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STEPHEN
MINISTRY |
WHAT IS A STEPHEN MINISTER? A
Stephen Minister... Is
a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting. Is
a caring, Christian friend who takes the time to really listen. Is
a lay Christian selected, trained, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide
effective Christian care. Makes
a commitment including 50 hours of training, ongoing supervisory meetings, and
an average of one 1-hour visit per week with the person receiving care. Recognizes
this as a confidential ministry. A
Stephen Minister is NOT... A
counselor or therapist A
problem-solver A
casual visitor Stephen
Ministers are Caregivers ... God is the CUREGIVER
In
Luke 15:3-7, Jesus says God is like the shepherd who will seek after even one
sheep who has wandered from the flock. The course "Caring for Inactive Members:
How to Make God's House a Home" is coming in January. Open to all LCGS family,
the class is designed to develop better understanding of church inactivity and
help congregations acquire new attitudes and skills to enable them to care effectively
for inactive members.
The course is process oriented and takes a threefold
approach: prevention of inactivity, ministry to inactive members, and welcoming
home inactive members. In the average congregation, almost one third of the members
are inactive. Through the six-hour course, you will be equipped to reach out and
care for people who have been separated or alienated from the church community.
This is one of the most complete courses for training Christians to minister to
those on the margins of the congregation's life and ministry.
The cost
per participant is $25 for two books. The class is open to all LCGS family. Meeting
dates are Thursdays, Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and Feb. 18, 2010 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room
204. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Sallie Gartside, Stephen
Ministry Leader.
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WHAT
IS STEPHEN MINISTRY?
Stephen
Ministry is a Christian care-giving organization, founded in 1975 and based in
St. Louis, MO. The organization provides training and resources to more than 57,000
caregivers in over 8,000 congregations worldwide.
Stephen Ministers
at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, are trained to assist people in times
of need. They comfort, listen to, pray for and with, and encourage those who receive
their care. Stephen Ministry was introduced to LCGS in 2001. More than 60 persons
have received the benefits of a Stephen Minister at LCGS.
Is your health,
your attitude, or your relationships suffering? Are you adjusting to a new job,
change in marital status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one, or a recent
move? Would you like to have someone in your life that really cares?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and
to share God's love can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness
that you may be experiencing.
WHAT
ARE THE NEEDS WITH WHICH STEPHEN MINISTRY CAN HELP?
- Illness
- Family
frustrations and challenges
- Loneliness
- Chronic
illness
- Loss
of a loved one
- Separation
or divorce
- Being
shut-in
- Having
a newborn
- Families
of the chronically ill
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low self-esteem
- Terminal
illness
- Loss
of a job
- Financial
setbacks
- Struggling
with faith in God
- Aging
- Facing
life changes
- Retirement
- Miscarriage
and Infertility
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HOW
CAN I REFER SOMEONE TO STEPHEN MINISTRY?
-
Identify someone who is hurting and in need of Christian
care (you, a friend, or a relative). -
You, a
friend, a relative, or a pastor contacts Stephen Ministry about this need. -
The Stephen Leader contacts this person to talk about Stephen
Ministry. -
With the care receiver's permission,
the Stephen Leader assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the
care receiver. -
The Stephen Minister provides
distinctively Christian and strictly confidential care.
HOW
CAN YOU BECOME INVOLVED?
Pray daily
for Stephen Ministry. Make referrals to Stephen Ministry. Inquire about becoming
a Stephen Minister.
If you think you would like to talk to a Stephen
Minister, or want to learn more about these compassionate, confidential listeners,
please call Pastor Evers at 410-838-8081. | |
