What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is Christian Care given to people through people. It is a system which members of the church volunteer to be trained and organized in order to help provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to members of our congregation and community.
When did Stephen Ministry start?
Stephen Ministry was started in 1975 by Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a pastor and clinical psychologist. To multiply the caregiving in his congregation in St. Louis, he trained nine lay persons. The trained caregivers were so enthusiastic about their ministry that they encouraged Dr. Haugk to offer Stephen Ministry to other congregations.
Now, more than 10,000 congregations are enrolled in the Stephen Ministry Series, which include 150 different Christian denominations. Also more than 50,000 individuals have been trained as Stephen Leaders and more than 450,000 lay persons have been trained as Stephen Ministers.
Why Stephen Ministry?
We have many needs for care in our congregation and community— people experiencing divorce, grief, terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, an empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges. Often people with needs suffer silently or do not request or receive the level of care they desperately need.
With only one full-time priest, one part-time priest, and one full-time nurse for a congregation of 1600 families, you can quickly see why it would be impossible for them to meet every single need of every single person.
Stephen Ministry expands the care St. Eugene can offer by equipping and organizing church members to provide Christian care. This in return provides us with a large pool of people with gifts, skills, and calling to< bring Christ’s love and care to those who need it most.
Who is involved in Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Leader - Care Receiver - Priest - Stephen Ministers - Congregation
What is a Stephen Leader?
Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize, and supervise our Stephen Ministers, identify people in need of care, and match them with a Stephen Minister.
When are Stephen Ministry Meetings?
We meet on Monday night at 6:30pm.
Stephen Ministry