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INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN LEADER ABOUT
STEPHEN MINISTRY TRAINING
"Linda, for several months I've been reading in The Chimes about Stephen Ministry. I am interested in taking the training to be a Stephen Minister. Just how do I go about finding out more and applying for the training?"
Periodically our church offers the training course to prepare church members to be Stephen Ministers. This training comprises fifty hours of course work taught by a trained Stephen Leader. A few of the topics covered in the training sessions are the art of listening, identifying and reflecting feelings, distinctively Christian caregiving, and the ethics of confidentiality. Those church members who are interested may fill out a formal application with the church office.
"Tell me about the training, Linda: when will it begin?; how long will it last?; when and how long are the training sessions?; what are the training sessions like?
The current training session began Wednesday, January 30th, with the “Person of the Caregiver” being the focus of that meeting. Class runs from 5:30-7:30 pm. During a typical session, the participants will have an opportunity to discuss the pre-class reading selections that prepare them for the topic, hear additional information on the topic, and practice the skills they are learning in prescribed role playing situations.
"What is the commitment a trainee makes in terms of time and length of service?
The current group of trainees will finish their training at the end of May, 2008. Then they will be commissioned by the congregation to become Stephen Ministers. They are asked to commit to three years of service.
"What else should I know about Stephen Ministry before I apply for the training?"
Stephen Ministers meet for peer support twice a month whether they have a care receiver or not. During these meetings, we discuss the caring relationships that the various care givers have. The emphasis here is on providing the best possible Christian care to the care receivers. We encourage one another, offer suggestions, and pray for one another.
All the church members involved in Stephen Ministry thank you for your continued support and prayers for us.
Linda S. Haynes, Stephen Leader
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