I have always said I am confident and comfortable "working" large business gatherings like banquets, conventions and giving Power Point presentations to audiences but I am really more of a one-at-a-time kind of guy on a personal level. Sharing my faith--something personal--has always been more comfortable for me when asked by another as contrasted to the way my business life works where I am selling and marketing all the time. It is also true I am attracted to the underdog, the one who is hurt or down or overwhelmed or suffering or who is in a life crisis. My church and Stephen Ministry has given me an active community of faith in which to live and grow, offering care to those who need it and being cared for by my Stephen Ministry colleagues.
Stephen Ministry is not a Presbyterian ministry nor is it associated with any denomination. Here is what they say about themselves on their website,"The Stephen Series is a complete system for training and organizing lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around your congregation.
The Stephen Series provides congregations with the structure, training, and resources to set up and administer a complete system for lay caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry) in the congregation. In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it."
I received training over the course of six months in a classroom setting with seasoned Stephen MInister Leaders instructing us through books, reference materials, developmental exercises, and spiritual preparation. Ultimately I graduated and began my ministry. Respecting and preserving the confidentiality of those receiving care is a paramount tenet of Stephen Ministry. Care Receivers are associated with Stephen Ministers (Care Givers) through evaluation and assignment by one Stephen Minister in a leadership role. One Stepehn Minister protects their care receivers anonymity with all other Stephen Ministers and with all other people. The ministry is explicitly confidential. Bi-weekly the Stephen Ministers meet in what is termed "Supervison." There we find continuing education, shared expereince, and the opportunity to ask for guidance all while maintaining 100% confidentiality about the indivudals who are receing care through the ministry. From time to time to time we have retreats, social gatherings and pastoral instruction from the Pastors of San Clemente Presbyterian Church.
Just a little about my first care receiver--let's call him David. David had lost his job and the community of people that he had worked with for many years. As he described his losses his pain was intense. As he considered the idea of a "job search" he was unmotivated. He ebbed and flowed from belieivng God was sutaining him to wondering if God had abandoned him. He was emotionally, spiritually, and materially suffering and he was fearful. The process of my ministry with him was to come along side of him and just be there. David and I met every week or two. David would talk and I would listen. We talked on the phone and emailed each other. We drank coffee together, prayed together and we became connected by God's Grace. After about fifteen months it became clear it was time for us to end the formal relationship we had created through Stephen Ministry. David is working again. His life is different but he is OK. I was given the gift of caring for David while God delivered the cure David needed in his life--that has turned out to be more than just a new job for David. David and I still talk now and then.
If you or someone you are concerned about could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, don't hesitate to get help. Just call the church office. Caring and being cared for is lovely and loving.
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