Stephen Ministry

IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW!

If you, a friend, or a family member are experiencing a life-crisis, please consider having a Stephen Minister from Grace Church of Harmony come alongside you through your difficult journey. GCOH Stephen Minsters have been through 50 hours of training so that they can be excellent listeners and encouragers. Everything you share with them will be kept confidential. Stephen Ministers are "wounded healers". Each has been through his or her own difficult time of life. They truly care.

Although all of our Stephen Ministers are Christians and have a Christian worldview, they are not "preachy." They only want to provide the needed empathetic care that you may need right now.

They are taught to understand that Stephen Ministers provide the care, and look to God to provide the cure.

Contact the GCOH Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, Les Gutzwiller, at 412-736-4872 to get started.

What Is Stephen Ministry?

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NRSV).

Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of congregation members—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties.

Who’s Involved in Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Leaders are church staff, lay leaders, and pastors trained to provide ongoing leadership for their congregation’s Stephen Ministry. They are equipped for this key role through the Bridge Leader’s Training Course offered by Stephen Ministries St. Louis.

What Is a Stephen Minister?

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation.

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need. Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers. A Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week for about an hour.

Care Receivers

Care receivers are individuals in the congregation or community who are going through a crisis or life difficulty. Potential care receivers first meet with the Referrals Coordinator, who assesses their needs for care and matches them with a Stephen Minister. The caring relationship lasts for as long as the need persists.

Care Receivers Tell Their Stories

The Blessings of Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry multiplies blessings throughout the church and community.

Congregations carry out Christ’s commandment to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12 RSV) in a powerful and practical way.
Pastors have a team of gifted, trained, and committed lay caregivers ready to minister to hurting people.
Laypeople nurture and use their gifts in meaningful ministry, growing spiritually as they serve others.
People who are hurting have a caring Christian presence to provide emotional and spiritual support.

In short, Stephen Ministry helps carry out the mission of the church.

Consider this: “An Agreement to Receive Care” … quality, confidential care … at no cost:

Dear ______________ ,

Your Stephen Minister will be calling you in the next day or two to arrange your first caring visit.

He or she will be meeting with you once a week for about an hour, not to solve your problems, but to be a caring listener as you talk about your feelings concerning some of the things that are of vital importance to you. Your Stephen Minister is trained to be a good listener and is supervised in a small group meeting twice a month. You can be assured that the things you say to your Stephen Minister will be held confidential.

Your caring relationship will continue as long as you need it to. There will come a time, however, when it will end. You and your Stephen Minister will work together to decide when and how the formal caregiving relationship will come to a close.

Stephen Ministry is an extension of our congregation's concept of caring about and ministering to its people. We hope that this ministry will be helpful to you.

If you have any questions or comments about the Stephen Ministry program, please call Les Gutzwiller, Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator,

at 412-736-4872. May God bless you and your relationship with your Stephen Minister.