Stephen Ministry provides a non-judgmental listening ear to someone in crisis with the promise of complete confidentiality. Stephen Ministers do not solve problems, but rather provide reflective listening, and with the help of God, empower their care receivers to resolve their own problems. It is a formal caring relationship with a beginning and an ending. A social friendship may develop after the caring relationship has ended. The purpose is to have a Christian caring friend to walk alongside one who is going through a life crisis such as hospitalization, terminal illness, death, unemployment, divorce, financial setback, retirement, stress of moving, victim of a crime, or perpetrator of a crime. Stephen Ministers may be assigned to a care receiver for any of the following reasons: crisis, follow-up after a life crisis, chronic care, preventive care, or supportive care. Stephen Ministry is seen as one of the congregation's tools for providing pastoral care enabling the pastoral staff to work even more effectively.
Stephen Ministers are:
-
Uniquely Christian using God-given spiritual gifts to bring Christ to someone who is hurting.
-
Care-givers and understand that God is the cure-giver
-
Always assigned to the same sex
-
Not "fix-it" people, therapists, or counselors
-
Trained through 50 hours of class time, including practice
-
Faithful to be there for the care receiver after all the rest have gone home
Confidentiality is a major component of Stephen Ministry. The names of the care receivers are never used or discussed. Church members making referrals to the Referrals Coordinator, Shirley Wiley; or, pastors Mike Cavin, or Allison Griner, should do so under the strictest rules of confidentiality.
