Jesus said,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Through Stephen Ministry, we are able to multiply the care and love we receive from our pastors by involving church members in this ministry of care.  Stephen Ministers are laypersons who have completed 50 hours of initial training to help them provide high-quality Christian care to individuals in crisis or facing life challenges.  Some of these are grief, hospitalization, loneliness, relocation, divorce, loss of a job, terminal illness, retirement and other life circumstances where quality Christian care would be a blessing.  After the initial preparation, Stephen Ministers meet for continuing education and supervision to further enhance their caring skills.  A few words and phrases help capture the essence of the care our Stephen Ministers provide.

Stephen Ministry is:

Caring                                       Christ-Centered                                  Confidential
Compassionate                      Non-judgmental                                  Accepting
One-to-one                               Affirming                                               Supporting

How it works is fairly straightforward.  When a need for care is expressed, a Stephen Minister is assigned to build a caring relationship by meeting with the care receiver for about one hour each week.  The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays and helps the care receiver find their own path to healing and wholeness.  The caring relationship will last for as long as the care receiver has a need.

Confidentiality is one of the main building blocks of Stephen Ministry.  Everything a care receiver says to their Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence.  Care receivers are never mentioned by name, not even in supervision meetings.  In fact, no one need know of your Stephen Ministry relationship unless you choose to share it. 

We are prepared and committed to do our very best to be the presence of Christ as you walk through challenging and difficult seasons of life.  “If you would like more information about Stephen Ministry or would like to receive care, contact Dr. Peter Maier through the church office at 542-4272.”

May the peace of Christ dwell in your heart richly each and every day.

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