Stephen Ministry

 Stephen Ministry is in partnership with three Methodist churches in the surrounding area  – Vista Ridge UMC, Coppell UMC, and Aldersgate UMC - to offer training for individuals desiring to develop their care-giving skills, and serve their local church after completion of the training.  Do you have gifts of service and lay care-giving?  Are you a good listener?  What do Stephen Ministers do? 

• Pray for and meet with another person who is going through a difficult time or life situation, and has requested the presence of a caring Christian friend. The Stephen Minister is there to listen – not to be a counselor or give advice.

• Keep the Stephen Ministry compass in the forefront when caring for another – as a reminder to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled and trustworthy, allowing the presence of Christ to work through you and provide comfort for the person receiving care.

• Agree to be accountable to one another, and to their local church in providing the best Christian care possible.

Aldersgate UMC has been a Stephen Ministry congregation since 2005, and we are again looking for individuals with a desire to serve one another in the body of Christ through this ministry.   The role of a Stephen Minster has been described in a variety of ways, but perhaps none better than this one by a woman named Evelyn Underhill – “We offer ourselves to work for God.  We desire to be among the sheep dogs employed by the Good Shepherd.  Have you ever watched a good sheep dog at work?  He goes about his job steadily, and takes no account of bad weather, rough ground, or of his own comfort.  He seldom or never stops to be stroked.  Yet his faithfulness and intimate communion with his Master are one of the loveliest things in the world.

Now and then he looks at the Shepherd, never losing track of Him.  And when the time comes for rest, they are generally to be found together.  Let this be the model for your love.” If you desire to learn more about participating in the life-changing training being offered this fall, and using your care-giving skills in service at Aldersgate UMC, contact the church office and let Pastor Lyle or Vic Sassone, Lay Leader, know of your interest.  Classes are forming soon!  The last time this training was offered was two years ago when twenty five Stephen Ministers were commissioned for service in their local churches!

Who are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are God’s caring hands and listening ears. They are lay men and women from our congregation who have developed their gifts for sharing Christ’s love and concern with others, through one to one caring relationships. If you have ever wondered what to say to a friend or loved one who is hurting or facing a difficult time, and wanted to comfort them but did not know how, you might be interested in the training that Stephen Ministers receive. While they are not professional counselors, they are excellent listeners! We currently have several commissioned Stephen Ministers serving at Aldersgate UMC. They are MelanieHarris, Barbara Henderson, Tess Rogers, and Tim Howard.

Extensive training is provided through the resources of the worldwide Stephen Ministry organization — a nondenominational ministry headquartered in St. Louis, which has been equipping lay people for distinctively Christian caregiving for over 30 years. Stephen Ministers must complete 50 hours of training prior to their commissioning. After commissioning, Stephen Ministers and Leaders together participate in ongoing continuing education, covering a variety of topics and skills, and participate in monthly small group peer supervision. Stephen Ministers continually strive to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled in caregiving, and trustworthy.

How you can help: