Stephen Ministry at Community

The purpose of the Community United Methodist Church Stephen Ministry is to provide ongoing one-on-one Christian care to all in need within our congregation and Elm Grove, Brookfield and the larger community. To learn about Stephen Ministries worldwide visit: http://www.stephenministries.org

What Is Stephen Ministry?

Based on the story found in Acts 6.1-6, seven laypersons were trained and blessed by the disciples to carry on the care ministry in the early church. In similar ways, Stephen Ministers augment pastoral care in a congregation. Stephen Ministers, after training, will be able to respond to:

People who are hospitalized
Those who are grieving
Those suffering loneliness or discouragement
The divorced or separated
Those who are affected by death
Unemployed persons
People who are homebound or institutionalized
Those dealing with moving and the losses/challenges of relocation
Parents grappling with loss when children leave home
Those convalescing or rehabilitating
New parents
Single parents
Victims of natural or human-caused disaster
Those in spiritual crisis
Many other circumstances that we may find ourselves facing

A STEPHEN MINISTER IS…….

· A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting

· A congregation member with the gifts of caregiving, who

was carefully selected to serve in this role

· A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in

providing emotional and spiritual care

· A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays,

supports, and encourages

· Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need

WE’RE READY, THIS IS YOUR MINISTRY…….

You play an important role in our Stephen Ministry. Here’s what you can do:

PRAY - ACCEPT CARE - TELL A FRIEND - CONSIDER BECOMING a Stephen Minister

For more information call Community at 262-782-4060.