Learn About Stephen Ministry


Stephen Ministry at Christ Lutheran Church

 

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    Christ Lutheran Church provides Stephen Ministers who are lay persons trained to convey the love of Christ to those who are distressed by loss, health problems, or other difficult times.

    Stephen Ministry is a complete system for training and organizing lay persons to provide one-to-one Christian care in and around our community.

    In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.

    Christ Lutheran Church is blessed to have 4 trained and commissioned Stephen Leaders and 10 trained Stephen Ministers. These men and women stand ready to provide care to those in need.

    If you have need for a personal and confidential Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Charles Gilmore (922-1865).



Stephen Ministers -- Front row, left to right are Marjorie Kempf and Eileen Hintzen; Middle row, Carolyn Gustafson, Ann Shroyer; Back Row, Gail Donkersloot, Pastor Gilmore, Charlotte Albers, and Bev Hoeft. Barbara Gordon and Sharon Sanaghan not pictured.


    On Sunday, May 8, 2005, five lay people from Christ Lutheran Church were commissioned into a special ministry of care and concern for others as Stephen Ministers. This rite of commissioning culminates a period of extensive training and preparation for ministry through the Stephen Series. The Stephen Series is a complete system for training and organizing laypersons for caring ministry in and around our congregation. More than 450,000 laypersons have been trained as Stephen Ministers from over 9000 congregations.

    Our Stephen Ministers have studied and practiced skills in such areas as dealing with feelings, crisis intervention, asserting oneself with gentleness and firmness, and numerous other topics to prepare them to help people who are experiencing problems in their lives. After the commissioning, these Stephen Ministers will be assigned to minister in our congregation and community, working with people who are experiencing such life crises as hospitalization, illness, the care of a loved one, the loss of a loved one, or any of a number of other difficulties people face in daily living.

    The Stephen Ministers commissioned were Ann Shroyer, Marjorie Kempf, Carolyn Gustafson, Barbara Gordon, and Sharon Sanaghan. We thank God for their gifts of caring and listening. Their ministries will increase greatly the overall ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ at Christ Lutheran, 103 Ponferrada Way, HSV. 922-1865

    If you think you would like to become a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Gilmore or one of the following Stephen Leaders: Bev Hoeft (915-0495); Eileen Hintsen (915-0822).

 

What is Stephen Ministry ?

  • A special ministry in which one Christian reaches out to another in time of need.
  • An opportunity to reach out to others, the bereaved, new people in town, those hospitalized and convalescing, the divorced, the aged.
  • An on-going helping relationship with dependablility, 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 - having developed their helping skills through intensive coursework.
  • Dedicated Christians - commissioned by our church to confidential caring.

    How Do I Make A Referral To The Ministry For A Friend?

  • First, listen and care for your friend in your own relationship together.
  • Second, ask him or her for permission to share the need for a Stephen minister with the pastor.
  • Be sure to tell your friend that everything will be completely confidential.
  • Third, report his or her need as promptly as possible.
  • You may do this by contacting Pastor Gilmore at 501-922-1865 in the church office.  Or if you prefer to send an email, Pastor Gilmore's address is clcpastor@suddenlinkmail.com.
  • How Do I Request A Stephen Minister For Myself?

  • You may call Pastor Gilmore at 501-922-1865. When making a referral, you need not give details about the reason for the referral. Just report the need.

    What Will Happen After A Referral Is Made?

  • First, Pastor Gilmore or a Stephen Leader will visit with the referred person (you or your friend). At that time, the Stephen Ministry program will be explained more fully and together it will be decided if a Stephen Minister will be helpful.
  • If a Stephen Minister is to be assigned, the Stephen Minister will contact the referred person within the next week.
  • Only the Referral Coordinator (Pastor Gilmore), the Stephen Minister, and the referred person will know if a Stephen Minister has been assigned.

    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 listener-a sounding board-a presence as the care receiver works on his or her own life situations.
  • The Stephen Minister may share scripture and prayer with the care receiver, but only if the care receiver requests it and is comfortable with such support.
  • The Stephen Minister will never reveal to others their participation in the caring relationship--will never use the name of the care receiver or discuss the care receiver's situation.
  • The Stephen Minister will pray for the care receiver.

    What Can The Care Receiver Expect From A Relationship with a Stephen minister?

  • The care receiver can expect a Christian friend, willing to be present with them in a time of need.
  • They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the holy spirit…And the word of God increased; and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.. Acts 6 : 5-7.

    Bear one another's burdens… and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6 : 2

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