Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry our newest lay pastoral care program, provides training and supervised support for lay care-givers working one-on-one with care receivers in the congregation and the community.
Contact Rev. Arnold Bethune a.m.bethune@sympatico.ca for more information.
The Core Values of Stephen Ministries are:
- Incarnational theology
- Ministry as the privilege and responsibility of all God's people
- Empowering those we serve to get excellent results
- Personal humility
- Organizational stability
- Positive work environment
Step 1:
Knox enrolled in the Stephen Series, giving us access to extensive training, resources, and ongoing support from Stephen Ministries St. Louis.
Step 2:
The pastors and lay leaders who lead the Stephen Ministry in our congregation attended a one-week Leader's Training Course where they were equipped by the faculty of Stephen Ministries St. Louis to serve as Stephen Leaders.
Step 3:
Stephen Leaders recruit, select, and train people in the congregation to serve as Stephen Ministers.
Step 4:
Stephen Leaders assign Stephen Ministers to people with needs for care. Stephen Ministers meet with their care receivers for about an hour a week for as long as the person needs this level of care.
Step 5:
Stephen Ministers participate twice a month in supervision and continuing education with their Stephen Leaders.
As an enrolled congregation Knox continues taking steps two through five as often as required, making Stephen Ministry a vital and lasting ministry in the congregation.
In Summary:
Our Stephen Ministers are trained to care for other, covering such areas as how to listen effectively, how to deal with feeling, how to use traditional Christian resources in caring, how to maintain confidentiality, how to deal with those experiencing crisis and many other areas of concern.
Contact Rev Arnold Bethune a.m.bethune@sympatico.ca for more information.
From Nov./Dec. Newsletter:
For a number of years now, a quiet ministry of care giving has been offered as part of the pastoral care network at Knox. Stephen Ministry has grown to be a vital component of our approach to congregational care, offering emotional and spiritual support to members of the congregation and our community. Our Stephen Ministers provide distinctively Christian care to those who are going through a difficult time.
This may involve the loss of a loved one, unemployment, relationship problems, depression, isolation or any number of other situations.
All of our Stephen Ministers have completed the Stephen Ministries training programme, based in St. Louis, Missouri, and offered here at Knox by our team of
well-qualified Stephen Leaders. Following their training, Stephen Ministers make a substantial commitment to their ministry, agreeing to meet with their care receivers on a regular basis and to attend bi-weekly meetings which provide them with opportunities for continuing education and supervision.
A Stephen Minister can provide a listening ear, referrals to community resources and emotional and spiritual support in a confidential and caring atmosphere. They are there to accompany their care receivers through times of trouble and distress. Through Stephen Ministry, care receivers can receive on-going care and support and
experience God’s love through our congregation’s Stephen Ministers.
In the next few months, we hope to increase awareness of this ministry within our congregation and in the community at large. Please take some time to find out
more about Stephen Ministry. If you are interested in becoming involved in this ministry or think that you or someone that you know might benefit from having a
Stephen Minister, please contact any member of the pastoral staff or our Stephen Ministry Co-ordinator, Rev. Dr. Arnold Bethune.
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