Meet Our Stephen Ministers

The Stephen Series:

One-to-One Christian Caregiving

The Congregational Church of New Canaan is fortunate to be certified to train

lay pastoral ministers using the “Stephen Series” method of training.

 

The Stephen Series is a complete system for training and organizing laypersons for caring ministry in and around the congregation.  The Stephen Series provides congregations with the structure, training and resources to set up and administer a complete system for lay caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry) in the congregation.  In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-on-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge.  Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it.

 

For more information please contact Debbie Chapman, Pastoral Care Coordinator, at 203-966-2651, ext. 31 or debbie@godsacre.org.

 

 

Meet Our Stephen Ministers

October 15, 2006 was a “red letter day” in the life of this faith community!  We commissioned the following people into Stephen Ministry: Gail Banigan, Larry Brown, Joanne Burns, Michel Cornier, Levora D’Acosta, Josie Davies, Parry Grogan, Twee Haffner, Kathy Johnston, Ginger Malachuk, Joan Lister, Dorie Pease, Johnny Potts, Nancy Pullins, Diane Schaub, Pat Stewart. 

 

Stephen Ministers complete 50 hours of training in pastoral care.  In addition, they attend regular supervision meetings offered twice a month (these meeting started in January 2007.) Twelve of them meet weekly or at least regularly with their care receivers.  They have learned much during training but one thing we stress among ourselves is that Stephen Ministers are caregivers and God is the healer.  Therefore, our ministry is about listening, praying, and pointing people to God.

 

What a privilege it is to be the embodiment of God’s love and care and to minister to one another as we carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ.

 

 

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