Stephen Ministry: Getting In on the Action

[intro]Would you like to be part of a ministry that makes a real difference in others’ lives when they need it most – and in your own? Consider becoming a Stephen Minister at Riverview.[/intro]

How does the Stephen Ministry work?

Stephen Ministers are members of Riv who provide one-to-one caring ministry to people experiencing grief, divorce, loneliness, job loss, major transitions, and many other life difficulties.

Stephen Minister training equips you to do an excellent job as a Stephen Minister—and they also improve the quality of all your relationships. Stephen Ministers are trained in:

• Listening
• Feelings
• Confidentiality
• Providing Christian care
• Maintaining boundaries
• Crisis theory and practice
• Ministering to people experiencing grief, divorce, hospitalization, illness, and more

Once equipped, Stephen Ministers are prayerfully matched with people who are going through a stressful time or life difficulty. A Stephen Minister meets with this person once a week for about an hour to listen, care, encourage, and pray. The Stephen Minister brings Christ’s presence into the person’s life and also experiences Christ in the other person.

 “Though I feel so inadequate…”

Of course, this level of compassion can be scary! However, it’s really a life-changing ministry for both the person receiving care and the Stephen Minister. Consider what one of our Stephen Ministers described regarding his experience of working in this ministry:

“I believe it’s through [my personal] struggles that God has given me a sensitivity to want to help others and be patient with issues I see in them because if God can change some of the hard things in my heart, I know he will do it for others. I also believe these things are done not just for my benefit, but for the benefit of others that are struggling in similar areas. The blessing of getting involved in Stephen Ministries is the process in which I have had to go through to prepare myself to try to help others, though I feel so inadequate. Realizing that God will use us when we place ourselves in submission under him is so encouraging.“

 

Need help from a Stephen Minister? Request it here.