The Stephen Ministry at Rye Presbyterian Church

Stephen Ministry at Rye Presbyterian Church

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

    Stephen Ministry is a ministry in our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Since its inception in 2004, RPC has trained over 50 Stephen Ministers with a current class finishing in January 2008.
    Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize and supervise our Stephen Ministers, identify people in need of care, and match them with a Stephen Minister. We currently have six active Stephen Leaders. They are Marilyn Clague, Jannie Gerrish, Kristin Jautz, Mary Ann Massey, Linda Otness and Tav Rogers.   Dan Love works as staff liaison to the Stephen ministry and with Tav Rogers as Referral Coordinator. The next Stephen Ministry class is scheduled to begin in September of 2008.
    If you or someone you know is a potential Care Receiver or would like to know more about the Stephen Ministry program, please contact Tav Rogers or Dan Love (967-0842, ext. 15).

    The Stephen Ministry is, as their motto says, "Christ Caring for People through People."   Stephen ministers are members of the congregation who are trained to give spiritual and pastoral care to those in need within the church community. Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care, not to give advice or counsel. Stephen ministers are also trained to recognize when a care receiver's needs exceed what they can provide. When that happens, the care receiver is given professional referrals. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence.
    The training classes are taught by our church's Stephen Ministry Leaders, all of whom have attended a one-week national training session with Stephen Ministries.
    Some of the session topics are:

Feelings: Yours, Mine, and Ours
The Art of Listening
Distinctively Christian Caring
Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly
Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
Confidentiality
Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
Caring for People Before, During, and After Hospitalization

Stephen Ministry: A brief history

The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need, as recorded in Act 6. Stephen Ministry was begun in 1975, when Kenneth Haugk, a St. Louis minister and clinical psychologist, began it to multiply the caregiving in his church. It is the plan to train a new class of Stephen ministers at least once a year here at RPC. We are currently one of more than 8,500 congregations, representing 90 Christian denominations, providing Stephen Ministry care.

For more information on Stephen Ministry please go to their website.

LINKS TO ARTICLES AND MATERIALS ON OUR STEPHEN MINISTRY:

GN January 2004 The Stephen Ministry forms, Leaders train.
GN March 2004 Stephen Ministry Sunday.
GN April 2004 Stephen Ministers begin training.
GN Summer 2004 Stephen Ministry training continues.
GN November 2004 Stephen Ministry
GN January 2005 An Invitation from Stephen Ministry
GN February 2005 New Stephen Leaders and Class
GN May 2005 A Ministry of Listening
GN Summer 2005 Newly Commissioned Class

Stephen Ministers: The After People

Frequently friends will ask, “I know you’re involved in Stephen Ministry. Can you tell me exactly what a Stephen Minister is?” I like to explain that Stephen Ministers are “After People.”

Stephen Ministers are there:

• after you’ve washed and returned the last casserole dish.

• after the divorce papers have been served and the bottom falls out of your life.

• after the last child honks the horn, waves, and drives away — and the house suddenly seems incredibly empty.

• after you arrive home following the funeral service and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.

• after the relationship has ended but the wounds are still bleeding and painful.

• after the doctors have said, “There’s nothing more we can do.”

• after the door has slammed shut—for the very last time.

• after the phone call you’d always hoped you’d never get.

• after you realize the hands on the gold watch you received at your retirement party move more slowly than you ever imagined.

• after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, “Welcome to your new home.”

• after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, and your loved one is led away.

• after the baby has arrived, putting more demands on you than you ever dreamed possible.

• after you find the pink slip inserted with what is now your final paycheck.

• after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.

Stephen Ministers are the “After People.” We are ready to come alongside you — or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives — and provide comfort and support for as long “after” as we are needed.

For more information on Stephen Ministry, or for a confidential conversation, please contact RPC's Stephen Leader Team: Marilyn Clague, Jannie Gerrish, Kristin Jautz, Mary Anne Massey, Linda Otness or Tavenner Rogers.