2009 ~ Stephen Minister Ministry Team
Information
- Area:
- None
- Location:
Upcoming Events
- 12/16/09 Stephen Ministry Team
STEPHEN MINISTRY PROGRAM
The Stephen Ministry is a confidential, lay-caring ministry grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Those who are hurting receive love and support through one-to-one caring relationships. The ministry is named after Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early Christian church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the needs of people in the Christian community.
• Is life more than you can handle alone right now?
• Is your health, your attitude, or your relationships suffering?
• Are you adjusting to a new job, change in marital status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one, or a recent move?
• Would you like to have someone in your life that really cares?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and to share God's love can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness that you may be experiencing.
WHAT ARE THE NEEDS WITH WHICH STEPHEN MINISTRY CAN HELP?
• Illness
• Family frustrations and challenges
• Loneliness
• Chronic illness
• Families of the chronically ill
• Loss of a loved one
• Separation or divorce
• Being shut-in
• Having a newborn
• A low self-esteem
• Terminal illness
• Loss of a job
• Financial setbacks
• Struggling with faith in God
• Aging
• Facing life changes
• Retirement
• Miscarriage and Infertility
HOW CAN I REFER SOMEONE TO STEPHEN MINISTRY?
1. Identify someone who is hurting and in need of Christian care (you, a friend, or a relative).
2. You, a friend, a relative, or a pastor contacts Stephen Ministry about this need.
3. The Referral Coordinators will meet with this person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
4. With their permission, the Referral Coordinators assign a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the care receiver.
5. The Stephen Minister provides distinctively Christian and strictly confidential care.
WHAT IS A STEPHEN MINISTER?
A Stephen Minister...
• Is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.
• Is a caring, Christian friend who takes the time to really listen.
• Is a lay Christian selected, trained, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide effective Christian care.
• Makes a commitment including 50 hours of training, ongoing supervisory meetings, and an average of one 1-hour visit per week with the person receiving care.
• Recognizes this as a confidential ministry.
A Stephen Minister is NOT...
• A counselor or therapist
• A problem-solver
• A casual visitor
HOW CAN YOU BECOME INVOLVED?
• Pray daily for Stephen Ministry
• Make referrals to Stephen Ministry
• Inquire about becoming a Stephen Minister
Stephen Ministers are Caregivers ... God is the CUREGIVER
For more information, please contact:
Rev. Kerry McCormick, Associate Pastor 303-841-3979 or via email: kerry@parkerumc.org
or one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Al Banisch albanisch@comcast.net or Jacy Green-Sprehe jacymail@comcast.net
Parker UMC's Stephen Ministry Training
Parker UMC will be conducting a course to train new Stephen Ministers beginning in September 2008. Classes will be on Sundays from 10:45 until 1:15pm, and will run through mid-February, 2009.Parker UMC's Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one Christian care to hurting people in and around our congregation. Stephen Ministers serve as the face of Christ to these people by listening, empathizing, affirming, and praying. The training course is provided by Stephen Ministries St. Louis, and has been highly-rated by those who have participated.
Over 20 or so weeks, we'll cover:
- The Person of the Caregiver
- Feelings -- Yours, Mine, Ours
- The Art of Listening
- Distinctively Christian Caring
- Process Versus Results in Caring
- Assertiveness -- Relating Gently and Firmly
- Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
- Confidentiality
- Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
- Dealing with Depression -- the Stephen Minister\'s Role
- Helping Suicidal People Get the Help they Need
- Ministering to the Dying and Their Family and Friends
- Ministering to those Experiencing Divorce
- Caring for People Before, During and After Hospitalization
- Telecare
- Using Mental Health Professionals
- Bringing the Caring Relationship to a Close
- Peer Supervision
- How to Make Your First Caring Visit
- Providing Spiritual Care
If you feel called to this ministry and would like to take the next step, or if you'd simply like to learn more, please contact Pastor Kerry McCormick or one of the Stephen Leaders, Jacy Green-Sprehe or Al Banisch. You can reach them or get a message to them through the Church Office at 303 841-3979.
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