University Presbyterian Church - Chapel Hill, NC

         Stephen Ministry Training

"To equip the saints (believers) for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."  Ephesians 4:12

Sometimes love comes knocking at the door;
Not to judge, but to just be there through the thin times;
Not to heal, but to allow God to heal;
Not to be the answer, but to be a conduit;
Not to have the words, when God fills the silent room;
Sometimes love comes through and from a Stephen Minister.

                                                    Bill Nagle
                                                    MacPherson Presbyterian Church
                                                    Fayetteville, North Carolina

Are you being called?  A new class of Stephen Ministers will be trained in early 2011.  Classes are held every two years, usually on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:30 P.M.  There are one or two day-long retreats, on a Saturday or a Sunday, as a part of the training.  Fifty hours of training are required.  Following this training, new Stephen Ministers make a commitment of  10-12 hours per month as follows:

• one hour per week meeting with a care receiver,
• meeting for supervision and continuing education on the first and third Monday of each month, 7:00-9:15 p.m.
• one annual weekend retreat

Topics covered in Stephen Ministry training include:

• The Art of Listening
• The Person of the Caregiver
• Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly
• Feelings:Yours, Mine, or Ours
• Distinctively Christian Caring
• Process versus Results in Caregiving
• Confidentiality
• Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
• Crisis Theory and Practice:  Danger versus Opportunity
• Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
• Dealing with Depression
• Using Mental Health Resources
• Stephen Ministry Supervision

After Training:

Some thoughts from Stephen Ministers:

• Participating in the Stephen Ministry training program has been a
  fantastic experience.  I've gotten to know some wonderful people, and
  I'm learning a lot about myself.  I'm learning skills that are useful in
  my daily life, as well as in my work as a Stephen Minister. 
   
• The Stephen Ministers-in-training are a wonderful, caring group of
  people who are deeply committed to sharing their talents and love of
  Christ where they are needed.  We come from various backgrounds and
  interests but have come together wanting to be of service to others. 
   
• Stephen Ministry training is teaching me how to help another who is in
  need, just as a Stephen Minister walked beside me in my time of need.

• I have served in church in many different ways: for example as an elder,
  a deacon and teaching Sunday School.  Being a Stephen Minister is the
  best, most rewarding thing I have ever done.
   

And some thoughts from those they have helped:
 

• I thank God every day for my Stephen Minister.  I don't know how I could have made it through the past year without her!
   
• As a man it was difficult and awkward reaching out for help.  But I'm
  glad I did.  It surely was a lot easier having a Stephen Minister to
  talk to.
   
• The best thing about Stephen Ministry was it was so confidential. 
  Nobody even knew I had a Stephen Minister.
   
• I was hurting so much I couldn't see straight.  But I discovered the
  healing love of Jesus through my Stephen Minister. I can't say enough
  about Stephen Ministry.

This is the message you heard from the beginning:
We should love one another.  1 John 3:11
 

Questions?  Contact one of our Stephen Leaders.