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“One
to One Christ-focused Care”
Our Purpose:
To train lay people
to provide confidential, one to one, same gender,
reliable, Christ-focused compassion and care to members
and nonmembers 18 and older, who are going through
a difficult time and want someone to listen and share
the burden. Berkmar UMC commissioned its first class
of Stephen Ministers on March 2003.
What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is
a person who offers Christian love to a hurting person.
The role of a Stephen Minister is to provide confidential,
compassionate, nonjudgmental care. They are lay people
who have received 50 hours of training to provide
effective Christian Care. They are not counselors,
therapists, pastors, or best friends. They are trained
to listen and understand your needs, not to tell you
what to do.
Who can receive a Stephen
Minister?
Any person 18 and older,
who is experiencing difficulties, is hurting, and
is in need of Christian Care. Stephen Ministers help
meet the needs of persons experiencing hospitalization,
an extended or terminal illness, bereavement or grief,
job loss or relocation, separation or divorce, loneliness
or depression, childbirth or “empty nest syndrome”,
a spiritual crisis, or similar types of hardships.
How does the Referral
Process work?
An individual, either
you, a relative, or a friend, with the individual’s
permission contacts the Stephen Ministry Referrals
Coordinator. The Referrals Coordinator can learn about
a need for care from the pastor, the individual, or
a friend. The Referrals Coordinator meets with the
person to talk about the program. If mutually agreeable,
the Referrals Coordinator confidentially assigns a
same gender Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis
with the individual.
How does a person become
a Stephen Minister or Leader?
A person contacts the
pastor or the Stephen Leader Team members. The team
will gladly discuss the program with the person or
contact the Stephen Series program in St. Louis, Missouri
.
The Stephen Series website is: www.stephenministry.org
How does a person reach
a Stephen Leader?
A person contacts the
Church Office at 770-923-1403 and asks the pastoral
staff to notify one of the Stephen Leaders.
"Bear
one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill
the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
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