2) What is a Stephen Minister?

A Stephen Minister walks beside a hurting person as a caring Christian friend who really listens while bringing Christ's healing love to those who are grieving, in crisis or experiencing other stressful situations.  Typically, a Stephen Minister meets weekly for about an hour with their care receiver and also may call, send notes of encouragement and offer other such appropriate contact.

3) How can I get a Stephen Minister?

Simply leave a confidential message on the Stephen Ministry line at the church office at 648-2737 x314.

4) Will my relationship with my Stephen Minister be confidential?

Absolutely!  Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of the Stephen Ministry program. Only the referrals coordinator and the assigned Stephen Minister will know the care receiver's identity.  Stephen Ministers in a caring relationahip are carefully monitored through a peer-review process, all the while maintaining strict confidentiality.  The only time a Stephen Minister would ever break confidentiality is when there is a threat of danger to the care receiver or someone else or when there is suspectecd child abuse.

5) Does Stephen Ministry cost money?

No!

6) How might I look into being trained as a Stephen Minister?

You will need to be a member of CPC and must apply and be interviewed by some of the leaders who will help you determine whether or not Stephen Ministry is a good fit for you. Once selected you would begin training. We conduct training sessions beginning in the fall and running through January. If you are sensing a calling to this ministry please contact one of the leaders or simply call the Stephen Ministry hotline (648-2737 x314).

7) If I became a Stephen Minister would I have to spend money on the person I am caring for (the care receiver)?

No, you are not expected to spend any money whatsoever on the care receiver.  You are also not expected to personally provide any other specific services, such as transportation or babysitting, for example.  As a Stephen Minister, you may at times assist in arranging for such services.

8) As a Stephen Minister would my phone ring constantly?

No, You would care for one care receiver at a time.  If this person were to begin calling too often, you would learn to respond in a loving, assertive manner.

9) What if I get in over my head, with a person who needs more care than I can provide?

You will never be knowingly assigned to people who might be in those situations.  The Stephen Ministry training also helps you to know exactly when and how to help your care receiver get professional help when necessary.  The Supervision Group, the Stephen Leaders and the pastors are also there to help you to make such decisions.

10) How would I personally benefit from this experience?

You will learn many skills that will be valuable in your personal life as well as in your Stephen Ministry.  Also, the satisfaction of helping another person is a wonderful blessing.

11) Would I have to stop being a Stephen Minister after two years?

No, many people decide to continue as Stephen Ministers after two years. They may also decide to step back for a specified time period (Ready Reserve) and then resume their involvement as a Stephen Minister at a later time.

12) Who will be the care receivers?

Members of the congregation who are experiencing times of special need and other people within our community who may turn to us for help.

13) Are other people as scared as I seem to be about this undertaking?

Probably so!  But the training will eliminate much of this fear because you will not only learn what to say but also, and more importantly,  how to listen.

1. If the Lord is leading you to consider being trained as a Stephen Minister, contact one of the leaders shown above or call the Stephen Ministry extension at church, 648-2737 X 314.

2. You will be given a written job description, a timetable/schedule for the training & continuing supervision and an application.

3. Pray about this opportunity (noting as well the initial 2-year committment required), fill out the application and return it.

4. One of the leaders will set up a personal interview to help determine if this is the best ministry opportunity for you.

5. Once you have been selected, you'll attend 50 hours of training (20 classes). This training begins in the fall (typically August) and continues through January. Each session occurs once a week and lasts about 2 1/2 hours. Training materials are provided by the church.

6. When your training has been completed, you'll be Commissioned before the church, and will be ready to receive your first Care Receiver!

7. You'll be assigned to a small group peer Supervision team(meets twice monthly) where your partners will encourage and support you as you care for your Care Receiver.

8. Another important aspect of participating in Stephen Ministry is Continuing Education.  All Stephen Ministers meet once a month for a 45 minute session covering many different aspects of being an effective care giver.  We conduct further training, host guest speakers and explore topics such as grief, providing spiritual care and boundaries.

Stephen Ministry is a place where people with special gifts for caring can use those gifts to bring Christ's love to people in need.  Will YOU be one of those people?

Stephen Ministers are congregation members who are recruited, selected, trained and commissioned to provide one-to-one lay caring ministry to persons in crisis or with other needs for care. They participate in a Supervision Group twice a month. They initially commit to serve for two years, including training, and may renew their commitment.

