What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Through one-to-one caring relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them. Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, to share God's love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing.
What is a Stephen Minister?
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
Stephen Ministers care for people who are:
- 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
Stephen Ministers are Called to Be Caregivers
"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
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
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.
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