stephen Minister Marlene Colby will be attending the Leader Training Conference in Portland, Oregon during the second week of February.
If you, a family member or friend are in need of confidential, free, Christ-centered support and encouragement, a Stephen Minister might be a help . Sometimes just talking with someone in confidence about situations can be a tremendous help. For more information contact Pastor Brandon, Kit Oase, Bea Lingenfelter, or the church office.
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STEPHEN MINISTRY
“To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the
body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of
the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13).
The Core Values of Stephen Ministries
- Incarnational theology
- Ministry as the privilege and responsibility of all God's people
- Empowering those we serve to get excellent results
- Personal humility
- Organizational stability
- Positive work environment
Stephen Ministry is ...
a ministry of our congregation that equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and circumstances. It emphasizes God as the cure giver, with Stephen Ministers as caregivers. Stephen Ministers have gone through extensive training in how to provide care for people who are in need of extra comfort and support. The Stephen Ministry program is actively at work in our church.
A Stephen Minister Is:
- Beside a person who is hurting.
- A congregation member with gifts for care giving, who was carefully selected to serve in this role.
- A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care.
- A caring, Christian friend, who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages.
- Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there is a need.
- A trustworthy confidant who will keep everything you say—and even your identity—confidential.
A Stephen Minister is not:
- A counselor or therapist;
- A problem solver;
- Someone who runs errands or helps with chores; or
- A casual visitor.
What do Stephen Ministers do?
- Listen
- Explore feelings
- Pray
- Share God's love
- Maintain confidentiality
- Attend to the caregiving process and leave the results to God.
Stephen Ministers are ready to provide the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty, such as—
- Loss of a loved one
- Hospitalization
- Divorce or separation
- Loneliness or discouragement
- Spiritual crises
- Unemployment or a job crisis
- Terminal illness
- Incarceration
- Aging
- Birth, adoption, miscarriage or infertility
- Chronic Illness
- Relocation
- Recovery after an accident or disaster
- And many more
ST PAUL’S STEPHENS
MINISTERS
Commissioned
5-13-2009
The Stephen Ministry program is actively at work in our church. If you or someone you know would like to talk with a caring
friend who provides confidential Christian care, please call the CHURCH OFFICE (209) 823-714
