Stephen Ministry
Hebrews 4:16 …draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (RSV)
Have you ever had the experience of having a friend listen to you when you really needed to talk about a concern—small or large? Perhaps you had suffered the loss of a family member or, maybe you had simply moved to a new community and didn’t know many people. Most of us have had many experiences when we benefited from the caring concern and support of others. In turn, we have also been on the other side, offering care and support to a friend. An important part of the church as a Christian community is our caring for each other.
Stephen Ministry is one explicit way in which our congregation cares for each other and for our community as Christ taught us to do. Stephen Ministers participate in training to reinforce their skills as caregivers and continue to meet together regularly to support each other and maintain their skills. The skills learned in training are also very helpful in all our relationships—at home, at work, in other community activities.
One way to understand what Stephen Ministry is all about is to understand what it is not about. Stephen Ministers are caring lay persons—they are not professional counselors or therapists, nor do they seek to work with persons who need or want professional services. Neither do Stephen Ministers replace pastoral care—they support and supplement it.
Who do Stephen Ministers serve? A Stephen Minister can be a listener and supportive friend to anyone who has a burden he or she needs to share for a while. The concern or situation is not something that requires professional help but just something the person would like to be able to share in a confidential, caring relationship. It helps all of us to know that we do not have to bear our burdens alone.
Stephen Ministers are not “cure givers” they are “care givers”. Only God provides the “cure giving” in our lives. Stephen Ministers are there to provide care and support as we work through our burdens.
The Stephen Ministry program here at Federated has served our congregation and community well for many years. The commitment to serve as a Stephen Minister is generally for two years but many of Federated’s Stephen Ministers have served far longer. Some are now inactive. If our ministry is to continue to grow and serve effectively, we need to regularly train new Stephen Ministers. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to help one another. If you wish to share in this ministry, please contact Ruth Matsuo or Judy Piephoff for more information or send us an email at yrmatsuo@aol.com or jpiephoff@frostpalmer.com.
2001 Report
The year 2001 was a very successful year for the Stephen Ministry program here at Federated Community Church. We currently have nine active Stephen Ministers including Ruth Matsuo, Robert Matsuo, and Judy Piephoff who completed training and were commissioned in Spring, 2001. Anna Green, a Stephen Minister who moved from another congregation, also joined us.
Our group held a retreat in May at the El Nathan Retreat and Conference Center in Flagstaff. John Valvo provided our keynote address and we began discussion of the book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. This was a very good experience for our total group. We continued discussions of this book as part of our continuing education program through the summer and fall.
All of our active Stephen Ministers have been involved in serving care receivers during the year. Our emphasis has been on maintaining contact between the church and some of our members who are no longer able to attend actively. We have also been able to address other concerns on both a formal and informal basis.
Stephen Ministers look forward to continuing to serve our congregational community during the coming year. We are available to respond to appropriate needs as they are referred to us. Our primary function is to serve as caring listeners and supporters to those desiring such contact. Those desiring more information about the program or access to these services should contact the pastor or either of the Stephen Ministers listed below:
Ruth Matsuo, Stephen Leader
Judy Piephoff, Stephen Leader
Hebrews 4:16 …draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (RSV)
Have you ever had the experience of having a friend listen to you when you really needed to talk about a concern—small or large? Perhaps you had suffered the loss of a family member or, maybe you had simply moved to a new community and didn’t know many people. Most of us have had many experiences when we benefited from the caring concern and support of others. In turn, we have also been on the other side, offering care and support to a friend. An important part of the church as a Christian community is our caring for each other.
Stephen Ministry is one explicit way in which our congregation cares for each other and for our community as Christ taught us to do. Stephen Ministers participate in training to reinforce their skills as caregivers and continue to meet together regularly to support each other and maintain their skills. The skills learned in training are also very helpful in all our relationships—at home, at work, in other community activities.
One way to understand what Stephen Ministry is all about is to understand what it is not about. Stephen Ministers are caring lay persons—they are not professional counselors or therapists, nor do they seek to work with persons who need or want professional services. Neither do Stephen Ministers replace pastoral care—they support and supplement it.
Who do Stephen Ministers serve? A Stephen Minister can be a listener and supportive friend to anyone who has a burden he or she needs to share for a while. The concern or situation is not something that requires professional help but just something the person would like to be able to share in a confidential, caring relationship. It helps all of us to know that we do not have to bear our burdens alone.
Stephen Ministers are not “cure givers” they are “care givers”. Only God provides the “cure giving” in our lives. Stephen Ministers are there to provide care and support as we work through our burdens.
The Stephen Ministry program here at Federated has served our congregation and community well for many years. The commitment to serve as a Stephen Minister is generally for two years but many of Federated’s Stephen Ministers have served far longer. Some are now inactive. If our ministry is to continue to grow and serve effectively, we need to regularly train new Stephen Ministers. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to help one another. If you wish to share in this ministry, please contact Ruth Matsuo or Judy Piephoff for more information or send us an email at yrmatsuo@aol.com or jpiephoff@frostpalmer.com.
2001 Report
The year 2001 was a very successful year for the Stephen Ministry program here at Federated Community Church. We currently have nine active Stephen Ministers including Ruth Matsuo, Robert Matsuo, and Judy Piephoff who completed training and were commissioned in Spring, 2001. Anna Green, a Stephen Minister who moved from another congregation, also joined us.
Our group held a retreat in May at the El Nathan Retreat and Conference Center in Flagstaff. John Valvo provided our keynote address and we began discussion of the book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. This was a very good experience for our total group. We continued discussions of this book as part of our continuing education program through the summer and fall.
All of our active Stephen Ministers have been involved in serving care receivers during the year. Our emphasis has been on maintaining contact between the church and some of our members who are no longer able to attend actively. We have also been able to address other concerns on both a formal and informal basis.
Stephen Ministers look forward to continuing to serve our congregational community during the coming year. We are available to respond to appropriate needs as they are referred to us. Our primary function is to serve as caring listeners and supporters to those desiring such contact. Those desiring more information about the program or access to these services should contact the pastor or either of the Stephen Ministers listed below:
Ruth Matsuo, Stephen Leader
Judy Piephoff, Stephen Leader
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