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STEPHEN MINISTRY: CARE FOR PEOPLE FACING TOUGH TIMES
We all experience challenges in life – times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide emotional and spiritual care to individuals who have experienced a crisis such as job loss, grief over the loss of loved ones, difficulties of illness and hospitalization, nursing home issues, divorce, and much more, through high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care.
A Stephen Minister walks beside an individual and allows himself or herself to be a conduit for Christ in healing the hurting person. He or she is not a counselor, therapist or problem-solver. Instead, the Stephen Minister helps the individual to work through his or her crisis or situation by offering objective, active, confidential listening.
Before undertaking care giving, Stephen Ministers must receive at least 50 hours of training. After becoming Stephen Ministers, they continue to receive training and supervision through regular meetings.
Stephen Ministry has existed at Christ UMC for over 30 years. The ministry was originally founded in 1975 by Rev. Kenneth Haugk and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Stephen Ministry is now a worldwide ministry that is offered by more than 13,000 congregations representing approximately 170 denominations in the US and Canada and in 30 other countries. More than one-and-a-half-million people have had a Stephen Minister walk with them, providing one-to-one Christian care during tough times.
If you are going through a difficult time and would like someone to listen, support and pray for you, contact Rev. Scott Holcomb-McLain at (972) 998-9200, or Connie Bouas at (972) 786-3074.
The Stephen Minister is the Care Giver, God is the Cure Giver.