Reopening the Back Door: Answers to Questions about Ministering to Inactive Members
Price: $11.95

Caring for Inactive Members Leader's Teaching Kit
Price: $49.95

Caring Criticism: Building Bridges Instead of Walls
Price: $9.95

God's Love in Action Brochure--Customizable
Price: $5.00

God's Love in Action Bulletin Inserts--Finding Care Receivers
Price: $5.00

ChristCare Group Ministry
in the News

A Powerful Combination

Prairie Baptist Church--Prairie Village, Kansas

More than 400 congregations are now using both the Stephen Series system of lay caring ministry and the ChristCare Series system of small group ministry to increase discipleship, provide multiple levels of care, help promote spiritual growth, and reach out with Christ’s love to the community. Here is the story of one of these congregations.

Prairie Baptist Church has had a long-standing commitment to Christian care and discipleship. "We had a small group ministry in place for many years before starting our Stephen Ministry [in 1989] and thought of ourselves as a caring congregation," said Equipper and Stephen Minister Gordon Haynes. "Our caring vision made Stephen Ministry a natural move for us. Stephen Ministry then became the foundation for how our church thinks about and does ministry."

"It's had a powerful influence on our congregation. Many members have gone through the training and now have a greater appreciation for what it means to care," Haynes said. "They also have grown spiritually because of Stephen Ministry. Our staff feels confident referring people to Stephen Ministry because of the excellent, practical care our Stephen Ministers provide."

After experiencing the quality and benefits of Stephen Ministry, Prairie Baptist decided to take its small group ministry to the next level and enrolled in the ChristCare Series in 1996. "ChristCare gave us the organization and training we needed and helped us strengthen our group processes," Haynes said. "It has resulted in higher quality small group experiences for everyone involved!"

Other groups and committees in the congregation now incorporate ChristCare training and principles into what they do. Haynes said, "Now we are much more spiritually oriented and process oriented--even in [church] business meetings. People enjoy being together rather than having a let's-get-it-done-quick-and-go-home attitude."

Strong Leadership Leads to Strong Ministry

ChristCare Equipper Gordon Haynes talks with Senior Pastor
Rev. Heather Entrekin.

Haynes emphasized the importance of strong pastoral support in helping these ministries thrive. "It is vital for pastors to understand these ministries, to promote them, and to encourage them. Our former senior pastor brought Stephen Ministry to us and served as a Stephen Leader for many years. Our current senior pastor saw the importance of Stephen Ministry and then led us into ChristCare Group Ministry. Without her vision and leadership, our caregiving would not be at this level today."

Haynes sees the two ministries as complementing each other perfectly. "They offer a full range of training and cover different levels of care," he noted. "Together they provide great balance. ChristCare Group Leaders know that they can refer a group member with a deep need to Stephen Ministry. And Stephen Ministers often encourage their care receivers, once they've grown past their initial crisis and are ready, to join ChristCare Groups."

"Both ministries are an important part of our identity as a congregation," Haynes said. "I would feel a personal loss if one of them was missing. The combination of the inner, quiet activity of Stephen Ministry with the powerful way that ChristCare enables people to grow together spiritually, to serve, and to reach out to others brings true Christian community to our congregation."

Learn more about beginning ChristCare Small Group Ministry in your congregation.