Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry has been featured on PBS!
Watch the Religion and Ethics episode now!

STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING
Do you have the gifts of mercy and encouragement?  Do you need to tell your story, or are you willing to listen to another’s?  Not going through a crisis time of your own?  Have 2 hours a week available for the initial training?  Is God calling you to serve?  Then, please prayerfully consider serving in Stephen Ministry.  You may download or pick up an application in the church office, fill it out and return it to the church office.   

MORE ABOUT STEPHEN MINISTRY
Stephen Ministers are Christians who are trained to listen, encourage, and walk with you as you experience a life crisis or problem.  Be assured that you receive confidential caring.  Names are not shared, and female caregivers are paired with female care receivers, male caregivers are paired with male care receivers.  Stephen Ministers are not able to solve your problems or to tell you what to do.  Stephen Ministers do receive 50 hours of training prior to serving in active listening, confidential sharing, praying with their care receiver, role-playing, and much more.  Continuing education, including guest speakers and video training, and supervision are required after training.  We meet twice a month. 

Stephen Ministers are Christian caregivers, and God is the curegiver!  We know there is no need too small or too great for the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who wants to work through us!  There are many varied care giving situations in which we serve!  For example, maybe someone you love has died and you need someone to talk to, or you have had a new baby and need an encouraging listener.  Maybe you have just moved to our area and the transition is tough, or you are recently divorced and the caring support of a fellow Christian would be a comfort.  Maybe, your new job is not what you thought it would be!  These are just a few situations many of us have been through; however, we do not need to go through them alone!

To speak with a Stephen Minister or Leader on Sunday morning or anytime, ask one of the pastors, or ask our host/hostess at the Welcome Center to direct you to one of us.  Feel free to pass this information on to both congregation members and non-members alike, if you feel they would benefit by this caring ministry. 

John Ortberg provides a wonderful explanation of StephenMinistry here:
http://www.stephenministries.org/PDFs/John_Ortberg_Q&A.pdf
 
For a confidential referral to a Stephen Minister, call the church office at 573-334-3200 and ask to speak with one of our pastors, no reason needs to be given.