Christians are never immune to difficult times, and the trials of 2020 underscore that many believers can benefit greatly from a caring smile, listening ear and encouraging reminder of the healing power of the Great Physician.
Stephen Ministry equips lay people to do just that.
Stephen Ministry was founded in 1974 by pastor and clinical psychologist Kenneth C. Haugk. Named for Stephen of the New Testament Book of Acts — the first layperson the apostles commissioned to minister to those in need of care and support — the not-for-profit organization trains individuals (called Stephen Ministers) to “provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around the congregation,” according to the ministry’s website.
‘Immediate needs’
That kind of support is needed in today’s churches, according to David Kinnaman, president of Barna Research.
Recent polling by Barna found that only 43% of pastors surveyed said they “definitely” know “the immediate needs of their people.” And only 30% of the same pastors said they feel “very well-equipped to help congregants deal with matters of mental or emotional health.”
Kinnaman believes the challenges pastors, churches and congregations have faced during the pandemic highlight the difference between casual interactions and meaningful relationships within bodies of believers.
“We’re beginning to understand that just because we saw someone at church over the weekend doesn’t mean there was a connection that gives a more holistic look at how they’re really doing,” Kinnaman said in an article last year. “I think this time is going to force us to have some new rhythms so we can check in on people better.”
Patsy Williams is director of the Stephen Ministry at Faith Promise Church, a large nondenominational congregation based in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Williams first got involved in 2012 after Faith Promise sent three church members to a conference to be trained. One of the men who attended returned to church and told Williams the ministry had her “name all over it.”
Each Stephen Minister receives 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving on topics including listening, confidentiality and ministering to individuals going through specific situations like marital problems, terminal illness or grief.
Stephen Ministry uses the terms “care giver” and “care receiver” to define the roles of the Stephen Minister and the church or community member receiving the care.
Williams said often those who feel called to care for someone going through difficult times want to “fix problems.”
However, Stephen Ministry training teaches ministers to differentiate the care giver (the Stephen Minister) from the cure giver (God).
‘Beautiful ministry’
“We are there to listen, to be with them, to ask questions, pray with them … it’s amazing that almost everyone has the answer but needs someone to ask the right questions,” Williams explained. “It’s a beautiful ministry. Many people have been helped because of it.”
Some 75,000 pastors, church staff and laypeople from many denominations have been trained as Stephen Leaders and these have trained more than 600,000 laypeople to be Stephen Ministers.
After training, Stephen Ministers commit to two years of service, are commissioned by their local congregation and paired with a care receiver with whom they meet once a week. They also meet together twice monthly for continuing education and supervision.
Stephen Ministers are not counselors, and an important aspect of their training includes guidelines for recognizing when a care receiver’s needs go beyond the Stephen Minister’s scope of training.
They can then refer the care receiver to the proper counselor or medical professional.
Everything care receivers tell Stephen Ministers is confidential; they never share specific details from their meetings — even with their supervising Stephen Leader.
When Ron Hughes was called as assistant pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, in 2005, he knew he wanted to start a Stephen Ministry.
Today, Johnson Ferry Baptist has trained more than 200 Stephen Ministers and more than 30 Stephen Leaders, with 48 currently active Stephen Ministers in the congregation.
“We have found Stephen Ministry to be a quiet but powerful presence in our church. … The impact has been huge,” Hughes said. “Literally hundreds of people in our church and community have received distinctly Christian care through the ministry.”
Hughes added he believes every church could benefit from Stephen Ministry because every congregation includes people who are hurting or going through difficult times.
“I would definitely recommend the ministry to other churches for several reasons,” he said.
“First, there are people in the congregation that need what Stephen Ministry offers — a trained, Christ-centered, caring individual to walk with them through seasons of difficulty.
‘Disciple and train’
“Second, it is a great way to disciple and train people for ministry. [They] finish the training feeling equipped to work with those whom God matches them with.”
Charlotte Davis, a member of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, was trained about 13 years ago.
“I would love to see more Baptist churches start it,” Davis said. “Stephen Ministry is basically one-on-one care. We describe it as walking alongside someone during a season.”
Part of the training includes role-playing to act out different scenarios.
“It is a wonderful program,” Davis said. “The training teaches wonderful life skills.”
Listening and how to make phone calls are featured in the training, as are recognizing limitations such as mental health and dementia.
“We’re prayer partners and caregivers, and we just love you to pieces, but there are some things we can’t do,” Davis stressed.
But those who participate — care givers and care receivers alike — experience many positive results, Williams said, adding she would love to see every church have an active Stephen Ministry.
To read how Stephen Ministers help during the pandemic, click here.
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