What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a system through which members of Perrysburg First Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian caregiving to members of our congregation and community.  This will multiply the amount of caring ministry Perrysburg First Church can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life.

 

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Why is it called Stephen Ministry?

In Acts Chapter 6, Stephen was chosen by the apostles to provide a caring ministry to those in need.  Since the time of the Apostles, a caring ministry has been considered a hallmark of the Christian faith community.

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Why Stephen Ministry?

We have many needs for care in our congregation and community.  Often people with needs suffer silently, or do not request or receive the level of care they really need.  With only 1 full-time and 2 part-time pastors, it's impossible for our pastors to meet every single need of every single person.  Stephen Ministry expands the care Perrysburg First Church can offer by equipping and organizing members to provide Christian care.  This gives us a larger pool of people with the gifts, skills, and calling to bring Christ’s love and care to those who most need it.

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Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry?

Those people receiving care from a Stephen Minister because of the prayers and support they receive throughout the crisis they face.  Stephen Ministers benefit through the spiritual growth they experience from being involved in a meaningful ministry.  Our pastors benefit because the caring ministry at Perrysburg First Church is expanded.  Most of all, you can benefit by knowing that special care is available to you should you need it.  In addition, you now have a place where you can refer a friend, neighbor, coworker, relative, or anyone else you know who is going through a difficult time so that they can receive special care when they need it most.  

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Who Are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are members of Perrysburg First Church who have completed 50 hours of training to provide high-quality Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge in their life such as divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization or loneliness.  Stephen Ministers are each assigned a care receiver, and meet with or contact that care receiver by phone at least once a week.  This caring relationship will last for as long as the care receiver needs it.

 

How Does Stephen Ministry Work?

When someone requests a Stephen Minister, one of our Stephen Leaders will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help to determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs.  Our Stephen Leaders then match that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers.  That Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting and/or contacting them on a weekly basis as long as the need is there.  Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept strictly confidential.  The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.

 

If you would like to request care from a Stephen Minister or would like more information on how to become a Stephen Minister at Perrysburg First Church, please contact Stephen Leader, Dalynn T. Badenhop.