The vision of Stephen Ministry at First United Methodist Church, Waynesville, NC is to share the love of Christ by confidentially responding to people’s needs for care. The Stephen Ministry logo symbolizes that we are all broken people and that it is through the cross of Jesus that we are made whole.
Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry providing confidential, one-on-one Christian care for people facing difficulty. It is named after Stephen, the first deacon in the early church, commissioned by the Apostles. The care is given man-to-man, or woman-to-woman, and is provided for people over 18 years old.
Who is a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministers are dedicated lay people who:
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Provide one-on-one caring, in depth, ministry to others in time of need.
Provide one-on-one caring, in depth, ministry to others in time of need.•Extend the hand of Christian friendship.
Extend the hand of Christian friendship.•Visit weekly, or as needed.
Visit weekly, or as needed.•Care enough to commit to a caring relationship as long as the need exists.
Care enough to commit to a caring relationship as long as the need exists.•Listen empathetically and keep confidentiality.
Listen empathetically and keep confidentiality.•Help a person work through problems.
Help a person work through problems.•Encourage a care receiver to take positive steps.
Encourage a care receiver to take positive steps.•Use Christian resources such as scripture and prayer
Use Christian resources such as scripture and prayer“Love one another …as I have loved you.” John 13:34
What training does a Stephen Minister have?
Stephen Ministers receive extensive training which includes:
•How to listen.
How to listen.•How to deal with feelings.
How to deal with feelings.•How to be professional.
How to be professional.•How to express honesty, warmth, and care.
How to express honesty, warmth, and care.•How to help in times of crises.
How to help in times of crises.•How to minister to those dealing with grief, divorce, death, depression, illness.
How to minister to those dealing with grief, divorce, death, depression, illness.Stephen Ministers are not:
•Counselors or therapists.
Counselors or therapists.•Problem solvers.
Problem solvers.•Individuals who run errands or help with chores.
Individuals who run errands or help with chores.•Casual visitors.
Casual visitors.“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2
What are some examples of problems Stephen Ministers deal with?
•Hospitalization.
Hospitalization.•Declining health, disability, or terminal illness.
Declining health, disability, or terminal illness.•Illness of a loved one.
Illness of a loved one.•Death of a loved one.
Death of a loved one.•Divorce or separation from a spouse.
Divorce or separation from a spouse.•Severe financial setback.
Severe financial setback.•Difficulties associated with aging.
Difficulties associated with aging.•Transition to assisted living or nursing home.
Transition to assisted living or nursing home.•Family or domestic problems.
Family or domestic problems.•Isolation.
Isolation.•Loneliness.
Loneliness.•Depression.
Depression.•Moving into or out of our community.
Moving into or out of our community.•Job crisis.
Job crisis.•Needing the support of a Christian friend.
Needing the support of a Christian friend.•Facing life transitions.
Facing life transitions.•Spiritual crisis.
Spiritual crisis.“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion” Colossians 3:12
How do I get a Stephen Minister?
Simply call the Church office, 456-9475, or the Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, Marie Pike, 456-4632. The Referrals Coordinator will meet with you, explain how Stephen Ministry works, and then assign a Stephen Minister to meet with you on a weekly, or as-needed, basis. The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care in strict confidentiality as long as needed.
How can I become a Stephen Minister?
Complete an application, available in the Church Office. Give the completed application to any Stephen Leader.
“Encourage one another and build one another up” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Leaders of our congregation’s Stephen Ministry.
Stephen Leaders are pastors and lay persons who have completed Stephen Leader’s Training and are commissioned to our congregation. Stephen Leaders can:
•Help you or someone you know to receive care from a Stephen Minister.
Help you or someone you know to receive care from a Stephen Minister.•Help you become a Stephen Minister.
Help you become a Stephen Minister.•Tell you about Stephen Ministry training and about our next training class.
Tell you about Stephen Ministry training and about our next training class.•Answer other questions about our congregation’s Stephen Ministry program.
Answer other questions about our congregation’s Stephen Ministry program.How can I support Our Congregation’s Stephen Ministry?
•Pray for our Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers as they provide care for others.
Pray for our Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers as they provide care for others. •Pray for all who are receiving confidential care through the Stephen Ministry.
Pray for all who are receiving confidential care through the Stephen Ministry.•Tell Stephen Leaders about persons who might benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister. Be sure to get those persons’ permission first.
Tell Stephen Leaders about persons who might benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister. Be sure to get those persons’ permission first. •Tell others in our community about the availability of Stephen Ministry, and the care it can provide.
Tell others in our community about the availability of Stephen Ministry, and the care it can provide. •Receive Stephen Ministry when you are in need of supportive Christian care.
Receive Stephen Ministry when you are in need of supportive Christian care.•Consider serving as a Stephen Minister.
Consider serving as a Stephen Minister.How can I contact Stephen Ministry?
Contact Stephen Ministry headquarters at www.stephenministries.org
For local information, contact any Stephen Leader.
Our Stephen Leaders are:
Rev. Hardy Tippett454-0088 Home, 456-9475 Church, 508-9960 Cell
454-0088 Home, 456-9475 Church, 508-9960 CellMary Haggard 456-4994 Home, 813-833-6819 Cell
456-4994 Home, 813-833-6819 CellMolly Mitchell 456-1020 Home, 550-3966 Cell
456-1020 Home, 550-3966 CellMarie Pike 456-4632 Home, 507-2515 Cell
456-4632 Home, 507-2515 CellPat Rogers 452-1988 Home, 734-4380 Cell
452-1988 Home, 734-4380 CellOur Stephen Ministers are:
LaVerne Bohleber
Rick Bohleber
Ginny Brand
Denman Bridges
Polly Bridges
Frances Hannah
Betsy Hardin
Alyce McSwain
Alice Queen
Vicki Williams
Jackie Wolfe
Stephen Ministers Retreat
at Lake Logan, 2009
Gift from Margaret McCleskey
at Retreat, 2009
