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Hours of Operation
The
Child Care Center
is designed for children between the ages of
2 to 5.
We are
open
Monday - Friday from
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For more information about our facility,
please call us at
(941) 484-4415.
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Frequently
Asked Questions |
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What
is the significance of the Stephen Ministry Logo?
The Stephen Ministry logo shows two
individuals, one behind a dominant cross
who is
broken, and one
in front who has experienced Christ’s unconditional love
and has
been
made whole. The cross in the logo reminds us that
everything
Stephen Ministers do is
done in the name of Jesus.
Who started Stephen
Ministries and why?
Dr. Kenneth Haugk, a pastor & clinical
psychologist in St. Louis, Missouri founded
Stephen Ministries
as a non-profit religious & educational organization in 1974.
Fresh out of seminary, Haugk, quickly learned that the need for
care far exceeded
that which he could provide.
Ephesians 4:11-13 states: “His gifts
were that some
should be apostles, some prophets,
some
evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
for the equipment of
the saints, for the work
of
the ministry, for building up the body
of Christ until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and
of the knowledge of the Son
of God.” Haugk realized that God didn’t intend for pastors to
monopolize ministry.
He recruited 9 lay people who had
the gifts and heart to do caring ministry. He then
used his
backgrounds in theology and psychology to develop a training
program
in Christian caregiving. We enrolled in the Stephen
Ministry program in April 2002.
Who was Stephen?
Stephen
Ministers are named after St. Stephen, who was one of 7
individuals
commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring
ministry. Acts 6:5-7 says,
“They chose Stephen, a man
full
of faith and of the Holy Spirit
and the word
of God increased.
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What Does A Stephen
Minister Do?
Stephen Ministers share God’s love by
listening, encouraging, comforting, and
praying
with and for
individuals facing a crisis or difficult time in their life. Stephen
Ministers will visit once per week for about an hour for
as long as the need exists.
You will care for only one
care
receiver at a time. You are not expected to spend
any money
whatsoever on the care receiver. You are not responsible to
personally
provide any other services for a care receiver, such
as, grocery shopping, or
transportation to a doctor’s
appointment.
Are Stephen Ministers
Counselors?
Stephen Ministers are not professional
counselors, therapists, psychologists,
or social workers. They
are caregivers and do not work in situations that require
the
skills of a
trained professional. They are not experts in law,
finance, or church
doctrine, a household helper, a Biblical
scholar or a “super” Christian.
What is a Stephen Leader?
Stephen Leader's are trained individuals in our congregation who
oversee
and direct
our Stephen Ministry.
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Who is allowed to use
the services?
This program is open to everyone in our church and community,
and includes
all denominations. Stephen Ministers work with
individuals and not with
couples or families.What impact does
Stephen Ministry have on the pastor?
Stephen Ministers do not replace the
counseling that is available from the
Pastoral Staff. Our Stephen Ministers work together
with our pastors to reach
more
people with Christian
care than pastors could reach alone.
Do I really need
care?
Am I confused about events in my life? Do
I feel like I have lost control of my
life and my problems? Do I
doubt God’s presence and love for me? Am I
hurting? Do my job
worries
seem too great to handle? 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 affected my lifestyle?
Am I having difficulty making
decisions and finding answers?
How can I arrange for
the care of a Stephen Minister?
Call the Church Office at (941) 488-4137
and they will forward your name
and phone
number to one of our
Stephen Leaders. |
How can
I become a Stephen Minister?
Please call the Church Office for more information. You will be
required to
fill out an
application, be interviewed, and attend
training classes. Are you
a healing person? Do you care about
others? We invite you to consider
becoming a Stephen
Minister
to help those who are hurting to heal.
What will I gain from becoming a Stephen Minister?
The benefits of becoming involved with the
Stephen Ministry include spiritual
growth, the development of
new skills, enhancement of your God given talents,
self-confidence, and
the satisfaction that comes from helping
people.How do I start a
Stephen Ministry in my Church?
Contact the St.
Louis Headquarters for Stephen Ministries for an
informational packet at the address listed below or visit their official
web
site at:
http://www.stephenministries.org.
Stephen Ministries
2045 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri
63114-5765
Telephone: (314) 428-2600 |
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