By Paula Price
The Stephen Ministry is a new ministry in our congregation in which trained and supervised laypersons from our congregation, called Stephen Ministers, will provide one-to-one care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.
What do Stephen Ministers Do?
Stephen Ministers are not counselors: they are caring Christian friends who in the strictest confidentiality, listen, understand, accept and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a tough time. Stephen Ministers do not replace the priest’s pastoral and counseling responsibilities. They work with him and with his oversight, support and extend that care.
The Stephen Ministry began in 1975. There are 12,000 congregations throughout the
U.S. and Canada representing 150 different denominations in the program.
How Do We Get Started?
I just returned from a week’s training on starting our Stephen Ministry. With the help of the Rev. Michael Stone and Birdie Lighthiser, I am ready to recruit and train members of our congregation to be Stephen Ministers. If you want to be part of this new ministry, or just want more information contact the church office. Our goal is to have Manakin’s Stephen Ministers trained (40 to 50 hours) by January 2015.
As Christians we have all been given the charge by Jesus to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).