Stephens Ministry
COMING TO A CONGREGATION NEAR YOU
We are excited to announce that Stephens ministry is coming to First
United Methodist Church in the very near future!
Three persons from our congregation,
Peggy McKinley, Lou Bundrick and Rev. Marie
Mitchell, recently completed a 50-hour, training
as Stephens leaders. They were among
over 330 people from different denominations
who received training in the week-long
Stephens series workshop. They were dedicated
as Stephens leaders in a special workshop
service at the end of the training.
Stephen leaders recruit, select and train people
in the congregation to serve as Stephen
ministers.
The Stephens series provides congregations
with the structure, training, and resources
to begin a complete system for lay
caring ministry, called Stephen Ministry. This
ministry is based on the passages in Acts 6
where believers were multiplying and they realized
that the disciples could not preach and
teach and take care of the widows and others
in need of help as well. Stephen was appointed
a deacon with others to minister to those who
were in need so that the apostles could attend
to other spiritual matters. Stephen congregations,
lay caregivers—Stephen ministers, provide
one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved,
hospitalized, terminally ill, separated,
divorced, unemployed and others facing a crisis
or life challenge. It is an extension of the
ministry of Jesus Christ and helps pastors and
congregations provide quality caring ministry
for as long as people need it.
January 2011 is the tentative date set
for the 20-week training sessions of Stephens
ministers here. Expect more information in
the coming weeks. Rev. Marie Mitchell