Stephen Ministry
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
1 John 4:12
Members of Lord of Grace:
Commitments are hard to make but a few members of Lord of Grace have stepped up to the plate and are willing to volunteer. These future Stephen Ministers are Cheryl Fitch, Laura Hinderacker, Tim Murphy, Donna Witt, Janette Carollo and Maxine Arvilla. The Leaders are Ron Paul and Bill Witt. Training for this ministry started on Nov. 7th. These people have taken the step to serve God and Lord of Grace. We have met for six sessions and will continue until the end of March. At that time they will be commissioned as Stephen Ministers and will be available for visiting members of the church and community who need Christian Care. They need your prayers and best wishes to continue this important ministry.
- Bill Witt
What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide one on one confidential Christian care to individuals in the congregation and community who are having difficulty in their lives. “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” Romans 12:5
Stephen Ministers are children of God caring for people hurting. These hurting people have experienced tough times such as:
* Loss of a loved one
* Hospitalization
* Separation or divorce
* Loneliness, aging
* Spiritual crisis
* Chronic illness
Stephen Ministers are confidential and private when it comes to the caring for individuals. Could you benefit from confidential one on one care and support from a Stephen Minister?
Do you know someone perhaps a friend, neighbor, or a relative who could benefit from the listening, praying, and caring Stephen Minister?
Perhaps you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, if so contact the church office, or the Stephen Leaders Ron Paul or Bill Witt.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
Why the Name Stephen?
The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need as recorded in Acts 6.
Who are the Stephen Leaders?
Stephen leaders are the ones who oversee and direct Lord of Grace’s Stephen Ministers. They recruit, train, organize and supervise our Stephen Ministers. We have 2 Stephen Leaders at this time. They are Ron Paul and Bill Witt. Contact them if you are interested in the Stephen Ministry program.
What do Stephen Ministers Do?
Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time.
What is the Pastor’s Role?
Pastors will always be the primary caregivers, but there is not way pastors can meet all the needs for care in a congregation. God has called all of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another. Stephen Ministry multiplies ministry by turning pastors into equippers so they can enable lay people to provide caring ministry.
