Stephen Ministry

To love is to listen

Lakeland's Stephen Ministry began the fall of 1988.  Sixteen courageous trainees and three newly trained leaders started this ministry which has grown to nine leaders and 110 people.  The are all trained in 50 hours of lay caring ministry for Jesus Christ for the congregation and community.

Our present team consists of 22 active caregivers under three leaders.

What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another.  Through one-to-one caring relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may need a Stephen Minister.

• Is life difficult for you at this time?
• Are 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
  • a recent move
• Would you like to have someone in your life who cares?

How does the referral process work?

1. A person - either you, a relative, or a friend - is hurting and in need of Christian care.
2. The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care from the pastor, the person or a friend, always with the person's permission.
3. The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
4. With the person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the person.
5. The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the person with strict confidentiality.

What is a Stephen Minister?

A Stephen Minister is

• A child of God who walks beside a hurting person
• A caring Christian friend who really listens
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care

A Stephen Minister is NOT

• a counselor or therapist
• a problem-solver
• a casual visitor

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us.  I John 4: 11-12

Stephen Ministers are called to be Caregivers

Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.   I Thessalonians 5:14

God is the Curegiver

Cast your burdens on the LORD, and he will sustain you.  Psalm 55:22

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carring heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.  I Peter 5:7

If you are interested in learning more, please go to the Stephen Ministry home page at www.stephenministries.org