| What is a Stephen Minister? |
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A Stephen Minister is...
a child of God, who walks beside a hurting person; a caring Christian friend who really listens;
a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care.
A Stephen Minister is NOT...
- a counselor or therapist,
- a problem-solver;
- a casual visitor.
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Stephen Ministers care for people who are:
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hospitalized;
terminally ill;
bereaved;
in need of long term care;
grieving;
divorcing;
experiencing losses as they age;
going through the crisis of childbirth
the family and friends of people in crisis;
in a job crisis;
new members of the church or community;
disabled;
homebound;
lonely;
in a spiritual crisis;
looking for a caring, Christian friend.
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Stephen Ministers are Called to Be Caregivers
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"Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6.2
"Encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them." - I Thessalonians 5.14
God is the Curegiver
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you." - Psalm 55:22
"Come to me, all you who that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11.28
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| Stephen Ministers: |
Listen
Explore feelings Pray
Share God's love
Maintain confidentiality
Attend to the caregiving process and leave the results to God |
The Referral Process:
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A person is hurting and in need of Christian care. This might be you, a relative or a friend.
The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need from one of our ministerial staff, the person, a friend - always with the person's permission.
The Referrals Coordinator or a member of the ministerial staff meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
With the person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a regular basis with the person.
The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the person with strict confidentiality.
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For more information on First-Centenary's Stephen Ministry,
please contact Dr. David Harr, Associate Minister for Congregational Care
at (423) 756.2021 or via email: dharr@fcumc.org
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