We are a Stephen Ministry congregation. Stephen Ministry is named after Stephen
who was the first of seven persons commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring
ministry. “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Now Stephen,
a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among
the people.” Acts 6:5,8. Stephen Ministry connects people in need with people who
care. It is a worldwide interdenominational ministry.
Stephen Ministry is composed of Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers. Stephen Leaders are required to attend a seven-day Stephen Series Leader’s Training Course sponsored by the Staff of the Stephen Ministries Organization. The Course focuses on the administrative and supervisory aspects of Stephen Ministry. The role of a Stephen Leader is to direct Stephen Ministry in the congregation. They are the ones who recruit, select, train, and supervise Stephen Ministers, and they locate people with needs for care and match each one to a Stephen Minister. They also build awareness regarding Stephen Ministry in the congregation.
Stephen Ministers are men and women who have been equipped through 50 hours of training to provide a confidential one-to-one caring ministry to those in our congregation who want a friendly, compassionate Christian listener. They meet monthly with the Pastor and the Stephen Leaders for supervision, support, and continuing education. They are lay people who are trained in Christian care giving so that they can assist the Pastors in giving care to more people than the Pastors alone could reach.
Stephen Ministers provide ongoing Christian care to people experiencing a wide range of crises or life transitions, such as hospitalization, bereavement, loneliness, terminal illness, unemployment and many more. Stephen Ministers meet with their Care Receivers once a week for about an hour. They talk about the concerns of the Care Receiver, and the Stephen Minister listens, not offering advice or solutions. They are care givers, not counselors.
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry. Stephen Ministers are thoroughly trained by their Stephen Leaders to recognize the importance of confidentiality and how to maintain it so that those receiving care can be certain that their identity and confidences will remain private.
Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers have been commissioned to serve by the church. Currently serving Calvary as Stephen Ministers are: Mary Bland, Annette Blum, Doug Boles, Bill Burke, Harriet Davis, Sandra Davis, Jean Fordham, Barbara Howard, Bill Howard, Carloyn Peddycord and Frances Swing. If you or someone you know is in need of a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Lane Sapp or one of the Stephen Leaders: Jean Fordham, Sandra Davis or Harriet Davis.
This page was last updated on:
Friday, January 28, 2005 09:09:04 AM -0500