Do you need to talk to someone who knows how to listen?
Would you like to talk with a qualified person about a personal situation you are dealing with? Are you looking for a caring person to help you through a crisis? The Stephen Ministry program is a free and confidential service provided by Beautiful Savior for its people in need of care.
What is the Stephen Ministry program?
Who is a Stephen Minister?
What training do they have?
How effective is it?
Am I assured of confidentiality?
How can I tell if I really need to talk?
What are some examples of problems Stephen Ministers deal with?
How do I get a Stephen Minister?
Who are the Stephen Ministers?
What is the Stephen Ministry program?
Stephen Ministry is a nationwide program named after Stephen, the first of the deacons in the early church, commissioned by the apostles to provide care and comfort for the needs of people in the Christian community. Today, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and around the world, volunteer lay ministers who have completed intensive training and participate in on-going training, provide confidential, caring ministry to those experiencing a wide range of life needs or crises. It is an extension, not a replacement, of pastoral care.
Who is a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministers are dedicated lay people who: Provide one-to-one caring and in-depth ministry to others in times of need.
Extend the hand of Christian friendship.
Visit weekly, or as needed.
Care enough to commit to a caring relationship as long as the need exists.
Listen empathetically and keep confidentiality.
Help a person work through problems.
Encourage a care receiver to take positive steps.
Use Christian resources such as the Bible and prayer.
What training do they have?
Stephen Ministers receive extensive training which includes: How to listen.
How to deal with feelings.
How to be professional.
How to express honesty, warmth, and care.
How to help in times of crisis.
How to minister to those dealing with grief, divorce, death, depression, illness, and many other areas
How effective is it?
When people experience loss, grief, or other stressful changes in their lives, there is a need for an empathetic listener. Family and close friends are often too emotionally involved to meet this need. Stephen Ministers are trained to be caring Christian friends who can help hurting individuals sort out options. They do not give advice or provide solutions. Stephen Ministers are not professional counselors, psychologists, social workers, or experts in law, finance, church doctrine, and so on, but neither are they merely superficial visitors. God is viewed as providing the cure while Stephen Ministers provide the care.
Am I assured of confidentiality?
Confidentiality is the basis of all Stephen Ministry relationships.
Anyone receiving care can be assured that his or her identity-and what is shared in a caring relationship-will remain private.
How can I tell if I really need to talk?
Am I confused about events in my life?
Do I feel like I have lost control of my life and my problems?
Do I often feel overwhelmed?
Do I doubt God's presence and love for me?
Am I hurting?
Do my job worries seem too great to handle? Are they getting me down?
Am I feeling lonely? Do I often wish I had someone to share my thoughts with?
Have there been changes in my life that have caused readjustments in my lifestyle?
Am I having difficulty making decisions and finding answers?
Have I recently suffered a loss?
Do I ever feel like I just want someone to listen?
What are some examples of problems Stephen Ministers deal with?
Those experiencing: Hospitalization
Declining health, disability, or terminal illness
The illness of a loved one
The death of a loved one
Divorce or separation from a spouse
Severe financial setback
Difficulties associated with aging
Transition to assisted living or nursing homes
Family or domestic problems
Isolation
Loneliness
Depression
How do I get a Stephen Minister?
Contact Pastor Keith. Once he learns about the specific need, he will explain how Stephen Ministry works, and then assign a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly, or as-needed, basis.