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St. James Church recently became involved in Stephen
Ministry. This one-to-one lay care giving ministry is
named for Stephen, one of the first seven laypeople
called by the church to assist the apostles in caring for
others. We will be developing a lasting program of caring
ministry through the Stephen Series system of training
and organization. This model of ministry is already
working in thousands of congregations throughout North
America and is equipping laypeople to minister to others
who are in need.
St. James' will be preparing for this ministry in the months
to come. August 3rd to August 9th, Sue Brittle and I
attended a one-week Stephen Series Leader’s Training
Course in Pittsburg, PA. At this training course, we
received the instruction and materials necessary to
implement and sustain this program of lay caring ministry
here at St. James. We are really looking forward to this
opportunity.
In January, 2009, we will start a 50 hour training course in
Christian caring skills. This training will prepare the
participants to care for others, covering such areas as
how to listen effectively, how to deal with feelings, how to
use traditional Christian resources in caring, how to
maintain confidentiality, how to deal with people
experiencing crises, and many other areas of concern. A
Christ-centered approach to caring and the need to care
for the whole person will be stressed throughout the
training.
Upon completion of the of the Stephen Series training, the
lay caregivers will be commissioned as “Stephen
Ministers” and will become an important part of caring
ministry here at St. James. These Stephen Ministers will
provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care for people
experiencing challenges in their lives such as
hospitalization, loss of a loved one, loneliness, divorce,
unemployment, birth of a child, and many other life events
for which a person could benefit from an effective helping
and caring ministry.
This will be an exciting time for St. James. The Stephen
Series both multiplies the amount of caring ministry that
goes on in our congregation and deepens the level of
participation by laypeople in the healing ministry of Jesus
Christ. If you have questions about this new form of
ministry or feel the call to care for others who are hurting,
please feel free to ask one of the two Sues (Sue
Gruszewski or Sue Brittle). In the meantime, I would like
you to keep Sue Brittle, me, and our congregation in your
thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this major step
forward in our lay caring ministry.
God Bless You,
Sue Gruszewski
Ministry. This one-to-one lay care giving ministry is
named for Stephen, one of the first seven laypeople
called by the church to assist the apostles in caring for
others. We will be developing a lasting program of caring
ministry through the Stephen Series system of training
and organization. This model of ministry is already
working in thousands of congregations throughout North
America and is equipping laypeople to minister to others
who are in need.
St. James' will be preparing for this ministry in the months
to come. August 3rd to August 9th, Sue Brittle and I
attended a one-week Stephen Series Leader’s Training
Course in Pittsburg, PA. At this training course, we
received the instruction and materials necessary to
implement and sustain this program of lay caring ministry
here at St. James. We are really looking forward to this
opportunity.
In January, 2009, we will start a 50 hour training course in
Christian caring skills. This training will prepare the
participants to care for others, covering such areas as
how to listen effectively, how to deal with feelings, how to
use traditional Christian resources in caring, how to
maintain confidentiality, how to deal with people
experiencing crises, and many other areas of concern. A
Christ-centered approach to caring and the need to care
for the whole person will be stressed throughout the
training.
Upon completion of the of the Stephen Series training, the
lay caregivers will be commissioned as “Stephen
Ministers” and will become an important part of caring
ministry here at St. James. These Stephen Ministers will
provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care for people
experiencing challenges in their lives such as
hospitalization, loss of a loved one, loneliness, divorce,
unemployment, birth of a child, and many other life events
for which a person could benefit from an effective helping
and caring ministry.
This will be an exciting time for St. James. The Stephen
Series both multiplies the amount of caring ministry that
goes on in our congregation and deepens the level of
participation by laypeople in the healing ministry of Jesus
Christ. If you have questions about this new form of
ministry or feel the call to care for others who are hurting,
please feel free to ask one of the two Sues (Sue
Gruszewski or Sue Brittle). In the meantime, I would like
you to keep Sue Brittle, me, and our congregation in your
thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this major step
forward in our lay caring ministry.
God Bless You,
Sue Gruszewski
Become a Stephen Minister
If you are called to become a Stephen
Minister, please contact Sue Gruszewski or
Sue Brittle.
If you are called to become a Stephen
Minister, please contact Sue Gruszewski or
Sue Brittle.
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