What Stephen Ministers Do:A defined cluster of activities make up a Stephen Minister's job description.

Pray
Stephen Ministers pray daily for their care receivers and strive to worship God always in word and deed. They reveal the love of God to those who most need to see it.

Care for the Care Receiver 
Stephen Ministers are assigned to care receivers - people in crisis who need caring support. Stephen Ministers care for those in moderate difficulties. The Stephen Minister's care helps the care receiver resolve the difficulty and achieve growth.

Most Stephen Ministers meet once a week with their care receivers for about an hour at a time. They may also check in with the care receiver by telephone, particularly when the care receiver is going through a difficult time.

Stephen Ministers use special skills to care for their care receivers. Among the most important are the following:

Listening
Most care receivers need someone to listen, really listen, as they talk through their difficulties.

Dealing with feelings
Stephen Ministers reflect the care receiver's feelings and ideas, and ask open-ended questions to help the person recognize, express and accept his or her feelings.

Sharing distinctively Christian caring resources
Stephen Ministers may share a prayer, a Bible verse or story, or other caring gestures that the care receiver would welcome.

Remaining process-oriented
Stephen Ministers do not try to fix the care receiver or his or her problems; they focus on the process of caregiving and rely on God to achieve results.

Relating assertively
Stephen Ministers respect both the needs of the care receiver and their own needs as well.

Maintaining boundaries
Stephen Ministers set appropriate boundaries in the caring relationship, helping the care receiver remain as independent as possible while being there for the care receiver as needed.

Recommending professional care when necessary
Stephen Ministers are not trained to care for those who are suicidal, severely depressed, abusive, or homicidal, or who are abusing drugs or alcohol. If Stephen Ministers recognize that their care receiver's needs exceed the care they are able to provide, they see that the care receiver receives professional care.

Maintain Confidentiality
Stephen Ministers understand that confidentiality is crucial in any caring relationship. The care receiver needs to know that what he or she says to the Stephen Minister will remain in confidence. Stephen Ministers maintain confidentiality and encourage other Stephen Ministers to do the same.

Help Identify People in Need of Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers act as ministers of referral, helping to find people who would benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister.

Participate in Twice-monthly Supervision and Continuing Education Sessions
Stephen Ministers participate faithfully in Small Group Peer Supervision and Continuing Education; coming prepared to every Supervision session, unless illness, vacation or emergency makes attendance impossible. Supervision provides Stephen Ministers with support, guidance and accountability for their caring relationships. There are no unsupervised Stephen Ministers.

Help the congregation Understand and Appreciate Stephen Ministry
Through their service, Stephen Ministers help the congregation appreciate Stephen Ministry and encourage members to become ministers of referral who help those in crisis receive the care they need.

How the Congregation Supports the Stephen Minister:  The Stephen Minister has responsibilities and so does the congregation.

Training
Through its trained Stephen Leaders, the congregation supplies Stephen Ministers 50 hours of training for this ministry before they are assigned a care receiver, and further supplies Continuing Education twice monthly as long as the Stephen Ministers serve. The training is comprehensive and Stephen Ministers can feel confident in their skills for this ministry.

Commissioning
The congregation formally commissions Stephen Ministers at one or more worship services. This allows the community to recognize their efforts, affirm and support their ministry, and pray for them as they begin their caring ministry.

Supervision
Small Group Peer Supervision provides Stephen Ministers with encouragement and assures that no Stephen Minister will ever have to carry the responsibility for his or her care receiver all alone.

Prayers
Stephen Ministers rely on the prayers of the congregation for keeping God's prescence foremost in their caring ministry. Sometimes the going will be tough for the caregivers and their care receivers; the Stephen Ministers will need the additional support of knowing that others are lifting their needs as caregivers to God in prayer.

Stephen Leaders
By accepting Stephen Ministry as part of its overall ministry, a congregation agrees to supply the resources that allow for the training of Stephen Leaders. These Stephen Leaders in turn provide guidance for Stephen Ministers. They train them and ensure that the Supervision and Continuing Education sessions progress smoothly. They are available to consult with Stephen Ministers when they have questions, face challenges, or suspect that the care receiver's needs exceed the care they are able to give. Stephen Leaders offer support, advice and affirmation to the Stephen Ministers and ensure the smooth operation of Stephen Ministry in the congregation.

Recognition and Appreciation
The congregation and Stephen Leaders recognize and appreciate Stephen Ministers for the service they give the congregation.