Some Thoughts from Pastor
We are beginning a great ministry that will deepen and expand the person-to-person care giving capacity of our congregation. It is called Stephen Ministry.
Stephen Ministry is a way for our congregation to train and mobilize members to provide Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing many different kinds of life difficulties, including grief, divorce, cancer, unemployment, spiritual crisis, and other challenges.
Our first step is to send Earl Kirn to be trained as a Stephen leader at a one-week Leader’s Training Course April 12th to the 18th in St. Louis. He will return home with the knowledge and skills to begin and lead the ministry here, have the knowledge and skills to train members to serve as lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—in our congregation, match those Stephen Ministers with people in need of care, and provide ongoing support to our Stephen Ministry. Janet C. has already received this training through another congregation and Kurt S., Brenda D. and Clarice O. have been trained as Stephen Ministers also through other congregations.
Here are some things you can do as we begin this ministry together:
- Give thanks to God for the life-transforming ministry ahead of us.
- Watch a couple of three-minute videos at www.stephenministries.org/stories to learn more about the difference this caring ministry makes in people’s lives.
- Give thanks to God for Earl, Janet, Kurt, Brenda and Clarice whom the Spirit has moved to become our first Stephen leaders.
- Pray for the Spirit to move others who will become Stephen Ministers. In fact, prayerfully consider whether God might be calling you to this ministry.
In the days and weeks to come, you will be hearing much more about Stephen Ministry. If you have any questions about any of the Stephen Ministry or how you could be involved, please see me, Earl or any of the Stephen Ministers.
As we begin this ministry, I know God will be at work through it. May St. Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:20 capture our excitement, our hopes, and our dreams for Stephen Ministry:
Glory be to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
I am looking forward to seeing what God can do through Stephen Ministry for our congregation.
–Pastor