Mission
To offer individual, confidential, Christ-centered Care to persons in crisis.
Opportunities to Serve
Stephen Ministers
Meet with an assigned Care Receiver an hour every week. This is a confidential ministry so meetings are always one-on-one, typically held in the Care Receiver’s home. These relationships typically last for several months to about a year. Praying for and with the Care Receiver (if that person is comfortable with doing so) is a major part of the relationship. The relationship is shared during supervision meetings in a way that maintains confidentiality. Names and identifying circumstances are never used.
Stephen Leaders
Responsible for training new Stephen Ministers, planning for and often leading continuing education, being at supervision meetings, keeping the pastor aware of the Stephen Minister Care Receiver relationships, and working with the pastor in the assignment of Stephen Ministers to Care Receivers. Occasionally assigned a Care Receiver.
Time Commitment
Initial 50 hours of training. After being commissioned it is expected that all Stephen Ministers will attend peer group supervision and continuing education sessions of 1¼ to 2½ hours twice each month.
Time commitment for Stephen Leaders requires the same initial 50 hours of training plus a six day Leaders’ Training Conference. Leaders also attend Supervision-Training sessions. See job description for additional time requirements that are performed on an as needed basis.
Rewards
We have the opportunity to be God’s vessel in caring for His children. It is a joy to know that God is the cure giver and we are the care givers. Our Care Receivers often trust us with information that they’re unwilling to share with family or close friends. This trust is such a blessing. Through weekly meetings we get to really know someone (typically a member or friend of Saint John’s) whom we may have not known at all. Peer group supervision develops lasting friendships in that we care for each other so that we can, in turn, care for others.