The 10 Things I Like Most about the New Stephen Ministry Resources

By Joel Bretscher, Program Director

In developing the new Stephen Ministry resources our goal has been to best empower congregations to meet the needs of hurting people in an ever-changing world. So it’s great to now be hearing from Stephen Leaders that these new resources are already making a difference, particularly during this unprecedented time.

Stephen Ministry 2020 is the culmination of three years of research, writing, pilot-testing, and refining. As the head of the development team, I’ve been integrally involved in its creation from start to finish. Here are ten features of these new resources I’m especially excited about.

1. Enhanced Stephen Minister Training

Having trained as a Stephen Minister myself, and later as a Stephen Leader having taught numerous classes of Stephen Ministers in my congregation, I’m really happy with the enhancements to Stephen Minister training.

Every one of the 25 training modules has been extensively edited and improved—with updated Pre-Class Readings and new In-Class activities.

Several of the modules have been completely rewritten, such as:

• “Caring between Visits: Caregiving and Communications Technology”

• “Caring for People Experiencing a Major Medical Crisis”

• “Crises Related to Starting and Adding to a Family”

• “Advanced Christian Caring”

Your Stephen Ministers will be better equipped than ever to provide high-quality, distinctively Christian care to people in crisis.

2. Streamlined Stephen Ministry System Structure

With Stephen Ministry 2020, we built on the strengths of the Stephen Ministry system while simplifying and streamlining it into five intuitive components—to help Stephen Leaders know where they can most effectively focus their efforts. Plus, we’ve strengthened and expanded the tools and resources in each of these key action areas.

As a result, the system is better, stronger, and easier than ever for Stephen Leaders to use.

3. The Stephen Leader Online Toolkit

In addition to printed resources, the Leader’s Manual now has an online component, the Stephen Leader Online Toolkit. This digital library parallels the structure of the physical Leader’s Manual, containing a wealth of supplemental resources and downloadable content—articles, videos, customizable forms, devotions, prayers, publicity resources, sermon content, continuing education material, and more. Here’s a video that offers a quick look at the highlights.

We’ve also created the Stephen Minister Online Library, which provides Stephen Ministers with a host of supplemental material, including devotions and other information connected with each training module and Small Group Peer Supervision. Stephen Ministers can access this resource with their new Stephen Minister Training Manual.

4. Upgraded Mental Health Resources

A crucial part of Stephen Ministry is recognizing and responding when someone needs a type or level of care that falls outside Stephen Ministry, particularly when it comes to mental health. We’ve strengthened and expanded resources in this area, including:

• A new video used in Stephen Minister training, Navigating Mental Health Issues in Stephen Ministry

• A new edition of When and How to Use Mental Health Resources: A Stephen Ministry Guide

• Updated Stephen Minister training modules that better equip Stephen Ministers to identify and address these needs

• Additional resources in the revamped Leader’s Manual folder “Making Referrals Outside of Stephen Ministry”




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5. More Opportunities for Spiritual Growth



For me, one of the most rewarding parts of being a Stephen Leader has always been the spiritual growth Stephen Ministers experience through their training and service. The new materials are designed to enhance that growth.

Stephen Minister training modules place a greater emphasis on helping trainees grow in Christ. In particular, the modules “Distinctively Christian Caring” and “Advanced Christian Caring” feature many new activities drawing on the new edition of Christian Caregiving—a Way of Life. Beyond that, Stephen Ministers will find extensive spiritual growth resources such as prayers and devotionals in the Stephen Minister Online Library. As always, prayer remains a central part of the Stephen Minister experience.




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6. Strengthened Resources for Finding Care Receivers and Connecting Them with Stephen Ministers



The referrals process is at the heart of Stephen Ministry. It results in people receiving one-to-one, Christ-centered care during their times of need; it enables your Stephen Ministers to put their gifts and training to use in providing that care.

So we researched extensively with Stephen Ministry congregations to identify both challenge areas and best practices in the referrals process. The 2020 Leader’s Manual contains new and improved and resources that Stephen Leaders can use to more effectively identify potential care receivers and connect them with Stephen Ministers.




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7. Continuing Education Resources



With Stephen Ministry 2020 we intentionally built in additional opportunities for Stephen Ministers to continue learning and growing long after they complete their initial training. Part of that involved revising and expanding the continuing education modules in the Leader’s Manual, which include new skill practices and activities in the in-class material, making them useful for continuing education with both newly trained and experienced Stephen Ministers. And, since all 18 initial training modules have been significantly enhanced and improved, you could use any of them as continuing education with your experienced Stephen Ministers.

In addition, both the Leader’s Manual and the Stephen Leader Online Toolkit contain abundant resources to support you in developing your own ideas and plans for continuing education.




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8. Tools for Stephen Ministry as Outreach



Over the years, we’ve seen again and again how Stephen Ministry is an excellent way to reach out to people with no church home. That’s why the new Leader’s Manual features several resources that focus on outreach. These resources offer specific, practical ideas for connecting with unchurched people in crisis, including working with other organizations in your community to find care receivers and help your church have an even greater impact in the community.

One of the enhancements to Stephen Minister training has also been an increased emphasis on how Stephen Ministers can most effectively provide Christ-centered care to hurting people who may be struggling spiritually or may have no faith at all.




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9. Resources for Pastors



Stephen Ministry is designed to be largely lay-led—providing a way to significantly increase caring ministry, discipleship, and spiritual growth without increasing the pastor’s workload. But for Stephen Ministry to be effective it does need the pastor’s support in a few key, highly leveraged ways. To help pastors provide that vital support, the Leader’s Manual includes abundant new resources just for pastors.

One example is A Concise Introduction to Stephen Ministry for Pastors and Church Staff, a short booklet that helps pastors get acquainted with the most important information about this ministry.

Pastors will also find sample sermons, prayers, and other pastoral resources in the Stephen Leader Online Toolkit.




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10. New and Improved Supervision Resources



My many years as a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader have convinced me how essential supervision is for Stephen Ministers to provide the best possible care. After talking with Stephen Leaders, Supervision Group Facilitators, and Stephen Ministers at hundreds of Stephen Ministry congregations to learn what they most needed in this area, and we’ve strengthened all the supervision training, tools, and resources, including:

• Two completely new training videos: Stephen Ministry Supervision in Action and A Closer Look at Stephen Ministry Supervision Skills

• The revamped Stephen Minister training module “Supervision: A Key to Quality Christian Care”

• Updates to all supervision tools, such as the Check-In Statement, the In-Depth Report forms, and the Focus Question Sets

• An all-new training module for equipping Supervision Group Facilitators, along with a rewritten Supervision Group Facilitator Manual, which facilitators will use throughout their training and service

All of this will result in better support for your Stephen Ministers and better care for their care receivers.