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Do you need to talk to someone who knows how to listen?

Would you like to talk with a qualified person about a personal situation you are dealing with? Are you looking for a caring person to help you through a crisis? The Stephen Ministry program is a free and confidential service provided by Holy Cross for its people in need of care.

This web site answers the following questions you might have:

	What is the Stephen Ministry program?
	Who is a Stephen Minister?
	What training do they have?
	How effective is it?
	Am I assured of confidentiality?
	How can I tell if I really need to talk?
	What are some examples of problems Stephen Ministers deal with?
	How do I get a Stephen Minister?
	Who are the Stephen Ministers?
	Where can I go to learn more about Stephen Ministry?

What is the Stephen Ministry program?

Stephen Ministry is a nationwide program named after Stephen, the first of the deacons in the early church, commissioned by the apostles to provide care and comfort for the needs of people in the Christian community. Today, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and around the world, volunteer lay ministers who have completed intensive training and participate in on-going training, provide confidential, caring ministry to those experiencing a wide range of life needs or crises. It is an extension, not a replacement, of pastoral care.

Who is a Stephen Minister?

Stephen Ministers are dedicated lay people who:

	Provide one-to-one caring, in-depth ministry to others in time of need
	Extend the hand of Christian friendship
	Visit weekly, or as needed
	Care enough to commit to a caring relationship as long as the need exists
	Listen empathetically and keep confidentiality
	Help a person work through problems
	Encourage a care receiver to take positive steps
	Use Christian resources such as scripture and prayer

What training do they have?

Stephen Ministers receive extensive training which includes:

	How to listen
	How to deal with feelings
	How to be professional
	How to express honesty, warmth, and care
	How to help in times of crisis
	How to minister to those dealing with grief, divorce, death, depression, illness, and many other areas

How effective is it?

When people experience loss, grief, or other stressful changes in their lives, there is a need for an empathetic listener. Family and close friends are often too emotionally involved to meet this need. Stephen Ministers are trained to be caring Christian friends who can help hurting individuals sort out options. They do not give advice or provide solutions. Stephen Ministers are not professional counselors, psychologists, social workers, or experts in law, finance, church doctrine, and so on, but neither are they merely superficial visitors. God is viewed as providing the cure while Stephen Ministers provide the care.

Stephen Ministers receive care themselves when they attend required, twice-monthly peer supervision and continuing education meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. Here, Stephen Ministers discuss their caring relationships (maintaining complete anonymity of the care receivers, and staying away from details of the care receiver's situation) and receive consultation and support from other Stephen Ministers.

Am I assured of confidentiality?

Confidentiality is the basis of all Stephen Ministry relationships. Anyone receiving care can be assured that his or her identity—and what is shared in a caring relationship—will remain private.

How can I tell if I really need to talk?

	Am I confused about events in my life?
	Do I feel like I have lost control of my life and my problems?
	Do I often feel overwhelmed?
	Do I doubt God's presence and love for me?
	Am I hurting?
	Do my job worries seem too great to handle? Are they getting me down?
	Am I feeling lonely? Do I often wish I had someone to share my thoughts with?
	Have there been changes in my life that have caused readjustments in my lifestyle?
	Am I having difficulty making decisions and finding answers?
	Have I recently suffered a loss?
	Do I ever feel like I just want someone to listen?

What are some examples of problems Stephen Ministers deal with?

Those experiencing:

	Hospitalization
	Declining health, disability, or terminal illness
	The illness of a loved one
	The death of a loved one
	Divorce or separation from a spouse
	Severe financial setback
	Difficulties associated with aging
	Transition to assisted living or nursing homes
	Family or domestic problems
	Isolation
	Loneliness
	Depression

How do I get a Stephen Minister?

Simply call the Holy Cross Lutheran Church office at 1 (925) 447-8840 and ask to speak to the Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator.

When someone, such as yourself, a relative, or a friend is hurting and in need of Christian care, please feel free to call Pastor Ken. Once he learns about a need, he can place a call. All contacts are made only with the person's permission.

The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person, explains how the Stephen Ministry works and then assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly, or as-needed, basis with the person.

The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the person in strict confidentiality.

Who are the Stephen Ministers?

Active Stephen Minister Leaders are:

	Kathy Brooks
	Ruth Harder

Active, trained Stephen Ministers are:

Barbara Bell

Bev Coutts

Geraldine Donaldson

Ken Gann

Carole Thorngate

Dick Treff

Where can I go to learn more about Stephen Ministry?

To learn more about the Stephen Ministries in general, outside of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, please click on the following link:

This page was last updated on Monday, April 23, 2001.