STEPHEN
MINISTRY
One To One Christian Care Giving
One To One Christian Care Giving
STEPHEN MINISTRY
IS
A ministry of our congregation that equips lay persons to
provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care to those who are experiencing
all kinds of life needs and circumstances, both in our congregation and our
community.
STEPHEN MINISTRY MEETS THE FOLLOWING NEEDS
There are times when each of us needs the care of another person, a Christian friend, a Stephen Minister. These needs include but are not limited to those:
aging & elderly
terminally ill
hospitalized
disabled
home bound
needing support
separated
divorced
in spiritual crisis
grieving
with job crisis
having a baby
new to the community
prisoners and families
STEPHEN MINISTRY MEETS THE FOLLOWING NEEDS
There are times when each of us needs the care of another person, a Christian friend, a Stephen Minister. These needs include but are not limited to those:
aging & elderly
terminally ill
hospitalized
disabled
home bound
needing support
separated
divorced
in spiritual crisis
grieving
with job crisis
having a baby
new to the community
prisoners and families
"The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew
25:40
A STEPHEN MINISTER IS
- A caring Christian - desiring to offer extended support to others in time of need.
- A sharing Christian - bringing who he/she is to each helping relationship as a partner in another's life.
- A trained Christian - having developed caregiving skills through intensive course work.
- A dedicated Christian - commissioned by our church to provide confidential, in-depth caring.
A STEPHEN MINISTER IS NOT
A professional counselor.
A social worker providing physical services.
A brief superficial visitor, "touching base" with people now and then.
A STEPHEN MINISTER IS
- A caring Christian - desiring to offer extended support to others in time of need.
- A sharing Christian - bringing who he/she is to each helping relationship as a partner in another's life.
- A trained Christian - having developed caregiving skills through intensive course work.
- A dedicated Christian - commissioned by our church to provide confidential, in-depth caring.
A STEPHEN MINISTER IS NOT
A professional counselor.
A social worker providing physical services.
A brief superficial visitor, "touching base" with people now and then.
CHRIST CARING FOR
PEOPLE THROUGH PEOPLE
A LETTER FROM A STEPHEN
MINISTER
I am a Stephen Minister. I am
not an extraordinary person and I'm not much different from you.
Through training, Stephen Ministers are taught to be listeners. We don't psychoanalyze everything you say or make decisions for you. We stand by you through difficult times. We come in love and not to judge, for we have all failed along the way and have fallen short.
Our relationships are strictly confidential and although the Stephen Ministry team meets regularly to pray and discuss our care giving, we give no clue as to who our care receiver is.
Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life with one thing in common, our love for Jesus Christ and our love for you.
So, when you need someone who cares, please call. We will meet weekly as long as you need us; one week, a month, a year - and then we will move on.
A First Friends Stephen Minster
"Encourage one another and build one another up." Thessalonians 5:11
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STEPHEN MINISTRY
Through training, Stephen Ministers are taught to be listeners. We don't psychoanalyze everything you say or make decisions for you. We stand by you through difficult times. We come in love and not to judge, for we have all failed along the way and have fallen short.
Our relationships are strictly confidential and although the Stephen Ministry team meets regularly to pray and discuss our care giving, we give no clue as to who our care receiver is.
Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life with one thing in common, our love for Jesus Christ and our love for you.
So, when you need someone who cares, please call. We will meet weekly as long as you need us; one week, a month, a year - and then we will move on.
A First Friends Stephen Minster
"Encourage one another and build one another up." Thessalonians 5:11
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE STEPHEN MINISTRY
Contact the church at
330-823-4210 and ask for the Social Action Chairman
or
Contact a Stephen Minister at
or
Contact a Stephen Minister at
Ted
Carden
330-875-2338
Isela Buehler 330-823-7412
Joe Dale 330-353-3594
Mary Dragomir 330-821-7085
Joyce Sigman 330-821-3708
Cindy Wahl 330-492-8021
Terry Wahl 330-492-8021
Isela Buehler 330-823-7412
Joe Dale 330-353-3594
Mary Dragomir 330-821-7085
Joyce Sigman 330-821-3708
Cindy Wahl 330-492-8021
Terry Wahl 330-492-8021
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE STEPHEN
MINISTRY
1. PRAY for the Stephen Ministers
2. PRAY for those who attend the initial training.
3. PRAY for the care receivers.
4. Consider serving as a Stephen Minister
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Stephen Ministry offers the opportunity to express care and compassion through the use of Spiritual Gifts. Some of the useful gifts are:
Exhortation
Helping
Teaching
Intercession
Mercy
Serving
Healing
Evangelism
Encouraging
Faith
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
1. PRAY for the Stephen Ministers
2. PRAY for those who attend the initial training.
3. PRAY for the care receivers.
4. Consider serving as a Stephen Minister
SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Stephen Ministry offers the opportunity to express care and compassion through the use of Spiritual Gifts. Some of the useful gifts are:
Exhortation
Helping
Teaching
Intercession
Mercy
Serving
Healing
Evangelism
Encouraging
Faith
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
