Preface by Pastor Steven
At Lord of Life, I am the Referral Coordinator, which means I connect people up with Stephen Ministers. The following is the text from document created to explain what Stephen Ministry is and what it provides. By reading this and accepting a Stephen Minister, recipients (we call them care receivers) agree to receive one-to-one, in-person care from a Stephen Minister from this congregation.
Blessings! + Pastor Steven
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What follows below is the description provided by Stephen Ministry:
The description below is intended to help you understand what Stephen Ministry is, the care Stephen Ministers provide, and key points about the caring relationship.
What Does a Stephen Minister Do?
A Stephen Minister is a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church who provides one-to-one, lay Christian care.
• One-to-one: Each Stephen Minister is matched with one care receiver of the same gender. The two meet in person, typically once a week for about an hour, in a setting they have both agreed on. The caring relationship will be brought to closure when the need for care has been addressed.
• Lay: Stephen Ministers are well-trained, supervised volunteers who provide a high level of care. They are not professional caregivers—their role is different from that of a counselor, therapist, pastor, or physician.
• Christian: A Stephen Minister’s care is an expression of Christ’s love and an extension of the pastoral care of this congregation. When it comes to spiritual matters, Stephen Ministers meet their care receivers where they are, helping them work through challenges without pressuring them or forcing faith on them.
• Care: Stephen Ministers care by listening, supporting, praying, and helping their care receivers explore feelings without being judgmental, while offering emotional and spiritual support. Their role does not include providing other types of assistance—such as shopping, transportation, childcare, and other such types of help—although at times they may help care receivers identify ways to fill those needs.
Confidentiality
A Stephen Minister maintains confidentiality about the care receiver’s identity and personal information, as well as the content of their conversations. You can feel free to share openly with your Stephen Minister, knowing they won’t tell others about the details of your situation or your caring visits.
Supervision
Stephen Ministers participate in a carefully structured supervision process, which is essential to helping them provide the best care possible while maintaining confidentiality. During super- vision, Stephen Ministers are careful to not share the care receiver’s name or any information that might reveal the care receiver’s identity.
Consultation
To ensure a care receiver is getting the type and level of care they need, a Stephen Minister occasionally may need to consult with a Stephen Leader or pastor, who then might consult with a professional caregiver.
In some instances, providing the best care may involve connecting the care receiver to a professional caregiver able to meet the care receiver’s needs. If so, a Stephen Leader or pastor will help the care receiver make that connection. The caring relationship with the Stephen Minister might continue after that referral, but only after the professional has met with the care receiver and given permission for the Stephen Ministry caring relationship to proceed.
At the heart of a Stephen Minister’s care is a dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of the care receiver and others.
Copyright © 1978, 1991, 2000, 2013, 2020 by Stephen Ministries St. Louis. All rights reserved.
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