Stephen Ministry: One-to-One Christian Care
What exactly is Stephen Ministry? It is a ministry within the congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.
How Can Someone receive Care from a Stephen Minister? Pastor Steve is our Stephen Leader who coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, you can talk to him or any of the other Stephen Leaders. (If you want to talk about Stephen Ministry for someone else, make sure you get his or her permission first.)
How much does it cost? Stephen Ministry is a caregiving ministry available to our members and community free of charge.
What’s the Pastor’s Role? Pastors will always be the primary caregivers, but there is no way pastors can meet all the needs for care. God has called all of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another. Stephen Ministry multiplies ministry by turning pastors into equippers so they can enable lay people to provide caring ministry as well.
If you have any questions, please feel free to talk with Laberta Otte, Trish Tangman or Pastor Steve.
Keeping Confidences – Stephen Ministry
Confidentiality, as you may have read or heard before, is a cornerstone of Stephen Ministry. What a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence. Even the identity of a care receiver is kept secret (unless the care receiver chooses to tell someone). … keep reading.
Receptivity to Care – Stephen Ministry
Most people are much more open to giving care than to receiving it. When a person is giving care, he or she is in a position of strength, stability, and authority. When a person is receiving care, he or she is acknowledging weakness, insecurity, and vulnerability.
As a result, there are countless people today… keep reading.
The Story of Stephen Ministry
Training for Stephen Ministry which began in September is getting close to being finished. As the class finishes up, those who will be commissioned as Stephen Ministers will be ready to provide one-to-one care to people who are in need of someone to listen and walk with them during a difficult time.
In… keep reading.
Are You Experiencing a “Winter” in Your Life?
In addition to the cold weather outside, many people experience “winters” in their personal lives may leave them feeling lonely. A hospitalization,cancer diagnosis, or ongoing medical problems may leave them feeling isolated. The loss of a job, the fear of layoffs, or a financial setback can devastate one’s self-esteem. Family… keep reading.
Name and Logo
Why the Name Stephen? The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need as recorded in Acts 6.
What does the Stephen Series Logo mean?The logo consists of a cross and circle together with a… keep reading.
More about Stephen Ministers
What do Stephen Ministers Do? They are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time.
Are Stephen Ministers Counselors? They are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care—not… keep reading.
Who Is Involved?
Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct this ministry. Pastor Steve, Trish Tangman, and Laberta Otte are the Stephen Leaders. Stephen Ministers are the caregivers. They have engaged in 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving including topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries and using Christian resources within… keep reading.