What is Stephen Ministry?
- It is one-to-one ministry by trained, caring laypersons.
- It is a short or long term helping relationship focusing on
the unique needs of each person.
- It is a commitment to caring and supporting one another, to
building a Christ-centered, sharing community.
- It is a response to Christ's instructions..."to love one another
as I have loved you."
- It is a religious and educational system of training and organization,
which is already working in many congregations throughout the
country.
- It is a ministry named after Stephen, the first deacon in the
early church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the community
needs.
Who is a lay person?
- A lay person who through training has learned skills and developed
his/her gifts for bringing Christ's healing love to people who
are lonely, grieving, strangers, new parents, ill, or experiencing
other stresses in life.
- A caring and sharing person who reaches out a supporting hand
to the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of our community.
What kinds of needs
will Stephen Ministry address?
The needs of:
- People who are hospitalized
- People who are grieving the loss of a loved one
- People who are lonely
- People who are depressed
- People who are separated or in the process of divorce
- People who are shut in
- People experiencing the birth of a child
- People who are dying, as well as the families of those who are
terminally ill
- People experiencing loss of job, or financial setbacks
- People and families of those who are in trouble with the law
- People who are struggling with their faith
How does Stephen Ministry
work at Wekiva?
A Stephen Ministry training
program prepares interested men and women to become Stephen Ministers,
equipping them to care for the many needs in our church. Their 50+
hours of training include topics such as:
- feelings
- listening
- assertiveness training
- confidentiality
- crisis theory and intervention
- tele-care
- use of prayer and the Bible
- being professional
- the "small step" approach
- and other specialized "needs" such as grief, divorce, depression,
stress, etc.
