There
are
times
when
each
of
us
may
need
the
care
and
compassion
of
another
person.
We
have
found
that
a
Christian
friend,
a
Stephen
Minister,
can
provide
this
needed
support,
and
help
the
"care
receiver"
get
through
the
difficult
time!
Some
of
those
times
of
need
might
include:
•
Hospitalization
or
suffering
from
a
serious
illness
•
Grieving
following
a
death
or
serious
loss
•
Experiencing
a
job
loss
•
Issues
or
concerns
of
those
experiencing
a
divorce
•
Problems
facing
the
elderly
•
Personal
struggles
within
a
family
•
Isolation
following
incarceration
•
Spiritual
crisis
or
feelings
of
abandonment
•
Or
any
other
circumstance
that
could
be
made
easier
with
the
support
of
a
Christian friend.
How to Become a Stephen Minister:
St Luke's offers the 50 hours of
formal Stephen Ministry training during the period from September
to March of each year. Our Stephen Ministers-in-training meet
on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 PM. During the weekly training
classes, we study listening skills and assertiveness, as well
as, how best to minister to someone with a particular need. Following
the 50 hours of training, Stephen Ministers attend regular supervision
sessions.
Any
person
wanting
to
be
a
Stephen
Minister
needs
only
to
have
the
desire
to
serve
God
by
helping
his
fellow
man.
Our
Stephen
Ministers
feel
challenged
by
the
biblical
verse:
"Bear
one
another's
burdens,
and
so
fulfill
the
law
of
Christ."
Galatians
6:2
For
further
information,
please
email
or
call
the
Director
of
Stephen
Ministry,
Mary
Katherine
Schnitz
at
846-3404,
ext.
365.
How
to
Speak
to
a
Stephen
Minister:
You
can
receive
additional
information
about
the
St.
Luke's
Stephen
Ministry
Program
by
speaking
to
any
of
our
pastors,
or
email
or
call
the
director
of
the
Stephen
Ministry,
Mary
Katherine
Schnitz,
through
the
church
office
at,
846-3404,
ext.
365.
All
conversations
concerning
Stephen
Ministry
are
strictly
confidential.
