The purpose of this page is to share information and answer questions about Stephen Ministry and the Stephen Ministry program at North Raleigh United Methodist Church.

The PBS "Religion and Ethics" news show recently aired an eight-minute feature on Stephen Ministry that describes the life-changing ministry happening in thousands of congregations like ours. Go to the PBS web site to view a video feature on Stephen Ministry as well as interviews and other bonus features.

All Christians, whoever they are, wherever they may be, are called to acts of Christian witness and service. All Christians are called to share the love of Jesus in word and deed as they live distinctively Christian lives (John 13:34)

Definitions:

• Stephen Ministries - A not-for-profit ministry organization with its headquarters in St. Louis Missouri
  • Trans-demnominational--over 75 denominations
  • World-wide--50 states and several foreign countries
  • Mission--to show the love of Jesus Christ through people
• Stephen Ministry - Distinctively Christian Caring ministry in which clergy and laity work together to provide quality one-to-one care to meet the needs of people experiencing a wide range of life circumstances or crises
• Stephen Series - A complete system for training and organizing lay persons to give distinctively Christian care to people who need it, both in the congregation and in the community
• Stephen Ministers - Lay people who have been trained through the Stephen Series in the theology of caring and in specific caring skills

• People who are hospitalized
• Individuals who are terminally ill and their families
• Those having an unwanted pregnancy and their families
• Individuals and families of those who are in trouble with the law
• Parents who have children leaving home
• People who are lonely
• New members of the congregation and/or community
• Families who have someone in a nursing home
• Parents and families with handicapped children
• Persons in sudden crisis
• People convalescing at home or in an institution
• People who are bereaved
• Those who are shut-in or in a nursing home
• Couples experiencing the birth of a child
• People who have suffered a significant financial setback, or who have lost their job
• Single parents
• People in the process of moving
• People recently retired or who have been forced to retire
• Those who are struggling with their faith in God
• Those affected by natural disasters
  And many more.

Stephen Ministers’ Commitment
This is a 24 month commitment that includes the initial 50 hours of training, then the regular visits with care receiver(s) (weekly or a mutually agreed upon frequency) and twice monthly Small Group Peer Supervision and Continuing Education sessions.

Stephen Ministers are Commissioned Servants

• Willingness to give of oneself in servanthood is vital
• The level of one’s education is not important, but the level of one’s commitment as a Christian and one’s desire to really care for others is important
• Stephen Ministers will be commissioned at the end of the 50-hours of training program Confidentiality is an absolute must

Stephen Ministry Logo

• Without Jesus Christ people tend to be more broken
• With Jesus Christ people tend to be more whole
• Stephen Ministers care for the person -- God cures

Thank you for your prayers and support.

You may contact the Stephen Ministry Leadership Team at stephen_ministry@nrumc.org.

You may reach the national Stephen Ministry home page at:
http://www.stephenministries.org

For information about a Network for Stephen Ministry churches in the Triangle Area: www.triangleareasmnet.org

For an online resource and community for caregivers, visit Strength for Caring

Visit an extensive online library for caregivers at Caregivers Library