Stephen Ministry Program
Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church
Do you have gifts for caring, encouragement, and listening? If so, please prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Fairfield
Glade United Methodist Church will be training another class of Stephen Ministers beginning in April 2012.
Stephen Ministers provide emotional and spiritual support and care to people who are going through a difficult time, such as grief,
hospitalization, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness, or loneliness.
To find out more about becoming a Stephen Minister or how you or someone you know could be matched with a Stephen Minister, talk
with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Pastor Lanita Monroe, Chuck or Pat Scott, John Smith, Nikki Fitchko or Connie Hall.
Telephone numbers are found in the church directory (copies are on the information table near the church office window).
Grounded in the theological understanding that we should bear one another's burdens, Stephen Ministry formalizes caring for the
community of faith and the larger community as well. The name "Stephen" comes from the book of Acts where the Apostles call out
the first people to care for and serve the needs of the church. Stephen was a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" who was instructed
and empowered to care for persons in the community.
The Stephen Ministry program is designed to be both supplementary and complementary to the regular pastoral care offered by the
clergy of the church. It does not take the place of our pastors, but is an addition and extension of the church's outreach and ministry
to a hurting world. A trained Stephen Minister is paired with one other person who needs someone to journey beside them through a
specific time of need, such as, grief, illness, or a life transition. The relationship between the Stephen Minister and their care-receiver
is a highly confidential one, offering a safe place for spiritual and emotional healing.
For our congregation, the Stephen Ministry program is a natural fit with our mission of "Becoming and Making Disciples of Jesus
Christ." As we discover the gifts God has given us, we, as faithful disciples, use those gifts for God's people. Some of us are natural
care-givers, others may discover they have these gifts. As we use God's gifts we continue to grow as faithful disciples and we become
instruments for God's reconciling and healing grace to be present with others. There is a common saying among Stephen Ministers..."
God is the cure-giver, we are the care-giver." Stephen Ministers don't have to solve problems, they just have to be present, to be
faithful, and to be willing to offer themselves in service to others in God's name.
The Stephen Minister caring relationship is highly confidential, making it possible for persons to share their deepest hurts and
questions of faith without fear of judgment or criticism. A Stephen Minister is a caring Christian who really listens, is ready to focus on
the needs of others, will keep everything said within the caring relationship confidential, and will faithfully meet with someone in need
on a weekly basis for as long as needed.
Stephen Ministers can provide high-quality Christian care to someone grieving the loss of a loved one, chronically or terminally ill
people and their families, people who are homebound, victims of disasters, the hospitalized, the aging and elderly, those who are
lonely or discouraged, those who are separated or divorced, those facing major life transitions, and countless other situations in which
one could benefit from ongoing, one-to-one Christian care.
Pastors are quick to point out that Stephen Ministers are the “after people” who:
Do you have Questions regarding Stephen Ministry?
Do you catch yourself “wondering”?
Application and training information:
Next Training scheduled for April 2012
Persons interested in taking part in this Ministry, please note that applications and training schedules are available on the tables
outside the church office and in the Narthex.
Besides the 50 hours of training:
Stephen Ministers participate monthly in continuing education. Stephen Ministers, however, will be the first to tell you that they are
simply the caregivers as Christ is the cure giver.
If you have any questions regarding this Ministry and want to know more about what is entailed in the initial 50 hours of training or
continuing education sessions, the interview process, or any other related issue - please feel free to contact a Stephen Leader:
You don’t need to be left ‘wondering aimlessly’ when you can simply talk to a Stephen Leader.
Nikki Fitchco, Connie Hall, Rev. Lanita Pride, Chuck or Pat Scott.
Should you like further information about the Stephen Ministry, have a request or referral for a Stephen Minister, or want to contact a
Stephen Leader, please contact the church office at (931) 484-3631.
Glade United Methodist Church will be training another class of Stephen Ministers beginning in April 2012.
Stephen Ministers provide emotional and spiritual support and care to people who are going through a difficult time, such as grief,
hospitalization, terminal illness, relocation, chronic illness, or loneliness.
