In
2007, Middlebrook Pike UMC began a Stephen
Ministry to provide one-to-one caring
to others in time of need. Through this
program, MPUMC lay members receive extensive
training to become
skilled caregivers who are equipped to
bring Christ’s healing love to
people who are grieving, in crisis, or
experiencing other stresses in life.
These caregivers are an extension to,
not a replacement of pastoral care.
This web page answers the following
questions you may have about our Stephen
Ministry Program:
What is the Stephen
Ministry Program?
Stephen Ministry is a nationwide program
named after Stephen, the first of the
deacons in the early church, commissioned
by the apostles to provide care and comfort
for the needs of people in the Christian
community. Today, volunteer lay ministers
around the world have completed the intensive
training required to provide this free,
confidential, caring ministry to those
experiencing a wide range of life needs
or crises.
If you are experiencing difficulties
that you would like to discuss with someone,
you may request that a Stephen Minister
through a pastor or the Stephen Ministry
Coordinator.
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Who is a Stephen
Minister?
Anyone can serve as a Stephen Minister.
They are dedicated lay people who have
received extensive training to:
- Provide one-to-one
caring, in-depth ministry to their
assigned care receiver(s)
- Extend the hand
of Christian friendship
- Visit weekly,
or as needed
- Care enough to
commit to a caring relationship as
long as the need exists
- Listen empathetically
and retaincare receiver confidentiality
- Help a person
work through problems
- Encourage a care
receiver to take positive steps
- Use Christian
resources such as scripture and prayer
Stephen Ministers are not professional
counselors, psychologists, social workers,
or care-giving experts. Stephen Ministers
are trained to be caring Christian friends
who can help hurting individuals identify
options. They do not give advice or provide
solutions.
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What training
do they have?
Stephen Ministers receive an initial
50 hours of training to ensure they understand
how to:
- Listen effectively
and without criticism
- Deal openly with
feelings
- Be professional
and confidential
- Express honesty,
warmth, and care
- Help in times
of crisis
- Minister to those
dealing with grief, divorce, death,
depression, illness, and many other
areas
In addition to the intensive initial
training, Stephen Ministers meet bi-monthly
to receive peer supervision and continuing
education. Here, they discuss their caring
relationships (maintaining complete anonymity
of the care receivers, and staying away
from details of the care receiver's situation)
and receive consultation and support
from other Stephen Ministers.
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Am I assured
of confidentiality?
Confidentiality is the basis of all
Stephen Ministry relationships. Anyone
receiving care can be assured that his
or her identity—and what is shared
in a caring relationship—will remain
private at all times.
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What types of problems
do Stephen Ministers address?
There are no restrictions on what you
may want to talk about with a Stephen
Minister. If you are experiencing grief,
loneliness, divorce, hospitalization,
disability, job loss, relocation, or
other stressful changes or difficulties
in your life and need a good listener
that is not directly involved, a Stephen
Minister can help. While not limited
to the following items, Stephen Ministers
are often requested for:
- Crisis care, such
as hospitalization, terminal illness,
death of a loved one, unemployment,
divorce, natural disaster, severe financial
setback, etc.
- Follow-up care,
such as support during after-shocks
following the initial crisis
- Chronic care for
long-term problems such as chronic
illness or suffering, disability, age-related
issues, homebound individuals, degenerative
diseases, loneliness
- Preventive care
to help people anticipate and prepare
for potentially difficult events, such
as the approach of retirement, marriage
in the near future, college students
away from home, women expecting their
first child
- Supportive care
for care-givers, such as a spouse caring
for a dying wife, persons placing an
senior in a long-term facility, parents
of a special-needs child, children
supporting a grieving parent, a parent
supporting a child facing divorce
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How do I get a Stephen
Minister?
Simply call the Middlebrook Pike United
Methodist Church office at 865-690-8641
and ask to speak to one of our pastors.
Once they are aware of your need, they
can discuss with you the assignment of
a Stephen Minister. Should you decide
to proceed, the pastor will involve one
of our Stephen Minister Coordinators
to match your needs with one of our trained
Stephen Ministers.
As an alternative, you may contact
one of the Stephen Minister Coordinators
directly to discuss your desire for a
Stephen Minister. Bob Ruth can be reached
by phone at 588-8458 or by e-mail at BobRuth@knology.net.
Lynne Harr can be reached by phone at
584-1624 or by e-mail at LynneHarr@comcast.net.
As soon as you have been matched to
a Stephen Minister, that individual will
initiate contact with you to begin meeting
confidentially on a weekly, or as-needed,
basis. This relationship will continue
until you choose to discontinue it.
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How do I become
a Stephen Minister?
If you feel the Lord is calling you
to be a part of Stephen Ministry, please
call the church office at 865-690-8641.
Or, you can contact one of the Stephen
Minister Coordinators directly. Bob Ruth
can be reached by phone at 588-8458 or
by e-mail at BobRuth@knology.net.
Lynne Harr can be reached by phone at
584-1624 or by e-mail at LynneHarr@comcast.net.
When there is an appropriate number
of volunteers, the Coordinators will
schedule the required 50 hours of specialized
training in Christian care-giving that
is required to prepare Stephen Ministers
to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian
care to people in need.
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