First Christian Church of Medina, Ohio

• It is a one-to-one ministry by trained, caring lay people.

• It is a long term helping relationship focusing on the unique needs of each person.

• It is a commitment to caring and supporting one another, to build a Christ-centered, sharing community.

• It is a response to Christ's instruction..."to love one another as I have loved you.

• It is a religious and educational system of training and organization, which is already working in many congregations throughout the country.

• It is a ministry named after St. Stephen, the first deacon in the early church, commissioned by the apostles to care for the community's needs.

A lay person, man or woman who through training will learn skills and develop his/her gifts for bringing Christ's healing love to people who are lonely, grieving, strangers, new parents, ill, or experiencing other stresses in life.

A caring and sharing person who reaches out a supporting hand to the spiritual, social, and emotional needs of our community.

Click picture to see a larger image of Our Stephen Ministers

Row 1: Bobbi Way, Norma Watterman, Lois Hollopeter, Toni Hollopeter

Row 2: Chris Robinson, Dave Watterman, Beth Beal, Linda Lee Marty, Lisa Robinson, Bonnie Porter

Row 3: Mark Way, Dave Kreiner, Chris Peacock, Kit Marty, Tom Dade

Missing: Susan Chaplin, Dana Graham, Rev. Teresa Dulyea-Parker, Ron Foster, Marcia Paladino

How Does Stephen Ministry Work at FCC?

A Stephen Ministry training program prepares interested men and women to become Stephen Ministers, equipping them to care for the many needs in our congregation.

Their 50 hours of training will include topics such as: feelings, listening, assertiveness, confidentiality, crisis intervention, use of prayer and bible, grief, divorce, etc.

Following training, the Stephen Minister will be commissioned as part of our ministry team at FCC. The Stephen Minister will work in continual consultation with our ministers and receive ongoing training and supervision.

Our Congregation and Entire Community Will Benefit!

• Our community will have a new and lasting commitment to caring.
• Our community as a whole will grow in warmth and love. Caring is contagious.
• People receiving the caring and support will experience an increased closeness and involvement with the congregation.
• Stephen Ministers themselves will experience personal growth and enrichment of their own lives.

Stephen Ministry Is ...

• A lay, caring ministry in which one person reaches out to another in time of need.

• An ongoing helping relationship--people who need help, get help.

• A meaningful way for our congregation to more fully use our talents in sharing one another's burdens and joys.

A Stephen Minister Is ...

• A caring Christian--desiring to offer his/her support to others in time of need.

• A sharing Christian--bringing who he/she is to each helping relationship, as a partner in another's life experiences.

• A trained Christian--having developed his/her helping skills through intensive course work.

• A dedicated Christian--commissioned by our congregation to confidential, in-depth caring.

A Stephen Minister Is NOT ...

• A professional counselor or psychologist.

• A social worker providing lots of physical services.

• An expert in law, finance, or church doctrines.

• A brief, superficial visitor, "touching base" with people now and then.

Click Here To visit the Stephen Ministries Homepage and Learn more.

Last modified: 01/24/07

Website developed by Kit Marty.  Copyright © 2003 First Christian Church, Medina, Ohio.  All rights reserved.
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