Stephen Ministry:
Are you hurting? Are you struggling? Are you discouraged? Are you stressed? Are you confused? Are you broken?
We all face challenges in life--times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty, such as --
• loss of a friend
• hospitalization
• divorce or separation
• loneliness or discouragement
• spiritual crisis
• unemployment or a job crisis
• a terminal illness
• incarceration
• aging
• birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
• a chronic illness
• relocation
• recovery after an accident or disaster
• and many more
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private.
"Love one another--as I have loved you." John 13:34 Our congregation's Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.
A Stephen Minister Is . . .
• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting
• A congregation member with gifts for care giving, who was carefully selected to serve in this role
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care
• A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages
• Someone who will "be there" for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there is a needStephen Ministry Multiplies Ministry
Pastors will always be on the front lines of care, especially during times of crisis. But there are always many more needs for ongoing, one-to-one care than pastors can effectively meet by themselves. Stephen Ministers at St. Matthew CPC will support the Pastor of Pastoral Care by making hospital visits, visiting shut-ins, help for the grieving, and offering hope, encouragement, and prayer to those in need.
Stephen Ministry provides a biblical solution--equipping God's people for ministry. Gifted lay people are trained to support and extend the care that pastors continue to provide.
The Stephen Ministry is intended to complement pastors, different ministries and support groups at St. Matthew Church and not to replace anything they do. These ministries and support groups typically have a small group format with both males and females. Whereas, the Stephen Ministry provides individual Christian care for people of the same gender as the Stephen Minister.
Stephen Ministers reach out with God's love to people who are hurting--both congregation and members and non-members alike.
"Bear one another's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
Stephen Ministry in Our Congregation
• Could you benefit from the confidential, one-to-one care and support of a Stephen Minister?
• Do you know someone else--perhaps a friend, neighbor, co-worker or relative--who could benefit from Stephen Ministry?
• Are you interested in becoming a Stephen Minister?
• Are you a former trained Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader that would like to become active again on the St. Matthew Stephen Ministry Team?The TARRANT COUNTY STEPHEN MINISTRY NETWORK (TCSMN) INFORMATION GUIDE: About 60 Stephen Ministry churches, representing 11 different denominations, form the TCSMN. Churches in the network work together to strengthen the Stephen Ministry and to reach more people. St. Matthew CPC is included in the network in the Southwest Quadrant. A TCSMN Directory is available, including Stephen Ministry churches in surrounding counties and contact info.
Further information about the TCSMN is available at: https://sites.google.com/site/tcsmninformationcenter/home or http://tinyurl.com/43z6w4b.
Find out more information...
Contact Judy Madden (Associate Pastor of Care Ministries) 817-447-4131; judy.madden@stmattcpc.org,
Sherrell Manning (Stephen Ministry Leader) 817-293-7133; sdman@swbell.net, or Bill Geurtz (Stephen Leader Referral Coordinator) 817-879-8082; geurtz57@hotmail.com.
Print Stephen Ministry Information:
Stephen Ministry Guide
Stephen Ministry Training Guide
Stephen Minister Application
TARRANT CO. Stephen Ministry Network Information Guide
