Is God calling you to become a Stephen Minister?
Training for new Stephen Ministers begins in January, 2022.
Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip and supervise a team of congregation members — called Stephen Ministers — to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to congregants and community members experiencing life difficulties. Caring for one another is a hallmark of the Christian faith. As a Stephen Minister, you will play a crucial role in helping our congregation carry out that mission so that even if we can’t take away their pain, those who are suffering know our church truly cares.
Serving as a Stephen Minister gives people an opportunity to put their spiritual gifts into action — gifts such as faith, mercy, compassion and encouragement. Ministry that draws on your gifts is personally fulfilling and touches people’s lives in powerful ways.
Providing care while trusting in God is at the core of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers regularly say how their faith deepens as they experience training, learn to use distinctively Christian caring tools and witness God at work in the lives of their care receivers.
One blessing of being a Stephen Minister is being part of a community of people who care, all of whom lift one another up as they strive to provide the best possible ministry. The strong relationships you’ll form are rewarding and a great source of support.
Training for Stephen Ministry involves 50 hours of discussion on topics such as distinctively Christian caring, boundaries, listening, confidentiality and crisis management. Training is held Tuesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. from the first Tuesday in January through the first Tuesday in May. Sessions will be held in person or via Zoom depending on the needs of the group. After training, you will be commissioned as a Stephen Minister and will be matched with a care receiver. Supervision groups are peer supervised and meet on the first and third Tuesdays each month to support Stephen Ministers in their work.
If you are interested, contact Parish Nurse Linda Garner at lgarner@wilshirebc.org for more information. An application can be found at wilshirebc.org/care/stephen-ministry.