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Ministry
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Resources
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and More- Christian Caregiving--
a Way of Life - Caring Evangelism: How to Live and Share Christ's Love
- Discovering God's Vision for Your Life: You and Your
Spiritual Gifts - Spiritual Growth through
Spiritual Gifts - Leader Killers: How
to Identify and Deal
with Antagonists in
Your Organization - Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict
- Caring for Inactive Members: How to Make God’s House a Home
- Christian Caregiving--
About
Us
When and How to Use Mental Health Resources
Price: $12.95
Caring Criticism: Building Bridges Instead of Walls
Price: $9.95
The Good Listener
Price: $9.95
Journeying through Grief
Price: $9.95
Stephen Ministers Are Ready to Care--Customizable
Price: $5.00
Stephen Ministry Referrals
I have a friend who needs a Stephen Minister, but our congregation doesn't have Stephen Ministry. Is it possible to connect this person with a Stephen Minister?
Sometimes people need care. They need someone with a listening ear and an empathetic heart to help them get through a tough time. If you know someone who needs care, a good first step would be to discuss the situation with your pastor. He or she may be able to suggest some options.
But realize that often a pastor doesn't have enough hours in the day or the week to give all the people the focused, long-term care that they need--the kind of care that Stephen Ministers provide. What the person needs is a Stephen Minister. Find out more about Stephen Ministry and what Stephen Ministers do.
This is why each congregation needs its own Stephen Ministry. Such needs for care are never going to go away. Your congregation's professional staff will never be able to provide all the care that people need.
The Holy Spirit has gifted many people to provide care; the Stephen Series is a great way to equip and support these gifted Christians to be that caring presence in the lives of hurting people.
So the first and best long-term solution is to take your current awareness of need for Stephen Ministry and communicate with and convince the leaders of your congregation of the necessity of the Stephen Series for your church.
Short of that, if another congregation in your area has Stephen Ministry, you may be able to arrange for care for your friend from one of their Stephen Ministers. Be aware, however, that all the Stephen Ministers at that congregation may already be busy meeting needs for care.
This can only work if you are aware of a Stephen Series congregation in your area. Stephen Ministries protects the privacy of Stephen Leaders (those who lead Stephen Ministry in their congregation). Our customer service team will provide names and telephone numbers of Stephen Leaders--or the names of congregations enrolled in the Stephen Series--only to other Stephen Leaders or pastors of Stephen Ministry congregations.
Other Options for Care
If a Stephen Minister isn't available for your friend, discuss the person's situation with your pastor. He or she may be able to help the person find appropriate care.
In our on-line store you'll find a lot of valuable resources for caring for people who are hurting and in need. Two in particular may be of great help: Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart can help you provide care in ways that people will welcome, and Journeying through Grief is an excellent resource to give people who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Thinking Longer Term
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Lao Tzu
Finding a Stephen Minister for someone in your congregation is a short-term solution--and one that may or may not work out.
A better solution would be to consider the needs of your congregation. How many people do you know who would benefit from the focused care of a Stephen Minister? Your pastor can't begin to provide care to all the people who need his or her care for as long as they need care. A Stephen Minister can be there, week after week, providing the listening ear and the care that person needs.
Stephen Ministers care for people with many life challenges. What kinds of challenges do your congregation members face? Loss of a loved one? Job loss? Relocation? Difficulties with children? Illness? Injury? Stephen Ministers are trained to care in a wide variety of situations.
The best way to ensure that your congregation members will have the care they need when they need it is to bring Stephen Ministry to your own congregation.
If you would like to talk with a Stephen Ministries staff person about the Stephen Series or receive up-to-date materials about the Stephen Series, please call and talk with one of our excellent customer service people--(314) 428-2600.