Stephen Ministry
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion." Colossians 3:12
Stephen Ministry equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian, one-to-one care to anyone in our congregation or community who is going through a difficult time and in need of support.
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One-to-one compassionate, process-oriented support and care giving in Christ’s name in times of crisis, transition, and chronic circumstances.
"Love one another ... as I have loved you." John 13:34
Stephen Ministry - Meeting the Needs of People
There are times when each of us needs the care of another person...a Christian friend...a Stephen Minister. If you are dealing with any of the following challenges in your life, please contact us so that we can help:
- Hospitalized
- Terminally ill and their families
- Moving into or out of our community
- Grieving a death or serious loss
- Homebound and institutionalized
- Prisoners, ex-offenders and their families
- In job crisis
- Aging and elderly
- Disabled (and their families)
- Needing the support of a Christian friend
- Facing life transitions
- Separated or divorced
- Experiencing birth or adoption
- In spiritual crisis
"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Stephen Ministry Multiplies Our Christian Caregiving And Outreach
Our Stephen Ministers work together with our pastors to reach more people with Christian care than pastors can by themselves. People who receive care from a Stephen Minister:
- Receive quality Christian care,
- Deepen their relationship with the Lord,
- Grow in their desire to participate in Christian community,
- Come to value ministry from another lay person.
Stephen Ministry enhances NewSong's outreach by …
- Creating a caring ministry outreach, where many are offering God's love and care in intentional, systematic ways;
- Enabling our entire congregation to grow as a warm, loving, nurturing community, where people are cherished and cared for in Jesus Christ;
- Identifying our congregation to our community as a place where people's needs are taken seriously.
"Encourage one another and build one another up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
How You Can Support NewSong’s Stephen Ministry
- Pray for our Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers as they provide Christian care to others.
- Pray for all who are receiving confidential care through the Stephen Ministry.
- Tell Stephen Leaders about those who might benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister.Be sure to get that person's permission first.
- Receive Stephen Ministry support when you are in need of Christian care.
Confidentiality is a core value of Stephen Ministry, and that includes the preliminary communications as you explore this program. Any conversations with a Stephen Leader or Stephen Minister will be treated with respect and privacy.
How soon can I have a Stephen Minister?
Although space is limited, anyone who has been accepted into the program will be on a waiting list, if a Stephen Minister isn’t available right away. The plan is to continue to grow the ministry so that more Stephen Ministers will be available at any given time.
What situations are appropriate for Stephen Ministry?
A Stephen Leader will discern with you whether Stephen Ministry is a good fit for your situation.
Many, many situations are appropriate for Stephen Ministry. Some are listed above, but this list is by no means comprehensive. Anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges- physical, emotional, or spiritual- may be a candidate for Stephen Ministry. There are exceptions, as follows…
What is not appropriate for Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministers are not counselors or trained professionals. In cases of abuse, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, mental illness and moderate or severe depression, it is recommended that you seek help from a trained professional. In some cases, where a professional gives consent, a Stephen Minister may be utilized as part of a patient’s support system.
Stephen Ministry should not take the place of a supportive community such as a LifeGroup. It is relationship for a season, designed to help someone who is going through a tough time and who is in need of a more support than a typical community can give. In fact, often Stephen Ministers encourage care receivers to broaden their support network.
How do I start?
You can contact a Stephen Leader, or Connie Lannom, or one of the pastors to discuss whether a Stephen Minister relationship is right for you.
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Doug Socha DougSocha@yahoo.com (909) 659-4790
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Shan Socha ShanSocha@mail.com (909) 659-4791
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Connie Lannom (909) 394-9488 ext.202 |
A word from past care receivers about their Stephen Ministers ...
“As a single parent facing many challenges it is so encouraging to have my Stephen Minister call me and meet with me on a regular basis to listen, pray, encourage and share her observations with me. The power of an adult Christian woman focused on my needs for about an hour a week is a huge dose of good medicine to keep on doing what I have to do. Asking for a Stephen Minister is one of the best things I have done for myself and those I care for.” ~ a female Care Receiver
Hear what NewSong's Stephen Ministers are saying....
“For some time I have considered training as a Stephen Minister. I know that the Lord made me to be a person who wants to care for people's life journey in a very meaningful way. At the same time I have trouble with enmeshment and asserting my personal boundaries, and so I hesitate in exercising this kind of care. This is covered in
This program … has far exceeded my expectations. I came into the training knowing that
“
“I chose to become involved as a SM because I have a spiritual gift of wisdom and counsel. … I have felt led to take steps to formalize my actions in this area and to serve others outside my circle of family and friends. My experiences with SM training have been very good. … the training has helped to form and expand existing knowledge, teach new related areas of understanding and to equip and give me a bit more assurance. I've had to encounter things that don't necessarily come easy to me (role playing, lots of classes, lots of reading) but the experience of becoming uncomfortable at times has only caused me to grow and help me develop. The fellowship with others involved has also encouraged me through the commitment as well.
“My
I have become more assertive in my every day life because of my training. I am also communicating better in my marriage, and using tools to resolve conflict. I am loving my husband more and seeing him in a different light. I am listening more and having a new understanding. I believe this is all from being in the
“Without looking at the training manual, I can see the illustration of The Mud Hole. The Stephen Minister has a firm grip on the root [of the Tree]. The ground he’s standing on might be soft. He could slip. But the Tree won’t fall in the hole. . . . You don’t have to be a Stephen Minister to do that. But if I, as a Stephen Minister, finally do that, then that is the most important thing I can show my Care Receiver.” ~
The Stephen Series is a complete system for training and organizing lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around your congregation.
The Stephen Series provides congregations with the structure, training, and resources to set up and administer a complete system for lay caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry) in the congregation. In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.
Stephen Ministry featured on PBS:
History, Facts and Statistics: click here
Stephen Ministry website: www.StephenMinistries.org
“Stephen Ministry is one of the best training and ministry programs we have at NewSong. The training empowers us with biblical wisdom to fulfill the charge of Ephesians 4 as the Apostle Paul instructs the church to ‘prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.’ The equipping I personally received in ministering to people in crisis, grief, loss and walking through the ‘valley of darkness’ is invaluable to me personally and professionally. I highly commend this opportunity to learn the ministry skills that Jesus will use to comfort, console and cultivate many in our community and beyond.”
~ George Haraksin
Lead Pastor
NewSong Church
Stephen Minister Train January 24, 2012 to May 15, 2012
When: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: NewSong Church, in the Student Ministry Center
To speak with someone about Stephen Ministry, or about joining our care giving team, contact:
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Doug Socha
DougSocha@yahoo.com 909-659-4790 |
Shan Socha ShanSocha@mail.com 909-659-4791 |