Stephen Ministry
A Stephen Minister is…
- A member of UCC Medfield who cares about people who are hurting;
- A caring Christian friend who listens;
- A lay person who is trained and prepared to provide distinctively Christian care;
- A Stephen Minister is not judgemental, a counselor or a therapist, or a problem-solver.
Through confidential one-to-one relationships, Stephen Ministers give those who are hurting the loving care and support they need.
Stephen Ministry is Your Ministry
You play an important role. Here’s what you can do:
- Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our ministry.
- Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn’t expect you to bear your burdens alone.
- Tell a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who is hurting about our Stephen Ministry.
- If you are a good listener and a compassionate person, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.
Who receives care from this Ministry?
We all experience challenges in life—times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend from UCC Medfield. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty such as:
- Illness
- Job loss
- Disability
- Retirement
- Divorce or separation
- Hospitalization
- Financial difficulties
- Discouragement
- Loss of a loved one
- Spiritual crisis
- Aging
- And many more
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry. The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private.
To be a Stephen Minister, or to have a relationship with a Stephen Minister, is a life changing experience.
The Stephen Ministers at The United Church of Christ in Medfield are men and women who represent a broad cross-section of the congregation. All share a common desire to serve the Lord through helping others with compassionate listening.
Stephen Ministers receive over 50 hours of training and preparation.They also receive continuing education and supervision during bi-monthly meetings with the Stephen Leaders.
Note: Stephen Ministers are caring lay people, not professionals. They do not provide legal, medical, psychological counseling or other professional advice. If these services are needed, your Stephen Minister will help refer you to appropriate care.
Care is available to any adult. You do not have to be a member of UCC Medfield. Female Stephen Ministers care exclusively for women. Male Stephen Ministers care for men.
Trust and confidentiality are fully maintained in each one-on-one caring relationship.
I think I want a Stephen Minister. What do I do?
This is how the referrals process works:
You (or someone close to you) are hurting and in need of Christian care.
Our Stephen Leader learns about this need for care from the pastor, from you directly, or a friend, always with your permission.
The Stephen Leader meets with you to talk about Stephen Ministry.
With your permission, the Leader assigns a Stephen Minister to meet regularly with you.
The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for you in strict confidentiality.
For more information, call 508-359-2351 and ask to speak with Pastor Philip Bauman or speak with one of the other Stephen Leaders, Rick Cram, Gayle Edgar, or Heidi Groff.
One of the Oldest Forms of Christian Care
This is how the first Christians cared for each other.
Dr. Kenneth Haugk, a Lutheran minister and psychologist, developed Stephen Ministry in 1975. It’s now present in over 6,000 congregations in 50 states and 17 countries.
If you would like to receive the care of a Stephen Minister or would like to become a Stephen Minister, please speak contact the Church Office at 508-359-2351. Your call will be handled with complete confidentiality.
For more information on becoming a Stephen Minister or to request the help of a Stephen Minister, please contact us.
