Stephen Ministry at First

Do you know someone who needs a friend who is non judgmental, discrete, and willing to share Christ’s love?  We each have our special relationships in our lives. But sometimes we can reach out only so far to help those we love, and that’s when a Stephen Minister might be able to fill a void in someone’s life, a friend perhaps, or even your own life.  Let’s take a brief look at our church and Stephen Ministry; and how they fit very nicely.

Here is a brief introduction of what Stephen Ministry is all about.  In 1975, Rev Kenneth C Haugk, PhD, a pastor and clinical psychologist, saw that people’s needs for care in his congregation and community far exceeded what he alone could provide. He developed materials to train nine of his congregation members to provide quality, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing a life crisis.  It was so successful in his church that other congregations wanted to become involved. Dr Haugk then founded the Stephen Ministries organization, which now has been implemented in more than 9,000 congregations representing more than 100 Christian denominations.

What a blessing.  This one-to-one confidential caring is God working through His church for those who need His reassuring love in their lives.  And speaking of confidentiality, not even your Stephen Ministers know who may be caring for whom.  Only a Pastor or Stephen Leader knows.  Through pastoral guidance and leadership, mutual support, and most importantly-prayer, Stephen Ministers do this very, very quietly.

This is a very special ministry.  Most Stephen Ministers will tell you that they get more from their caring relationships than they could possibly give.  That’s because Stephen Minister relationships have Christ at the center.  The relationships are “Rooted in Christ.”  Some might say, “Why do we need this ministry?  We have our pastor.”  That’s right, we do.  God has called our pastor to be our pastor.  And Stephen Ministers can never replace that care.  But what Stephen Ministry can do is extend your Christian Care throughout our community.