Stephen Ministry

Stephen Series. The Stephen Ministry Series will celebrate its sixth year anniversary November 2011. One of our new members in 2005 claimed this as her ministry and stepped forward to serve as its leader.

The Stephen Series provides congregations with the structure and resources to set up and administer a complete system for confidential lay caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry) in the congregation. In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay care-givers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one confidential Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministers do not function as counselors, but as Christian friends with specific training in giving care to individuals in the areas mentioned. They are also trained to recognize possible needs of the care receiver. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.

We currently have five trained Stephen Leaders and eleven Stephen Ministers. Information about our Stephen Ministry is posted on the bulletin board in the hall leading from the fellowship hall to the Sanctuary. If you are interested in becoming a part of this vital ministry, contact Beverly Western, Phil Bailey, Ken Green, Sundee Luedecke or Lois Waugh. We are currently recruiting for our next training class which will begin in September 2011.

If you or someone you know needs a person to listen, with whom you/they can share feelings and receive acceptance and Christian love, please consider being in a relationship with a Stephen Minster at MUMC. To get the process started, please contact Pastor Athon Arant through the church office (852-2394), Beverly Western (391-5967), or Ken Green (391-4197). You must be a member (affiliate or associate) of MUMC to be a Stephen Minister, but you do not have to be a member of MUMC to receive care from a Stephen Minister.