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About
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ChristCare Equippers' Sharing the ChristCare Series Kit
Caring Criticism: Building Bridges Instead of Walls
Price: $9.95
When and How to Use Mental Health Resources
Price: $12.95
God's Love in Action Brochure--Customizable
Price: $5.00
God's Love in Action Brochure--Pre-folded
Price: $5.00
How Congregations Can Care
in Times of Disaster
Stephen Ministers are often on the front lines when disaster strikes. They have responded quickly and effectively to needs for caring ministry in the aftermath of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, as well as acts of terrorism like the Oklahoma City bombing and the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. When disaster strikes, where and how do you begin?
The articles and resources on this page will give you ideas for how Stephen Ministers and ChristCare Groups can help during times of disaster.
Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung
Many soldiers are returning directly home from the trauma of combat zones and finding themselves without the support a military base offers. Congregations can step into the gap, providing the support, understanding, and care that veterans need.
Read "Eight Ways Congregations Can Respond with Care after a Disaster."
Hurricane Katrina: Ways You Can Help
Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers have often been on the front lines when disaster strikes, responding quickly and effectively to the needs of those devastated by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes, and human-caused tragedies such as the Oklahoma City bombing, 9-11, and school shootings. The best way Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers can help is to work under the guidance and direction of experts in disaster relief.
How Congregations Can Care after a Disaster
Shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, Dr. David A. Paap, Program Director of Stephen Ministries St. Louis, was interviewed by a writer for a national publication about what Stephen Ministers and congregations can do in the event that a natural or human-caused disaster should strike close to home. This question-and-answer document is based on that interview. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Read "Lessons from the Ashes," reprinted with permission from Citizen Magazine which provides insights on how congregations can respond to destruction and terror.
Stephen Ministry in the Aftermath of 9/11/2001
Read how several Stephen Ministry churches in the New York City area mobilized their Stephen Ministers to care following the September 11 attacks.
Survivors, Scars, and Stephen Ministry
Download a story about a Stephen Minister who assisted at ground zero at the WTC. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Download this two-page newsletter from the Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center in Naperville, Illinois (reprinted with permission). It offers suggestions for dealing with stress and emotional trauma that result from devastating tragedy such as the September 11 attacks. It outlines specific symptoms common in times of turmoil and suggests strategies to minimize harmful effects on ourselves and others. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Disasters: Long After the Headlines Disappear, Stephen Ministers Still Care
A reprint from the 1997 Stephen Leader Resource Packet about the immediate and long-term follow-up care Stephen Ministers have provided in past disasters. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Stephen Ministry at Work: The Oklahoma City Bombing
A reprint from the 1995 Stephen Leader Resource Packet about the involvement of Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders in providing short-term and ongoing care to survivors and other victims of the bombing. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Stephen Ministers Give Ear to Disaster Victims
A reprint from the Columbian newspaper (Vancouver, WA) that describes how Stephen Ministers coordinated their efforts with the American Red Cross in helping flood victims. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
O God, Our Words Cannot Express
A hymn asking for God's mercy, grace, and peace in the midst of tragic events. (In Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Learn more about the Stephen Series system of one-to-one Christian caregiving ministry.
Learn more about the ChristCare Series system of small group ministry.