401 E. Piankishaw, Paola, KS 66071 Phone: 913.294.3476 Fax: 913.294.0074
First Lutheran's Stephen Ministry program will soon celebrate it's fourth year as a one-on-one caring ministry. During the past four years, we have seen numerous people in our congregation and community experience comfort and healing in health, attitudes, relationships, in addition to spiritual growth. We now have six active Stephen Ministers and three Leaders.
What is Stephen Ministry?
A Stephen Minister is a trained lay member of our congregation who will CONFIDENTIALLY visit with you weekly, listen, pray with and for you, and offer Christian love and support. Stephen Ministers are caring, supportive Christian people who have a desire to be with you in time of need or crisis. A Stephen Minister is NOT a counselor or a therapist, a problem-solver or a casual visitor.
STEPHEN MINISTERS WORK WITH THOSE WHO ARE........
Bereaved Terminally ill Homebound In a job crisis Lonely New to the community In spiritual crisis In a life transition Lost control of their problems Looking for a caring, Christian friend If you need someone to listen to you....or if you are a good listener WHY NOT CONSIDER STEPHEN MINISTRY?
For more information contact Arlene Peck, 294-2494 or Jim Fuchs, 557-2173
A Stephen Minister is...
A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting. A caring, Christian friend who takes the time to really listen. A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care. A dedicated Christian commissioned by First Lutheran Church to confidential in-depth caringHow does the referrals process work?
A person...either you, a relative, or a friend...is hurting and in need of Christian care.
The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care from a Pastor, a friend, or from the person in need of care and only after the person in need has granted permission.
The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
With the person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the person.
The Stephen Minister provides distinctly Christian and strictly confidential care.
Confidentiality
One of the most important tenets of this program is upholding and honoring strict confidentiality for the Care Receiver. The Care Receiver's name and circumstances are never revealed. Everything a Care Receiver tells the Referral Coordinator and the Stephen Minister assigned is kept in strictest confidence.
Stephen Ministers are called to be CARE Givers
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.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
God is the CURE-Giver
Cast your burden on the LORD and He will sustain you.
Psalm 55:22
Come to me, all you that are weak and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
"I didn't know what to expect from my Stephen Minister, but he put me at ease. I knew I could trust him. He showed me how to work things out for myself and had the patience to let me do it."
" I wanted answers and she asked questions. She knew how to see things in a new way and her questions helped me find my own answers."
"I thought God had forgotten me, but my Stephen Minister helped me grow close to Him. She loves me. So does God. And I've learned to love myself."
"The Hospice nurse doesn't expect my mother to last much longer. I just wanted to thank you and the people of the Stephen Ministry for what you have done over the past six months. My mother never told me any of the details, but she mentioned several times that she found the Stephen Ministry program helpful."
"I had lots of people around me, but felt like the loneliest person in the world. Everyone told me what they thought I should do, but no one wanted to listen to me."
"My Stephen Minister is very special to me. I was listened to, cared about, accepted, prayed for, loved and nurtured. I have a true friend."
“Anyone who has a driving desire to offer loving care and wishes to establish a one on one relationship with a care-receiver who is hurting or ill, needs to consider this ministry. Stephen Ministry is that personal sharing of God’s love.
“With the help of the Stephen Minister and prayer, I was able to see that God was in control of our situation and I just needed to trust in Him. It was great help to be able to talk to someone in confidence from a Christian perspective”
What Others Are Saying About Stephen Ministry...
Our Stephen Ministry Team
