Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry Featured on PBS

The PBS "Religion and Ethics" news show recently aired an eight-minute feature on Stephen Ministry that vividly describes the life-changing ministry happening in thousands of congregations.

View the Stephen Ministry feature on the PBS Web site, where you'll also find several bonus features--including a nine-minute interview with Stephen Ministries' founder and executive director, Kenneth C. Haugk.

What is Stephen Ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church?

Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Through one-to-one lay caring relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them. Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and to share God's love with can help people cope with the confusion, stress, or loneliness they may be experiencing.

What is a Stephen Minister?

A Stephen Minister is . . .

• a child of God who walks beside a hurting person
• a caring Christian friend who really listens
• a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distin
  ctively Christian care

A Stephen Minister is not. . .

• counselor or therapist
• a problem-solver
• a casual visitor
  
  

Who can Stephen Ministry help?

Anyone who is experiencing a life transition such as . . .

• hospitalization
• illness
• disability
• bereavement
• childbirth
• divorce
• job loss, retirement, or other career crisis
• a move
• a spiritual crisis
• loneliness
  
  

Is Stephen Ministry confidential?

Stephen Ministry is always confidential. A Stephen Minister will not tell others about conversations or even acknowledge that a person is receiving care unless legally or ethically required to do so.

How are Stephen Ministers supervised?

Because Stephen Ministers must receive supervision in order to provide the best care possible, they meet regularly with a group of other Stephen Ministers to receive peer supervision for their caring ministries. This involves sharing appropriate information with the supervision group, but it does not involve disclosing the identities of those receiving care. Should the Stephen Minister need additional help in providing quality care, the Stephen Minister may also seek consultation from the congregation's Stephen Leaders, pastor, or a professional caregiver and may share information with them that he or she believes is relevant to receive the help necessary.

How does the referrals process work?

• A person is hurting and in need of Christian care.
• The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care--from the pastor, the person, or a friend,
  always with the person's permission.
• The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
• With the person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the person.
• The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care with strict confidentiality.
  
  

If you have questions, contact:

The Church Office
309-663-8252
Kathy Neil, Referrals Coordinator