Stephen Ministry North Presbyterian Church has been blessed to be a Stephen Ministry congregation since 1997. After a period of dormancy, we are delighted that our newly energized Stephen Ministry can again operate as a vital component of our pastoral care. Stephen Ministers provide a one-to-one ministry of listening, caring, and sharing God’s love with members of the church community who are struggling through a difficult time. These relationships are completely confidential and are designed to help those who are hurting receive the care and connection they need to support them. Stephen Ministers are lay people who have received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care, and continue to receive training and supervision twice each month. They are not therapists, problem solvers, or casual visitors, but rather caring listeners who meet regularly with their “care-receivers” – always a person of the same gender, assigned with his or her permission. When an individual need becomes known, through the individual, a friend or family member, or the pastor, the pastoral care director meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry. If appropriate, a Stephen Minister is assigned and the relationship is begun. The Stephen Minister continues to provide care until a mutually agreeable closure is achieved. Our Stephen Ministry welcomed four newly trained Stephen Ministers in June, 2007, when Peggy Hanna, Rita Macdonald, Sylvia Bigler, and Kath Hahn were commissioned to serve. They will join with the North team of Stephen Leader Mary Lou George and Stephen Ministers Betty James and Marcie Monin. North Presbyterian Church has chosen to work in collaboration with University Presbyterian Church as Stephen Ministry partners. This means that we meet together and share leadership responsibilities and care assignments. We look forward to this new partnership as we seek to provide the best Christian care possible for our congregations. Questions? Contact Mary Lou George at the church office, 632-1330, or at 316-6968.
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