Stephen Ministry at St. Thomas Episcopal

"Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2

Our Stephen Ministers work together with our clergy to reach more people with Christian care than clergy can reach by themselves. The Stephen Ministry is a confidential, lay-caring ministry grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Those who are hurting receive love and support through one-to-one caring relationships. The ministry is named after Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early Christian church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the needs of people in the Christian community.

• Is life more than you can handle alone right now?

• Is your health, your attitude, or your relationships suffering?

• Are you adjusting to a new job, change in marital status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one, or a recent move?

• Would you like to have someone in your life that really cares?

Everyone goes through difficult times. Having someone to care, to listen, and to share God's love can help you get through the confusion, stress, or loneliness that you may be experiencing.

WHAT ARE THE NEEDS WITH WHICH STEPHEN MINISTRY CAN HELP?

Illness-Hospitalization Family frustrations and challenges Loneliness Chronic illness Families of the chronically ill Loss of a loved one Separation or divorce Being shut-in Having a newborn-adoption

A low self-esteem Terminal illness Loss of a job Financial setbacks Spiritual Crisis Aging Facing life changes Retirement Miscarriage and Infertility

HOW CAN I REFER SOMEONE TO STEPHEN MINISTRY?

1. Identify someone who is hurting and in need of Christian care (you, a friend, or a relative).

2. You, a friend, a relative, or the rector contacts the Stephen Ministry about this need.

3. The Referral Coordinators will meet with this person to talk about Stephen Ministry.

4. With their permission, the Referral Coordinators assign a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the care receiver.

5. The Stephen Minister provides distinctively Christian and strictly confidential care.

WHAT IS A STEPHEN MINISTER?

A Stephen Minister...

• Is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.

• Is a caring, Christian friend who takes the time to really listen.

• Is a lay Christian selected, trained, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide effective Christian care.

• Received 50 hours of initial training in important caring ministry skills and concepts and are commissioned as Stephen Ministers after completing their initial training.

• Is committed to preserving the confidential nature of the caring relationship.

• Enables our entire congregation to grow as a warm, loving, nurturing community where people are cherished and cared for in Jesus Christ.

• Identifies our congregation to our community as a place where people's needs are taken seriously.

A Stephen Minister is NOT...

• A counselor or therapist

• A problem-solver

• A casual visitor

HOW CAN YOU BECOME INVOLVED?

• Pray for our Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers as they provide Christian care for others.

• Pray for all who are receiving confidential care through the Stephen Ministry of our congregation.

• Tell Stephen Leaders about those who might benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister - be sure to get that person's permission first!

• Tell others in our parish community about the availability of our congregation's Stephen Ministry and the care it can provide.

• Consider serving as a Stephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers are Caregivers ... God is the CUREGIVER

The Stephen Leader & Referral Coordinator is Johanna (JoAnn) Ache or Fr. Brad. To contact the Stephen Ministry of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, please call (386) 446-2300 or email.

Who are the Stephen Ministers of St. Thomas Episcopal Church...

JoAnn Ache Edna Bevel Al Coppersmith Norma Edwards Joan Johnson Nancy Kohlhepp Kerry Lawrence

Sandy Mincher Marjorie Reynolds Edwina Rucker Yetta Souders Susie Washington Winston Williams Robert Wood

Feel free to discuss any questions you may have with any of the above Stephen Ministers.