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Stephen
Ministry - One to One Christian
Caregiving
Stephen
Ministry provides trained volunteers who support and
encourage individuals experiencing a life crisis such
as the death of a loved one, separation or divorce,
job loss, illness, etc. A Stephen Minister meets regularly
with the person and gives distinctively Christian care
until the crisis subsides.
What
is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen
Ministry is a lay ministry program grounded in Jesus’
command to love one another. Through a confidential
one-on-one caring relationship with a Stephen Minister,
someone experiencing challenging times can receive the
love, care and support that they need.
• Is life more than you can handle alone right now?
• Are your health, attitude, or relationships affected?
• Are you adjusting to a new job, a change in marital
status, a serious illness, the death of a loved one,
or a recent move?
• Are you caring for someone experiencing these or other
of life’s transitions?
• Would you like to have another caring presence in
your life?
Please consider allowing a Stephen Minister to walk
with you on your journey back to wholeness.
If you would like to explore having a Stephen Minister,
email
Pastor Leslie Byrd or contact her at 817-431-1332 for a confidential
discussion.
The Stephen Ministry program is in more than 9,000
congregations, in all 50 states and 22 other countries.
Visit www.stephenministry.org
for more information.  Who
are Stephen Ministers?
†
Lay men and women from our congregation who have developed
their gifts for bringing care to people in need.
† People who come from all walks of life, age ranges
and backgrounds.
† Caring and sharing Christians desiring to offer their
help/support to others in time of need.
† Trained Christians who have developed their helping
skills through 50 hours of intensive coursework and
training.
† Dedicated Christians commissioned by our church to
confidential caring.
Stephen Ministers are not professional psychologists,
experts in law, medicine or church doctrine. But neither
are they superficial “visitors” who merely “drop in”
from time to time.
If you would like to explore having a Stephen Minister,
email
Pastor Leslie Byrd or contact her at 817-431-1332
for a confidential discussion.
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Who
can use a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministry is appropriate for anyone whose basic coping skills are intact, but could use another person’s
caring presence to assist them as they journey through life’s transitions and challenges.
Stephen Ministers care for persons who are:
• Bereaved
• Terminally ill
• Separated or divorcing
• Hospitalized or recovering
• Single parents
• Experiencing vocational stresses, such as relocation, reorganization, termination, or starting a new job
• Refugees
• Students living away from home
• Residents of long-term care facilities
• Inmates of jails, prisons, or detention centers
• Caretakers of ill or disabled persons
• Adjusting to family changes such as remarriage, institutionalization of a family member, or a new baby
• Parents whose children present exceptional challenges
• Newlyweds
• Homebound
• Coping with infertility
• Entering or reentering the job market
• Retiring
• Dealing with adoption issues
• Victims of crime
• New residents of a community
• Preparing for professional Christian service
• Chronically ill, in pain, or disabled
• Survivors of natural disasters or other catastrophes
• In the military
Please consider allowing a Stephen Minister to walk
with you on your journey back to wholeness. If you
would like to explore having a Stephen Minister, email
Pastor Leslie Byrd
or contact her at 817-431-1332 for a confidential
discussion. How
do I help a friend get in contact with a Stephen Minister?
†
First, listen and care for your friend in your own relationship
together.
† Second, ask your friend for permission to report the
need. Be sure to emphasize that everything is completely
confidential.
† Third, report the need as promptly as possible (you
need not give details about the reason) to Pastor
Leslie Byrd
at 817-431-1332.
What will happen after the referral is made?
† Pastor Leslie will meet with the person to explain more
fully what the program is about and together it will
be decided if a Stephen Minister will be helpful.
† After a Stephen Minister is assigned, the Stephen
Minister will contact the referred person within the
next week.
What
will the Stephen Minister do?
†
The Stephen Minister will meet with the care receiver
regularly.
† The Stephen Minister will not solve the care receiver’s
problems, but will be a caring listener and walk with
him/her on their journey to wholeness.
† The care receiver can expect their Stephen Minister
to…
† Listen
† Encourage
† Pray
† Share God’s Love
† Maintain confidentiality
“There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot,
from that situation create something that is surprisingly
good. He did it at creation. He did it at the cross.
He is doing it today.”
Handley C.G. Moule (1841-1920)
Anglican bishop and author
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Meet
our Stephen Ministers
The
following members of FUMC Keller have completed more
than 50 hours of training, have been commissioned by
our church, and are currently in active service as Stephen
Ministers.
----2008 Stephen Ministers----
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How
do I become a Stephen Minister?
Our
Stephen Ministry training class will begin in
August, 2009.
Training topics will include:
• The Person of the Caregiver
• Feelings: Yours, Mine and Ours
• The Art of Listening
• Distinctively Christian Caring
• Process versus Results in Caregiving
• Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly
• Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
• Crisis Theory and Practice: Danger versus Opportunity
• Confidentiality
• Using Mental Health Professionals and Other Community
Resources
• Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
• Dealing with Depression: The Stephen Minister’s Role
• Supervision
A minimum commitment of two years is required of all
Stephen Ministers.
If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister,
or would like further information, please contact
Bernadette Bierley at 817-581-7461. STEPHEN
MINISTRY INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Is God calling YOU?
...calling you to reach out to someone who is
hurting, lonely, frustrated or grieving? Perhaps you
know that deep down you are a compassionate listener
who is willing to share God's love with someone. If
so, you might consider using your gifts to become a
Stephen Minister. To learn more about Stephen
Ministry, join our Stephen Leaders on Tuesday,
August 4 at 7 PM in room 9 at the Hallelujah center.
Contact Rev. Leslie Byrd at 817-431-1332 or
leslieb@kellerumc.org, or Bernadette Bierley at
817-581-7461 or
bernbierley@charter.net for more information.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q: Will others know I have a Stephen
Minister?
A: No. Your assignment to a Stephen
Minister is strictly confidential.
Q: Will other Stephen Ministers know
that I have a Stephen Minister?
A: No. Only the Referral Coordinator,
the Stephen Minister, and the Pastor will know your
identity.
Q: Are Stephen Ministers like professional
counselors or therapists?
A: No. Stephen Ministers are trained
to listen and offer loving, prayerful support.
Q: Will a Stephen Minister be assigned
to a person of the opposite sex?
A: No. Female Stephen Ministers are
assigned to women and male Stephen Ministers to men.
Q: Are Stephen Ministers ordained?
A: No. Stephen Ministers are trained
volunteers who are commissioned by our church. The ministry
is a lay ministry.
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Contact
us for more information
If
you would like to explore having a Stephen Minister,
email
Pastor Leslie Byrd, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator,
or contact her at 817-431-1332 for a confidential discussion.
If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister,
or would like further information, please contact Bernadette
Bierley at 817-581-7461.
You may also contact any of our other Stephen Leaders
for more information:
Jackie Kiebler
Tonda Agold
Robin Tragesser
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