What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a nationally organized program for training lay people for caring ministry in their local churches. Stephen Ministers offer one-on-one confidential care to people who are going through tough times in their lives. Stephen Ministers offer caring Christian friendship and concerned listening to people when they need it most.
UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION
Perhaps you or someone you know could benefit from having a Stephen Minister...
...someone in crisis who doesn't know where to turn
...someone who is upset, worried, worn-out, needing someone to talk to, someone who will care
You'd like to help, but how?
First, listen and care for your friend in your own relationship
Second, ask him or her for permission to report their need
Third, report their need as soon as possible. You can do this by contacting Pastor Steve or our Stephen Ministry Leaders Sharon Wiley, Kathy Norris or Edna Ellis.
All contacts through the Stephen Ministry are kept strictly confidential!
Is God calling you to a ministry of care? We need you to become a trained Stephen Minister. For more information, contact our Stephen Ministry Leaders, Sharon Wiley, Kathy Norris or Edna Ellis.
STEPHEN MINISTRY PEER MEETINGS
1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
at the church.
All Stephen Ministers are expected to attend. If you are unable to attend, please call Sharon Wiley before the date of the meeting.
Stephen Ministry
As Stephen Ministers, we need to keep our skills sharp.
We accomplish this by doing Continuing Education one peer
group session per month.
Currently, we are reviewing a four booklet series of “Journeying
through Grief.” Book
One is entitled “A Time to Grieve;” Book Two is “Experiencing
Grief;” Book Three is “Finding Hope and Healing” and Book Four is
titled “Rebuilding and Remembering.”
This continuing education will help us recognize some warning signs
of what is considered the normal grief process and what is not.
Grief is handled differently by different people as to the
type of death, whether expected or suddenly; the relationship;
whether it is a parent, friend, grandparent, spouse or child.
Each booklet focuses on what the recipient is likely to be
experiencing at specific times during the first year of grief.
This means they receive a booklet at three weeks, 3 months, 6
months and 11 months after the death.
It is hoped that the recipient will reach each one and refer
to them often to help meet their needs.
We offer a 10-15 minute session, one-on-one at our Prayer Garden
Retreat between first and second services each Sunday morning.
If you feel the need to speak to someone concerning a
problem, please feel free to walk past the office toward the
pre-school area until you see the retreat area on your right.
Thank you.
Stephen Ministry Moments, July 2010
Are
you thinking about inviting a Stephen minister into your life?
Through this caring person and God’s love, you will experience new
hope, joy and healing. Let’s look at what Stephen Ministry is not.
Not a home church service
Not preaching
Not Bible study
Not
counseling
Not care calling
Not evangelism
Not prayer
meeting
Not serving communion
Not anointing with oil
Not
running errands
Not shopping service
Not a group session
Not a problem solving
Not asking for money
Your Stephen
Minister may be doing some of these things in fulfilling Jesus’
message to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as
yourself.
A Stephen Minister is a loving caring friend who
will listen to you and share our Lord’s greatest love and concern
for you. He will pray with you for healing through the Holy Spirit.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to know how very much God
loves you. God does not want you to feel lonely and depressed.
Come to the Prayer Garden Retreat between church services on
Sunday to talk to a Stephen Minister.
God Bless You, Elton Tietz