Stephen Ministry
(Our Stephen Ministry is
a part of PoP's
Nurturing Ministry. Click here
to learn more.)
"Stephen Ministry"
is...
... Christ caring for people through people.
... a confidential, one-on-one caring relationship
provided by individuals who have been trained to listen and give care.
... a way for people to experience God's eternal love
through others here and now.
Some of the
Needs that Stephen Ministers Address
©Bereaved
©Terminally
ill
©Separated
or divorcing
©Hospitalized
or convalescing
©Single
Parents
©Vocational
stresses
©Caretakers
of ill or disabled
©Homebound
©Residents
of long term care facilities
©Retiring
©Dealing
with adoption
©Victims
of crime
©New
residents of a community
©Chronically
ill
Stephen Ministers do all
the following:
Provide
quality one-to-one ministry as trained, caring church members reaching out
to others in time of need.
Engage in a caregiving relationship
that focuses on the unique needs of one person and lasts as long as the
needs exists.
Receive support, guidance and
supervision from Stephen Leaders and from each other
Listen
Explore Feelings
Pray
Share Christs Love
Maintain Confidentiality
Attend to the caregiving process and
leave the results to God
A Stephen Minister has the
following responsibilities:
A 24-month commitment of
service to the ministry
Attendance at and
participation in the 50-hour training program
Study of the training
materials
Service as a Stephen Minister (usually involving a one-hour weekly
one-to-one visit) for about 18 months following completion of training
Participation in twice monthly
supervision meetings following completion of training
Help to find people who would
benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister
History
of Stephen Ministry
In
Acts 6:1-7, Stephen is identified as one of the first laypersons set aside
to do caring ministry. Kenneth Haugk, an ordained minister and clinical
psychologist, picked Stephen as the emblem for the lay caregiving program
he started in 1975 to meet the needs of his own congregation.
He is the executive director of Stephen Ministries St. Louis.
The
Stephen Series is now in more than 7,500 congregations from 100
denominations, in all 50 states, nine Canadian provinces and 20 other
countries. More than 40,000 pastors, church staff and laypersons have been
trained as Stephen Leaders and nearly 300,000 people have trained as
Stephen Ministers in their congregations. An estimated 750,000 people have
received the care of a Stephen Minister.
(You
may visit the official Stephen Ministry website by clicking here.)
~ Pastor Ken Green, Minister of
Nurturing
Prince
of Peace Lutheran Church and School
8304 Old Keene Mill Road; Springfield, VA 22152
703.451.5855 - church; 703.451.6177 - school
703.569.0978 - FAX
www.poplc.org
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