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Saint Paul's Stephen Ministry

St. Paul's Stephen Ministry Admin Calendar

(For a link to the Stephen Ministry site, and more information about the program,) click here - Stephen Ministry Home Page

Stephen Ministry – Confidential Christian care to people in times of transition or crisis.
We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation, with a congregational ministry that is providing confidential, one-to-one Christian care for people experiencing challenges in their lives such as hospitalization, loss of a loved one, loneliness, divorce, unemployment, birth of a child, and many other life events for which a person could benefit from an effective helping and caring ministry.

We have three trained leaders – Kathy Collier, Bev Raspanti, and Pastor Mark –and we have two teams of laypeoplewho are “Stephen Ministers.” Those members had 50 hours of training in Christian caring skills, preparing them to care for others and covering such areas as how to listen effectively, how to deal with feelings, how to use traditional Christian resources in caring, how to maintain confidentiality, how to deal with people experiencing crises, and many other areas of concern. A Christ-centered approach to caring and the need to care for the whole person was stressed throughout the training.

Upon completion of Stephen Series training, these lay caregivers were commissioned as Stephen Ministers and have become an important part of caring ministry here at St. Paul’s.

This is an exciting time for St. Paul’s. The Stephen Series both multiplies the amount of caring ministry that goes on in our congregation and deepens the level of participation by laypeople in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Please keep us in your prayers.

Stephen Ministers: The After People

Stephen Ministers are there:

…after you’ve washed and returned the last casserole dish.

…after the divorce papers have been served and the bottom falls out of your life.

…after the last child honks the horn, waves, and drives away – and the house suddenly seems incredibly empty.

...after you arrive home following the funeral service and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.

…after the relationship has ended but the wounds are still bleeding and painful.

…after the doctors have said, “There’s nothing more we can do.”

…after the door has slammed shut – for the very last time.

…after the phone call you’d always hoped you’d never get.

…after you realize the hands on the gold watch you received at your retirement party move more slowly than you ever imagined.

…after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, “Welcome to your new home.”

…after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, and your loved one is led away.

…after the baby has arrived, putting more demands on you than you ever dreamed possible.

…after you find the pink slip inserted with what is now your final paycheck.

…after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.

Stephen Ministers are the “After People.” We are ready to come alongside you – or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives – and provide comfort and support for as long “after” as we are needed.

Needed – Caring People to be Stephen Ministers and Leaders.

Our current Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders are doing a great job, but there are still more opportunities for trained care-givers and leaders at St. Paul’s. So… if you are a good listener, can hold confidences, and have a caring heart, consider being a Stephen Minister. And… if you are care about people and enjoy teaching and/or organizing, consider being a Stephen Leader. Don’t worry about whether you have the experience or knowledge – we will provide that with excellent training.

If you think just possibly, maybe, perhaps you were given your gifts for a reason, and that reason might be helping people, contact Kathy Collier, Bev Raspanti, or Pastor Mark and we’ll help you discover whether Stephen Ministry might be the right place for you. This just may become the most exciting and rewarding thing you’ve done in the church!

If you have any questions, please contact
Kathy at kabcollier@yahoo.com

Bev at bev@bee.net

Pastor Mark at pastormark@stpaulslionville.org

Adapted from a presentation made during a worship service by Enie Bourland, a lay Stephen Leader at Houston’s First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.

Copyright© 2003 by Stephen Ministries in St. Louis, Missouri. Congregation members have permission to reproduce this sheet to use within their congregation to build support for Stephen Ministry

For a link to a description of the difference between Stephen Ministers and friends click here