From the Desk of Pastor Matt

I was asked some time ago if I would like to go through the Stephen Ministry leader training since we are a Stephen Ministry congregation. I decided to go ahead and complete that training. I think that the Stephen Ministry is a wonderful ministry. It might be daunting to go through the training for Stephen Ministers and Leaders, however, I think it is a natural fit for this congregation’s family disposition.
               
Part of the training material mentions that the congregation should be able to answer seven questions about Stephen Ministry. I wanted to share those questions with you and do my best to answer them together.

  1. What do Stephen Ministers do?
    • They engage with individuals on a one-on-one basis to provide care during a trying time. They do not replace the pastor. Rather, they add on to the pastoral care that is available. Your Stephen Minister will typically be in touch with you once a week.
  2. What kinds of life challenges do Stephen Ministers offer care for?
    • It seems to me that you can go to a Stephen Minister for any hardship, such as cancer, death or dying, work struggles, and so on. If they are not trained or equipped to help you, you will be referred to another professional provider.
  3. If I or someone I know might benefit from having a Stephen Minister, what do I do?
    • The easiest answer is to talk to any Stephen Leader or me about what to do next.
  4. If I’m interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, what do I do?
    • First, I would take time to pray and think about it before doing too much. Second, talk to a Stephen Minister or Leader about what they do. Last, when you feel called to do this, you can talk to any Stephen Leader or me.
  5. Whom do I talk to if I want to learn more about Stephen Ministry?
    • Stephenministries.org contains a ton of information. You should be able to learn more from any Stephen Minister or Leader here at church.
  6. How does Stephen Ministry support the mission of the congregation?
    • This ministry provides additional care beyond what the Elders, Deacons, I, and others are providing. They also bring a high level of training in spiritual care that others in the church can learn from.
  7. What is the Biblical basis for Stephen Ministry?
    • Acts 6:1–7 tells the story of Stephen, one of the first deacons. The deacons were established to help the elders of the church provide care and assistance to people. Stephen Ministers fill a very similar role by helping the elders and me. Galatians 6:2 talks about bearing one another’s burdens. There are other scriptures that give legitimacy to Stephen Ministry, but these are two examples.

I know this is a little long. However, I hope it serves as a good refresher for a ministry established in this church. I look forward to working with our Stephen Leaders and Ministers.

Peace,
 

Pastor Matt