Published: June 20, 2009 03:01 pm      

Lay ministers trained at Waterford Mennonite Church

Waterford Mennonite Church has recently begun Stephen Ministry, which will allow the congregation to reach out to more people with one-on-one Christian care.

Through Stephen Ministry, a team of Waterford Mennonite members, known as Stephen Ministers, has been equipped to provide Christian care to people facing a variety of personal crises. Some of the situations in which Stephen Ministers provide care include the loss of a loved one, divorce, a terminal illness, loneliness, unemployment, hospitalization, a spiritual crisis, and challenging life transitions.

Stephen Ministry is a trans-denominational caregiving ministry developed by Stephen Ministries of St. Louis. Begun in 1975, this program is now in use in more than 9,000 congregations from more than 100 Christian denominations.

On June 14, Waterford Mennonite Church commissioned five members as Stephen Ministers. These caregivers will serve under the leadership of Tina Schlabach, Bill Minter and Cheryl Snyder, the congregation’s Stephen Leaders.

“I’m excited about the way Stephen Ministers will expand the caring ministry here at Waterford,” said Tina Schlabach, Waterford’s pastor of care. “They will help me provide the quality, ongoing care people need for the duration of their crisis. For example, in a grief situation, an individual often receives a great amount of care in the immediate weeks after his or her loved one dies. With Stephen Ministry, a grieving person will receive quality care for a long as needed.”

Before commissioning, Waterford’s Stephen Ministers received 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving skills. Even after they begin providing care, Stephen Ministers will continue to meet monthly with a Stephen Leader for continuing education and supervision as they strive to offer the highest quality Christian caregiving.

A major emphasis of Stephen Minister training and supervision is on confidentiality. Those receiving care can be sure their identity and what goes on in the caring relationship will remain private.

Waterford Mennonite Church expects its Stephen Ministry to be a source of warmth care, and blessing for many years to come, enabling the entire congregation to continue to grow as a nurturing community where people are cherished and cared for and their needs taken seriously, all in the name of Christ, states a release from the church.