What is Stephen Ministry?
Contact: Pat Dickason – 360-753-7647
Website
The United Churches of Olympia has an active Stephen Ministry program with a team of committed Stephen Ministers. In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.
Stephen Ministry care is a process by which a caring individual who is a trained Stephen Minister listens, prays, supports, and encourages a care-receiver through a crisis. Crises vary, and may be the loss of a loved one, hospitalization, divorce, separation, unemployment, aging, and
more.
Stephen Ministers work alongside our Pastors, complete 50 hours of structured training, and participate in Supervision twice a month. All conversations are strictly confidential and privacy is ensured.
Stephen Ministry is your ministry.
- Pat Dickason, 753-7647
- Lou Anne Houck, 943-8518
- Janet Tolman, 438-5343
- David Morris, 438-5044
If you have gifts for caring, encouraging, and listening, please begin to prayerfully consider whether you might want to be part of this exciting ministry. If you think you might be interested, talk with one of our Stephen Leaders.
- Who May Need a Stephen Minister?
Persons experiencing:
- The loss of a loved one (person or pet)
- Major Life Changes (marriage, retirement, physical move, moving to a nursing home or assisted living environment)
- Changes in Employment (promotion, demotion, change in function)
- Other Identified Needs
- joblessness
- family member in crisis
- change in financial status
- separation or divorce
- dependents with special needs
- medical problems
- chronic problems
- facing a terminal illness
- age, disabilities, pain, disease
- victimization of a crime
- Preventive Care
- Proactive care that helps people anticipate and prepare for potentially difficult events. Such situations might include
- A woman expecting a first child
- An employee approaching retirement
- A young man or woman about to be married
- A person preparing to move, including a move to a nursing home
- Supportive Care
- Care for those who themselves are “care givers”
- A spouse caring for a severely ill or dying husband or wife
- A parent with a special needs child
- A person, who is a care giver for another who is experiencing any of the needs for care described in the care categories listed above
- Persons for whom Stephen Ministers do NOT provide care
- Minors
- Persons seriously ill with mental or emotional disturbances
- Persons exhibiting suicidal behavior
- Persons manifesting violent behavior
- Those abusing illegal substances
As a person in our current church leadership or as a member of our congregation, you are invaluable in identifying and encouraging potential care receivers to seek the assistance of a Stephen Minister. In doing so, you are asked to observe the following cautions:
Always ask the permission of a potential care receiver to bring his or her situation to the attention of a member of the pastoral staff or one of the Stephen Leaders.
Do Not promise the potential care receiver that she or he will be given the assistance of a Stephen Minister. While this will usually be the case, the Stephen Minister Referral Coordinator must explain the conditions for the relationship which may not be acceptable to the care receiver. In addition, the person’s need for care may not be the one that a Stephen Minister can provide.
Always, of course, maintain in confidence what the person has confided, unless permission has been given to disclose it to another.
- How to Get Help from a Stephen Minister
We all know someone experiencing one of those ‘earthquakes in life’…
Someone in crisis or in other compelling need – who doesn’t know where to turn; who is tense, upset, worn out – needing someone to talk with, someone to care.
You’d like to help. But how?
There are three appropriate steps:
- Listen and care for your friend in your own relationship together.
- Ask your friend for permission to share his or her need with someone who can help and tell your friend that all information will remain confidential.
- When, and only when, permission is given, advise one of the Stephen Leaders whose names appear above of the need.
The United Churches of Olympia has an active Stephen Ministry program with a team of committed Stephen Ministers. In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.
more.