|
WHAT IS STEPHEN
MINISTRY?
-
Stephen Ministry is in some ways a very old, and a very
new form of lay ministry in our church.
-
It is very old, because it is how the very first
Christians cared for one another. It was personified in the person of
Stephen, the church’s first deacon. Christians reached out to those in
need, they ministered to one another as Christ instructed them to do,
“Love one another as I have loved you.”
-
It is very new, because it is built solidly on that
Biblical message and intensively trains and prepares lay people to
reach out and care for those who are experiencing problems in their
lives, helping to supplement the pastors’ care.
-
It is a confidential, on-going, helping relationship
scheduled with regularity and dependability
-
It is a meaningful way for our church to strengthen our
many gifts by sharing one another’s burdens and joys
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE STEPHEN
MINISTRY?
-
A Lutheran minister and
psychologist, Dr. Kenneth Haughk, began Stephen Ministry in 1975.
-
It is a
non-denominational, rapidly growing, structured program of training
and equipping lay people to do caring ministry.
-
Today over 6,000
congregations in 52 states and 17 foreign countries participate in
this program.
WHO ARE THE STEPHEN MINISTERS?
-
Dedicated Christians who
have agreed to be trained and commissioned to share for two years
minimum, their time, support, and assistance for others who are
experiencing a personal crisis.
-
People of all ages who
come from all types of backgrounds.
-
Lay men and women from our
congregation who have developed their gifts for bringing the care and
concern of Christ's community to people who are experiencing a
personal crisis.
-
Stephen Ministers are NOT
professional psychologists, experts in law, medicine, or social
workers with access to extensive services, or home health aides. But,
neither are they superficial "visitors" who merely drop in from time
to time.
-
Stephen Ministers are
companions who are present to another's pain.
HOW ARE STEPHEN MINISTERS PREPARED?
-
Stephen Ministers receive
50 hours of training and preparation before they begin their care
giving work. They are supervised by Stephen Leaders.
-
Throughout their service,
Stephen Ministers receive bi-weekly supervision, continuing education,
and enrichment in a variety of related subjects.
WHAT SITUATION MIGHT CALL FOR A
STEPHEN MINISTER?
-
All of us at different
times in our life need a special friend who can help us work through
the “rough spots” in life. Talking with someone can help cope with
life’s problems. Stephen Ministers are good listeners and will be a
friend to those who are lonely, shut-in, unemployed, confined to a
nursing home, moving, retired, divorced, single parents, having aging
parents, etc.
CAN I STILL TALK WITH THE PASTOR?
-
Absolutely! The pastor
will continue to care for you and hold you in his/her prayers. In
fact, by encouraging you to work with a Stephen Minister, the pastor
demonstrates his/her care by seeing that you receive additional
quality care.
HOW ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?
-
Only the pastor, Stephen
Ministry Leaders, the Stephen Minister, and the person being helped
will know of the relationship and each maintains confidentiality.
HOW LONG WILL A STEPHEN MINISTER MEET
WITH ME?
WILL THE STEPHEN MINISTER REPLACE THE
PASTORAL CARE OF MY PASTOR?
-
Absolutely not! The
Stephen Ministers expand the church's ministry by providing more
workers in the Body of Christ.
-
An important part of any
pastor's ministry is to help "equip the saints," the members of the
congregation, to provide care for one another. The pastor greatly
multiplies the care giving through the Stephen Ministry program.
WILL THE STEPHEN MINISTER TELL ME HOW
TO SOLVE MY PROBLEMS?
-
The Stephen Minister's job
is to listen to you, to help you talk about and think through your
problems, to help you express and understand your feelings, and to
help you investigate possible solutions to your problems.
-
Stephen Ministers are
caregivers. God is the curegiver.
I'M AFRAID THAT I MIGHT BE
EMBARRASSED OR FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. HOW CAN A
STEPHEN MINISTER HELP ME?
-
Stephen Ministers do not
pass judgement. They will value you and love you as a person who, like
themselves, is vulnerable and human.
-
The Stephen Minister will
help you to get through your uneasiness so that you can begin to
understand your problems and feelings.
DO I HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF UUMC TO
HAVE A STEPHEN MINISTER?
HOW CAN I GET HELP FROM A STEPHEN
MINISTER?
HOW CAN I BECOME A STEPHEN MINSTER?
|
