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Stephen
Ministry
is…
a program 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, both in our congregation
and community.
Stephen
Ministers are committed Christian people who…
-
Express
God's care through their lives to others;
-
Receive
50 hours of initial training in important caring ministry skills and
concepts;
-
Are
commissioned as Stephen Ministers after completing their initial training;
-
Visit
another person regularly and dependably and offer Christian support and
care;
-
Participate
in regular support and supervision under the guidance of trained Stephen
Leaders;
-
Are
committed to preserving the confidential nature of the caring relationship;
-
Serve
for at least two years;
-
Receive
continuing education and skill building throughout their years of service.
Meets
the
Needs of People
There are times when each of us needs the care of
another person, a Christian friend, a Stephen Minister! These needs include but
are not limited to…
-
the
hospitalized
-
the terminally ill and their families
-
people who move into or out of our community
-
those grieving a death or serious loss
-
the homebound and institutionalized
-
prisoners, ex-offenders and their families
-
those with a job crisis
-
the aging and elderly
-
those with disabilities and their families
-
those needing the support of a Christian friend
-
those facing life transitions
-
the separated or divorced
-
households experiencing birth or adoption
-
those in spiritual crisis
Stephen
Ministry
is confidential ministry: those
receiving care can be sure that their identity and what goes on in the caring
relationship will remain private.
"Bear
one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Multiplies
Our Christian Care-giving
and Outreach
Our Stephen Ministers work together with our
pastors to reach more people with Christian care than pastors can reach by
themselves. People who receive care from a Stephen Minister –
-
Receive quality Christian care,
-
Deepen their relationship with their Lord,
-
Grow in their desire to participate in Christian
community,
-
Come to value ministry from another layperson while
continuing contact with the pastor.
Stephen
Ministry
enhances our outreach by …
-
Creating a "caring ministry explosion"
where many instead of a few are offering God's love and care in intentional,
systematic ways.
-
Enabling our entire congregation to grow as a warm,
loving, nurturing community where people are cherished and cared for in
Jesus Christ.
-
Identifying our congregation to our community as a
place where people's needs are taken seriously.
"Encourage
one another and build one another up."
I Thessalonians 5:11
Christ
Caring for People Through People
For
more information about Stephen Ministries, call Wade Panse or
Jim Kraus.
To go the Stephen Ministry brochure,
please
click here.
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St.
Joseph First United Methodist
Church 