To find out more about becoming a Stephen Minister or how you or someone you know could be matched with a Stephen Minister, talk
with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders: Pastor Lanita Monroe, Chuck or Pat Scott, John Smith, Nikki Fitchko or Connie Hall.
Telephone numbers are found in the church directory (copies are on the information table near the church office window).
Grounded in the theological understanding that we should bear one another's burdens, Stephen Ministry formalizes caring for the
community of faith and the larger community as well. The name "Stephen" comes from the book of Acts where the Apostles call out
the first people to care for and serve the needs of the church. Stephen was a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" who was instructed
and empowered to care for persons in the community.
The Stephen Ministry program is designed to be both supplementary and complementary to the regular pastoral care offered by the
clergy of the church. It does not take the place of our pastors, but is an addition and extension of the church's outreach and ministry
to a hurting world. A trained Stephen Minister is paired with one other person who needs someone to journey beside them through a
specific time of need, such as, grief, illness, or a life transition. The relationship between the Stephen Minister and their care-receiver
is a highly confidential one, offering a safe place for spiritual and emotional healing.
For our congregation, the Stephen Ministry program is a natural fit with our mission of "Becoming and Making Disciples of Jesus
Christ." As we discover the gifts God has given us, we, as faithful disciples, use those gifts for God's people. Some of us are natural
care-givers, others may discover they have these gifts. As we use God's gifts we continue to grow as faithful disciples and we become
instruments for God's reconciling and healing grace to be present with others. There is a common saying among Stephen Ministers..."
God is the cure-giver, we are the care-giver." Stephen Ministers don't have to solve problems, they just have to be present, to be
faithful, and to be willing to offer themselves in service to others in God's name.
The Stephen Minister caring relationship is highly confidential, making it possible for persons to share their deepest hurts and
questions of faith without fear of judgment or criticism. A Stephen Minister is a caring Christian who really listens, is ready to focus on
the needs of others, will keep everything said within the caring relationship confidential, and will faithfully meet with someone in need
on a weekly basis for as long as needed.
Stephen Ministers can provide high-quality Christian care to someone grieving the loss of a loved one, chronically or terminally ill
people and their families, people who are homebound, victims of disasters, the hospitalized, the aging and elderly, those who are
lonely or discouraged, those who are separated or divorced, those facing major life transitions, and countless other situations in which
one could benefit from ongoing, one-to-one Christian care.
Pastors are quick to point out that Stephen Ministers are the “after people” who:
- Are Equipped with God-given gifts in nurturing
- Serve as a Christian presence in the lives of their congregation and community
- Complement the care extended by Pastors to persons facing major life-changing events, or crisis
Do you have Questions regarding Stephen Ministry?
Do you catch yourself “wondering”?
- What Stephen Ministers do, and don’t do?
- How you might make a referral, or become a Minister yourself?
- What your role and responsibilities are as a congregation member to the Ministry?
- How Stephen Ministers can speak out boldly about what Ministry does and what it means to them personally while upholding the
highest level of confidentiality with respect to the care giving situation and their care givers?
Application and training information:
Next Training scheduled for April 2012
Persons interested in taking part in this Ministry, please note that applications and training schedules are available on the tables
outside the church office and in the Narthex.
Besides the 50 hours of training:
Stephen Ministers participate monthly in continuing education. Stephen Ministers, however, will be the first to tell you that they are
simply the caregivers as Christ is the cure giver.
If you have any questions regarding this Ministry and want to know more about what is entailed in the initial 50 hours of training or
continuing education sessions, the interview process, or any other related issue - please feel free to contact a Stephen Leader:
You don’t need to be left ‘wondering aimlessly’ when you can simply talk to a Stephen Leader.
Nikki Fitchco, Connie Hall, Rev. Lanita Pride, Chuck or Pat Scott.
Should you like further information about the Stephen Ministry, have a request or referral for a Stephen Minister, or want to contact a
Stephen Leader, please contact the church office at (931) 484-3631.
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