Stephen Ministers are working constantly, quietly and faithfully, with members of our congregation and our larger community, but the need for new Stephen Ministers is great and we are planning to begin a new training series in 2011.  As we move forward, we are asking everyone to prayerfully consider whether you have the gifts to answer this call to God’s service.

Have you ever thought about becoming a Stephen Minister?

Start by asking yourself this . . . have you ever been through a difficult time in your life, or thought you needed someone to speak to in complete confidence, someone to remind you that God really loves you?  Have you ever tried to help someone get through the pain and uncertainty of illness, grief, loss of employment, loneliness, or divorce?

If the answer to either question is “yes,” you probably have all of the gifts you need to be a Stephen Minister.  God gives all of us gifts and He gives many of us the spiritual gifts of caring and compassion, love and mercy, patience and understanding.  And those are the only gifts you need, because Stephen Ministry training can teach you to use those gifts in service to others who are in need of spiritual care and support.  It equips us with the tools that we need to bring Christ’s love to those among us who are traveling through the valley of a life crisis. 

Stephen Ministers receive constant encouragement, regular continuing education and frequent care and support to help them to perform this vital work in our congregation.

People who are called to become Stephen Ministers don’t need to be able to quote from scriptures, they don’t need to be able to lead others in prayer, and they certainly don’t need to have perfect lives.  In fact, most of the people that God calls to this ministry draw upon the tough times in their own lives, times when they felt that maybe God wasn’t listening or maybe that nobody cared about them, to help them connect with others who are suffering.