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Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a ministry in our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, call Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.
- Is life more than you can handle alone right now?
- Are 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, a recent move?
- Would you like to have someone in your life who really cares?
Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, to share God’s love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing.
Who is involved?
Stephen Ministers are the caregivers. They have been through 50 hours of training in Christian care-giving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in care giving. In addition, their training covered specialized topics such as ministering to the divorced, hospitalized, bereaved and aging.
Care Receivers are the recipients of Stephen Ministers’ care. They are people from our church or community who are experiencing divorce, grief, loss of a job, loneliness, hospitalization, terminal illness, or any of an endless number of other life difficulties. Stephen Ministers usually meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour for as long as the care receiver will benefit by the relationship.
What do Stephen Ministers Do?
Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen understand, accept and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time.
Can I Trust a Stephen Minister?
Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence.
What Next?
If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, please call Tom Wheat at (281) 496-2202 or tomwheat@houston.rr.com.
Or, if you’d be interested in becoming a trained Stephen Minister, please contact Tom.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12.
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