What is Stephen
Ministries
The Vision of Stephen Ministries is
that the local church would embody and express Jesus' command, "Love
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John
13:34).
The Name Stephen comes
from St. Stephen, who was the first layperson commissioned by
the Apostles to provide caring ministry
to those in need (Acts 6). It is based on the charge from Galatians
6:2 to “Carry each other's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ”
The Stephen Ministry
program at The Compass has been active
for more than ten years. Trained members of the local church provide
quality, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing
a life crisis.
Care-givers and Care-receivers generally meet for about 1 hour
per week for as long as the care-receiver needs support. This ministry
is a one
to one ministry, with men working with men and women working with
women.
Our care-givers are:
- Compassionate – Care-givers are trained to
listen to Care Receivers with compassion and without judgment.
- Full
of Faith – Care-givers are trained to keep the relationship
God-centered, Spirit-led, prayer-focused, and grounded in the Word.
- Skilled – Care-givers
are trained in reflective listening, biblically-based, loving care-giving.
- Trustworthy – Care-givers are reliable, available,
provide unconditional Christian love and support, and maintain confidentiality
in all
circumstances.
The Stephen
Minister is the care-giver; Christ is the CURE-giver.
A Note From The
Director
As a growing church body we always need to train additional Stephen
Ministers. Stephen Ministry works
one on one with adults who
are going through
a time of personal crisis. We meet with them at the church for
about an hour each week for as long as is needed, to provide
Christ-centered distinctively
Christian care. Men work with men, and women come alongside women
to listen, care for, encourage, support, and pray with hurting
people. We have the
privilege of being "Jesus with skin on" in a fast paced and
often cold, and cruel world in which we live in. There is more
information below and to the right about becoming a Stephen Minister.
Additionally,
we as Stephen Ministers meet twice monthly for
peer based supervision and continuing education. Within our small
groups led by trained facilitators we are held accountable first
to each other
but most importantly to God, who is our heavenly Father. It is
His important work that we are called to do. All the while strict
confidentiality is
maintained as a part of this process. If you have ever been trained
as a Stephen Minister please prayerfully
consider contacting Sherry Dunning to become a part of our ministry. The need is
great for Stephen Ministers; often we must maintain a "wait" list
in order to serve everyone.
I am honored and blessed to be a
part of Stephen Ministry. God has used us in amazing
ways in people's lives as we have been
allowed to come alongside and redirect (or direct initially),
men and women back to Jesus Christ. One of the mottoes that we
learn in training
is that "Stephen Ministry is Christ caring for people through people".
What a privilege it is to serve God and others in this way.
Serving Him,
Sherry Dunning
Director of Stephen Ministry |
