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Stephen Ministry

Staff Leader: Joe Shafer
Volunteer Leader: Barbara Carruth

 

Stephen Ministry
 

Our mission is to proclaim through word and deed, the Gospel of Jesus Christ by nurturing, edifying, educating, and equipping the whole people of God who are called, gifted, and sent to be more effective servants who care for the needs of the whole person.

 

What is Stephen Ministry?

  • A Christ caring ministry in which one Christian reaches out to another in time of
    need.
  • An opportunity to reach out to others: the lonely, the depressed, the inactive, the
    bereaved, new people in town, those hosp- talized and convalescing, the divorced, the aged.
  • An on-going helping relationship with dependability and confidentiality.
  • A meaningful way for our church to use more fully our many talents in sharing one another’s burdens and joys.

 

Who are Stephen Ministers?

  • Lay men and women from our congregation who have developed their gifts for bringing the concern and care of Christ’s community to people in need.
  • People who come from all walks of life, age ranges and backgrounds.
  • Caring and sharing Christians desiring to offer their help/support to others in time of need.
  • Trained Christians who have developed their helping skills through 50 hours of intensive coursework and training.
  • Dedicated Christians commissioned by our church to confidential caring.

 

How do I request a Stephen Minister?

  • A person - either you, a relative, or a friend is hurting and in need of Christian care.
  • After the person in need  - either you, a relative, or a friend has granted permission, contact Barbara Carruth, Lay Leader, or Joe Shafer, Staff Leader, at 972-539-8547, ext 203,  or email him at joes@tmumc.org.  You may also contact Peggy Zappavigna at peggyz@tmumc.org.
  • Another option is offered by way of a small card found in the pew pockets in the sanctuary. A Stephen Ministry envelope is also available for added confidentiality.
  • After explaining about Stephen Ministry, a Stephen Minister will be assigned to meet on a weekly basis with that person.

 

What will the Stephen Minister do?

  • The Stephen Minister will meet with the care receiver (referred person) regularly.
  • The Stephen Minister will not solve the care receiver’s problems, but will be a caring, a listener — a sounding board — a presence as the care receiver works on his/her own life situations.
  • The Stephen Minister may share scripture and prayer with the care receiver — if the care receiver requests it and is comfortable with such support.
  • The Stephen Minister will not reveal their participation in the caring relationship and will never use the name of the care receiver or discuss the care receiver’s problem.
  • The care receiver can expect a Christian friend, willing to be present with them in a time of need.
  • The Stephen Minister will pray for the care receiver.

 

If you find yourself struggling to maintain equilibrium, perhaps a re-location is causing sadness, a lack of job has significantly changed your lifestyle, or there are other life circumstances affecting your ability to function well. Please consider requesting a Stephen Minister. They are trained listeners. Sometimes just having a safe person to talk with, allows your mind to relax. You can begin to see ways you might be able to cope more effectively.

Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one support to help people who are working on difficult issue in their lives and strictly confidential care.

Stephen Ministry Video Aired on PBS

Check out this video segment from PBS explaining more about Stephen Ministry. If you cannot view the video below, visit PBS - Stephen Ministry to learn more.

 
 

Interested in Becoming a Stephen Minister?

Are you considering becoming a Stephen Minister? If you are searching for the next step in your own Christian walk, convinced that a program designed to help others is crucial to a healthy church, and have administrative skills, Stephen Ministry Leadership may be for you. Contact Joe Shafer at joes@tmumc.org or Peggy Zappavigna at peggyz@tmumc.org.

One Stephen Minister commented that "attending a Training Conference to become a Stephen Ministry Leader led to one of the most interesting and inspiring weeks of my life! There were several hundred people from all over the Continent, including Canada, attending when I went.  It seemed that every denomination was represented, including a few Catholic priests. Since this ministry is primarily concerned with giving the best possible care, under the guideline of unconditional Christian love, it reaches across individual church boundaries."

Another one commented "When I attended Stephen Ministry training, a new element was added to my own Spiritual walk. I learned to listen better, for one thing. This even had a positive impact on my marriage. Practicing new ways of responding to people helped me understand much more clearly, what that person was feeling. Learning to give unconditional love takes time. The rewards are enormous. I have served as a Stephen Leader and a Stephen Minister and have also been the recipient of care by a Stephen Minister when the need arose."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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