Further Information
Why the Name Stephen Ministers?
The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need (as recorded in Acts 6).
Important Facts
Stephen Ministers are trained Christian caregivers, but not counselors. Their primary role is to listen and show concern, not to counsel or advise. Their ministry is supervised via twice monthly meetings with Stephen Leaders and other Stephen Ministers to ensure that they are providing quality care for their care receivers. Stephen Ministry is confidential. A Stephen Minister is assigned a care receiver by a coordinator. Only the individual Stephen Minister and the coordinator know the identity of the care receiver. Ministry to a care receiver is terminated when the need no longer exists.
Training
Prospective Stephen Leaders are selected by a Pastor and commissioned after completing an intensive one-week, full time training program given by professionals in the Stephen Ministry organization. Such programs are offered several times each year in various cities around the country. These leaders are then qualified to train new Stephen Ministers in their home churches. Stephen Minister candidates are interviewed by a Stephen Leader and a Pastor and are commissioned after completing a 50-hour training program spread over a period of about 13 weeks. They must agree to serve at least two years, but many serve longer.
History
Stephen Ministry began in 1975 when the Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, PhD, a pastor and clinical psychologist, saw a need in his church to have trained congregational members who could give long term assistance in the form of quality Christian care. He developed a comprehensive training program called the Stephen Series, which has been extremely successful and widely used. More than 10,000 congregations representing 100 different Christian denominations from all over the world are enrolled in the Stephen Series. Over 450,000 people have been trained as Stephen Ministers in their congregations. WCPC began its participation in the program in 1997.
Learn, Grow, and Serve by Becoming a Stephen Minister
We will be planning for a new Stephen Minister training class. We currently have 17 active Stephen Ministers at WCPC providing confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing difficulties in life.
Stephen Ministry training combines sound theological principles with contemporary psychology, and the training is top-notch. The skills our Stephen Ministers learn and practice prepare them to provide a very high level of Christian caregiving. The training is intense because it explores some serious life issues, but it is also an enjoyable experience.
The 50 hours of Stephen Ministry training is generally divided into 2-hour sessions, one evening per week, plus a one-day weekend retreat. The training topics include:
- Feelings: Yours, Mine, and Ours
- The Art of Listening
- Distinctively Christian Caring
- Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly
- Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
- Confidentiality
- Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
- Caring for People before, during, and after Hospitalization
Stephen Ministers learn a lot about caregiving, and the training experience provides further opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
If you would like to learn more about Stephen Ministry and our upcoming Stephen Minister training class, please talk with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Rev. Christa Brewer, Jim Holly, Bill Ashby, Jeri Simpkins, Linda White, Jody Schoger, Ken Burtt, or Sheri Burtt.