 Are
You In Need of Stephen Ministry?
Stephen
Ministry is confidential lay caring ministry. Stephen Ministers
are not therapists or counselors but caring friends who offer
a listening ear to help others through the tough times in life.
Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised in their ministry.
They journey with individual adults who may be experiencing different
types of needs. These may include but are not limited to:
Crisis
Care: People dealing with hospitalization, a terminal
illness, the death of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, a severe
financial setback, a natural disaster, the aftermath of a fire,
retirement, the stress of moving, being a victim or a perpetrator
of a crime, suffering a miscarriage.
Follow-Up
Care: Those recovering from additional crisis flare-ups,
experiencing issues related to loss, grief after a surgery, loneliness,
renewed feelings of anger and grief.
Chronic
Care: Long term illness or suffering, disabilities, aging,
being homebound, experiencing chronic pain, living with degenerative
diseases.
Preventive
Care: A woman expecting her first child, someone approaching
retirement, getting married jitters, empty nest syndrome, getting
a promotion.
Supportive
Care: Someone caring for a dying spouse, people caring
for aging parents, parents of a special needs child, son or daughter
supporting a parent through the death and funeral of the other
parent, parent supporting an adult child through the pain of a
divorce.
What Happens When You Ask for Help from a Stephen Minister?
When
you request a Stephen Minister, Bobbie Bonk (970-484-3356, confidential
voice mail 970-5719) will contact you to talk more about Stephen
Ministry and what it can mean to you. If your needs can be best
served by a Stephen Minister, you will be matched with someone
who will support you through this tough time. Confidentiality
is a top priority for Stephen Ministers. You do not need to be
concerned that other people will discover what you talk about
with your Stephen Minister.
We
All Know Someone…
Someone
in crisis who doesn’t know where to turn.
Someone who is tense, upset, worn out—needing someone to
talk with, someone to care.
You’d like to help. But how?
There
are three easy steps.
1. Listen and care for your friend in your own relationship together.
2. Ask you friend for permission to share his or her need with
someone who can help. Be sure to tell your friend that all information
will be kept confidential.
3. Once permission is given, report his or her need as promptly
as possible. You can do this by calling Bobbie Bonk 970-484-3356
or confidential voice mail 530-7917.
When
I Report a Need for Care, How Can I Keep It Confidential?
Confidentiality
is the foundation of Stephen Ministry. Care receivers do not need
to worry that others will find out what they discuss with their
Stephen Ministers. When you report a need, you are the first important
link in this process of confidentiality.
You can help maintain confidentiality by:
- Never talking about a need unless you have permission from the
person to mention it;
- Never asking a Stephen Minister about the caring relationship
he or she is part of; and/or
- Telling others about Stephen Ministry and then asking for permission
to report their needs. Permission is absolutely necessary.
Confidentiality
makes care possible. You can be a part of it.
Who Will Know?
Who
will know about my problem if I talk to a Stephen Minister? Many
people ask this question. Confidentiality is the cornerstone of
Stephen Ministry. No one will find out what you discuss with your
Stephen Minister. If you have a burden you need to share, perhaps
a Stephen Minister can help.
Copyright ©2000 by Stephen Ministries, St. Louis.
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