new ministry starting: Stephen ministers
The Stephen Ministry is now looking for those who want to become Stephen Ministers. Stephen Ministers give one-on-one care to those dealing with challenging circumstances. The Stephen Ministry Course will start in January 2023, with participants expected to complete 50 hours of instruction. Contact Pastor Fred Perez or Ron Sears, Stephen Leader for more information. Church office phone: 956-423-0540
why the name stephen?
During the time of the early church, the apostles decided to choose among their faithful disciples those who would be sent into the community to minister to the needs of the people. “And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit...” Acts 6:5 NRSV
background of stephen ministry
Stephen Ministry was founded in 1975, by Pastor Dr. Haugk and his wife Joan. Today, more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have enrolled in Stephen Ministry. They represent more than 180 Christian denominations from all 50 states. More than 600,000 laypersons have been trained as Stephen Ministers.
our vision
The goal of our Stephen Ministry is to prepare members of our congregation to use their spiritual gifts in a confidential manner to help those in need while also sharing the love of Jesus.
who are stephen ministers and Care receivers?
Stephen Ministers are lay church members who have received specialized training to offer individualized and confidential support to those going through tough times in life. Stephen Ministers come from all different backgrounds, but they all have a heart for showing people Christ's compassion and care when they are in need.
what is the pastor's role?
Pastors will always be the primary caregivers, but there is no way pastors can meet all the needs for care. God has called all of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another. Stephen Ministry multiplies ministry by turning the pastors into equippers so they can enable lay people to provide caring ministry as well.
what is stephen minister training like?
The 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in caregiving. In addition, their training covered specialized topics such as ministering to the divorced, hospitalized, bereaved, and aging. The training is highly interactive, engaging, and a lot of fun that fully equips you to provide high-quality, Christ-centered emotional and spiritual care to others. Receive five training books for $49.95, payable to First United Methodist Church Harlingen.
