Resources and Ideas for Recruiting Stephen Ministers

Ideas:

• Include links to these web pages on the Stephen Ministry page of your congregation’s website.

• List the addresses for these web pages in a bulletin announcement or newsletter article announcing Stephen Minister recruitment.

• Email links to these web pages to potential Stephen Ministers.

• Post links to these web pages on your congregation’s Facebook page.

• Show these web pages to a potential Stephen Minister.

  – What Is Stephen Ministry?

  – What Is a Stephen Minister?

  – Stephen Minister Training

  – Care Receivers Tell Their Stories

Ideas:

• Play one or more of these videos during the announcements prior to worship.

• Play these videos in a kiosk in your welcome area.

• Show these videos during an informational presentation on Stephen Ministry—at a recruitment event, in an adult education class, or to a small fellowship group.

• Show these videos as part of a Stephen Minister recruitment talk during worship.

• Show these videos as part of a sermon.

• Invite a potential Stephen Minister to view these videos.

  – Stephen Ministry Care Receiver Stories. Six people share what it meant for them to receive one-to-one, distinctively Christian care from a Stephen Minister.

  – Nine Short Videos by Stephen Ministry Congregations. These videos created by local Stephen Ministry teams describe the role and impact of this caring ministry.

  – A DVD combo set is available at a discounted price.

Ideas:

• Make copies of the articles available at a Stephen Minister recruitment table.

• Distribute the articles during an informational presentation—at a recruitment event, in an adult education class, or with a small fellowship group.

• Personally give the articles to potential Stephen Ministers.

• Post the articles on a Stephen Ministry bulletin board.

• Use the bulletin insert on a Sunday when Stephen Minister recruitment is discussed.

  – “Stephen Minister Training: A Life Changing Experience.” Stephen Ministers from many different backgrounds share about the blessings they’ve experienced through Stephen Minister training. This is a great resource for helping potential Stephen Ministers see themselves in this ministry.

  – “I Began to Feel God’s Love Again.” A young woman describes how her caring relationship with her Stephen Minister allowed her to experience Jesus in a personal, tangible, life-transforming way.

  – “Real Ministry, Real Difference.” A man shares his story of discipleship, ministry, and unexpected transformation through becoming a Stephen Minister and witnessing God at work in his caring relationships.

  – Stephen Minister Recruitment Bulletin Insert.

  – Stephen Ministry Banner.

Ideas:

• Make copies of the articles available at a Stephen Minister recruitment table.

• Distribute the articles during an informational presentation—at a recruitment event, in an adult education class, or with a small fellowship group.

• Personally give the articles to potential Stephen Ministers.

• Post the articles on a Stephen Ministry bulletin board.

• Review the A.S.K. document with your Stephen Leader team and discuss how to recruit Stephen Ministers more effectively.

  – “The A.S.K Formula for Recruiting Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders.” This article contains helpful ideas and biblical insights to more effectively recruit Stephen Ministers.

  – “Real Ministry, Real Difference.” A man shares his story of discipleship, ministry, and unexpected transformation through becoming a Stephen Minister and witnessing God at work in his caring relationships.

  – “Earth Angels: Stephen Ministers Offer Emotional and Spiritual Support in Times of Trouble.” This newspaper article tells how Stephen Ministry benefits both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister.

  – “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant.” A Stephen Minister tells a moving story about his first caring relationship.

  – “Stephen Ministry Matches Super Bowl Experience.” A former NFL coach finds a new calling as a Stephen Minister.

  – “Stephen Ministers: The After People.” This piece offers a concise, poignant description of what a Stephen Minister is.

• Wear blue Stephen Ministry name badges. When you share information about Stephen Ministry to your congregation—for instance, at an informational event, during worship announcements, during a brief talk in worship, while showing a video, or while distributing printed materials—it’s helpful for Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers to wear their blue name badges. That way, people will know who can answer their questions about Stephen Ministry.

• Review your Leader’s Manual file folder S-4A, “Recruiting Stephen Ministers.” The two booklets in this folder contain a wealth of proven ideas and resources for effective Stephen Minister recruitment.



• Host a “Taste of Stephen Ministry” informational event. With your Stephen Leader team, plan and promote an event to introduce people to Stephen Ministry and get them thinking about becoming Stephen Ministers. Below are links for downloading a graphic you can use on your congregation’s website, on flyers, in bulletin announcements, or in presentation slides to promote such an event.

  Downloadable formats:  .eps  / .jpg  / .png

• Create bulletin announcements for recruiting Stephen Ministers. Use these sample announcements when you’re recruiting trainees for a new Stephen Ministry training class. You might also use the text of these announcements on flyers, on your congregation’s website, in newsletter articles, or on posters.

• Teach the Discovering God’s Vision for Your Life course. As people learn about their spiritual gifts, some may recognize that they’re gifted for Stephen Ministry and feel called to become Stephen Ministers.

• Study Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart within congregation groups. As people read this book, they may start thinking about becoming a Stephen Minister to further develop and use their skills in caring ministry.