Stephen Ministries
A ministry of Christ-centered caring for others
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Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Lonely? Sad? Discouraged? Going through a tough time emotionally or spiritually?
Struggling with a crisis in life or simply feeling down? Consider letting a Stephen Minister help. A Stephen Minister is trained to listen, care, encourage and pray.
A Stephen Minister will walk alongside you in difficult times. It's confidential and free.
If you are interested in receiving care from a Stephen Minister, complete the card at the Stephen Ministry Kiosk, fold and place in the offering basket or the Confidential Care Box on the side of the kiosk. You could also let any Stephen Minister know that you are interested and they could help you with the process. After you fill out the card or talk to a Stephen Minister, a Stephen Leader will contact you.
You may also call the Church Office at 258-1228 or send an email to charluth@btinet.net
What do Stephen Ministers do?
- Listen intently and encourage their care-receivers
- Show empathy and grace
- Visit with those in need, giving nonjudgmental support
- Share Christ’s Love and pray faithfully
- How do people benefit from Stephen Ministry?
People who are hurting
- Will receive confidential care
- Will have someone to share the burden
- Will experience God’s love and know someone cares
Pastors
- Will be able to reach more members of their congregation
- Will have help in providing care
- Will have more time to channel his gifts
The Stephen Ministers
- Will find their lives enriched by helping others
- Will experience Christ’s loving presence and grow spiritually
- Will be able to help hurting people
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Your Entire Congregation
- Will become more sensitive and responsive to needs
- Will be able to reach out to those in need of the love of Jesus
- Will be proud of another ministry
Who Needs Care?
At some time in life, all of us will go through some sort of crisis or hardship. When these challenges enter into our lives, we could all use this care.
Some Examples:
- People grieving or suffering from depression
- Families facing divorce or separations
- Before, during, and after hospitalization
- Individuals who are homebound
- A family member facing serious illness
- Single moms or dads needing help
- Parents who are dealing with children leaving home
- Dealing with crises that can occur with childbirth
- People facing death
- Those facing losses related to aging
- Children dealing with parents convalescing
- Those left behind after suicide
- Those facing major life transitions
Confidentiality
Stephen Ministers keep personal information confidential. Therefore, you cn feel free to share with your Stephen Minister without worrying that others will find out about it. There are some circumstances when Stephen Ministers must share confidential information in order to save a life. Those occasions are suicide, homicide, or abuse.
What Can I Expect From My Stephen Minister?
Your Stephen Minister will be meeting with you once a week for about an hour. The purpose of this visit is not for the Stephen Minister to solve your problems, but to a caring listener as you talk about your feelings and concerns.
How Long Will the Relationship Last?
Your caring relationship will continue as long as you need this kind of support. You and your Stephen Minister will work together to decide how and when the formal cargiving relationship will come to a close.
How Can Charity Lutheran Meet Care Needs?
One way of meeting needs is through Stephen Ministry.
We have a program at Charity that has the ability to organize, train, and supervise lay people to give one-on-one Christian care to those in need.
The trained Stephen Ministers (care givers) are there to share the burden of people who are going through crises.
What is Charity Lutheran Offering?
We are offering caring, sensitive, well-trained Stephen Ministers to those hurting people who could use a helping hand. We are reaching out with Christ’s love.
Stephen Ministers are ready to come alongside you—or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives—and provide comfort and support for as long “after” as they are needed. Most people are much more open to giving care than to receiving it. When a person is giving care, he or she is in the 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 who, though they really could benefit from a Christian friend who would listen and care for them, choose to "tough it out," on their own. They may fit the profile of the "strong, silent type" or they may wear a smile on their face while holding back a flood of tears.
Society encourages this type of behavior, reinforcing the myth that asking for help is a sign of weakness. God did not creat us to be independent; but rather interdependent. God's Word is clear on this all the way back to Genesis: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper sutiable for him." (Genesis 2:18)
The New Testament underscores this theme with more than 50 verses that contain the words "one another." Jesus promises, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) We can receive this promised rest when we turn to one another for comfort and help.
If you find yourself now, or in the future, facing difficulties in life, don't succumb to society's norm of remaining strong and suffering alone. Take the courageous step of seeking help. Open your heart to receiving God's love and grace through another person. John Ortberg states in his book, Everybody's Normal Until You Get to Know Them, "More than anything else, God uses people to heal other people."
Become a Stephen Minister
Gifts
A Stephen minister is a person with a gift of mercy, who shows compassion and gives encouragement to those he or she cares for. Many Stephen ministers say that they receive much more from the caring relationship with their care receiver than they give.
Commitment
A Stephen minister devotes time, energy, and resources to this ministry. In return, a Stephen minister has the opportunity to participate in meaningful ministry, which impacts another's life.
Training
A Stephen minister completes 50 hours of training before ever meeting with a care receiver. He or she learns about listening, assertiveness, confidentiality, and many other aspects of caregiving. After the initial training, there is continuing education. Stephen ministers find that their relationships become richer and deeper at home, church, at work and with friends.
Dedicated Service
A Stephen minister serves wholeheartedly. This isn't a casual ministry. It involves prayer, thought, consideration, study, and commitment. In return, the Stephen minister receives grateful thanks from his or her care giver, our Stephen ministry team, the congregation and our Lord.
Accountability
A Stephen minister is accountable to God, the congregation, the Stephen ministry team, the other Stephen ministers, and the care receiver. In return, he or she receives support, encouragement, and guidance from fellow Stephen ministers through peer support.
Continuous Learning
A Stephen minister is open to adjusting and adapting his or her caregiving to fit the needs of the care receiver. He or she learns more about caregiving at each meeting with a care receiver and at each peer supervision session. Stephen ministry is an experience of continuous learning, growth and joy.
- The Holy Spirit may be calling you to joy, commitment, growth, meaning, training, service and care that is part of being a Stephen minister. Pray for God's guidance as you consider this opportunity.
Questions? Contact Lori Lemmerman by calling the Church Office at 258-1228.
Contacts
Contact the church office at 258-1228 if you are interested in a Stephen Minister for yourself or someone close to you. All referrals are kept strictly confidential.
If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister yourself, training class information is available by calling the church office 258-1228.
