The Stephen Ministry At Divinity Lutheran Church

Dear Loretta, "Thank you so much for suggesting to me that I should consider having a Stephen Minister. As you know, I did that and the relationship certainly made a big difference in my grief walk. She listened to me, cried with me, laughed with me and prayed with and for me. There is no doubt that she helped me heal during a very difficult time in my life."

And then there was a conversation that went something like this ... Suggesting to me that I should consider a Stephen Minister opened for me a friendship that was equal to no other. I am glad I did that. He understood my pain, and my concern. He listened to me, talked with me (not at me), called me, visited me, prayed with me and kept me in his personal prayers. He cared for me as long as his own health permitted him to do so. Subsequent to this relationship, both the caregiver and the care receiver have entered the Church Triumphant.

The above paragraphs are examples of a gender-related ministry that exists at Divinity Lutheran Church. It has been in place for over eight years now. Pastor Doug Gunkelman put this ministry in place when he arrived at Divinity from Nebraska. The one statement that describes this ministry is, "CHRIST CARING FOR PEOPLE THROUGH PEOPLE".

There can be times when each of us might need the care of another person, a Christian friend, a Stephen Minister! There are many different situations in life like hospitalization, personal terminal illness, or illness of a family member, and the family itself; people who move in or out of our community, those grieving a death or serious loss, the home bound and institutionalized, prisoners, ex-offenders and their families, those with a job crisis, financial difficulties, the aging and elderly, those with disabilities and their families, those facing life transitions, the separated or divorced, households experiencing birth or adoption and those in spiritual crisis.

The Stephen Ministry is one that is committed to caring and supporting one another through a confidential, gender-related (man to man, woman to woman) one-to-one relationship by trained, caring parishioners. Anyone receiving care can be sure that their identity and what goes on or is said in the caring relationship will remain private. The only people who know the identity of a care receiver are the caregiver, the pastor, and the ministry coordinator.

It is named Stephen Ministry after one of the first persons commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry. The Ministers themselves receive very extensive training. The initial training takes 50 hours and is provided by leaders who have been trained to teach. Continuing education, a retreat and peer supervision is an ongoing part of the minister's experience.

Stephen Ministry has been in existence since 1975 when its founder, Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist, saw the need in his own congregation and trained nine members to help him provide the needed care. At their suggestion and encouragement he founded Stephen Ministries to equip congregations to train laity for this special ministry. The headquarters, staff of clergy and lay people are based in St. Louis, Missouri. It now has enrolled over 9,000 congregations worldwide. Over 100 denominations are involved in 20 countries and 6 continents. More than 37,000 leaders have been trained to provide training to over 300,000 lay ministers. On the local Divinity scene, we have five leaders (teachers) trained and teaching. Thirty ministers have been trained, some of whom have gone way beyond the original required two year commitment. All of these ministers reach out to extend the love of Christ to others in a non­judgmental way, following the command of Christ to "Love one another as I have loved you."