First Congregational Church of Cheshire

Stephen Ministry At First Congregational Church

Since 2004, First Congregational Church has been growing our caring through the Stephen Ministry. This is a highly effective ministry that has been successful in thousands of congregations from more than 100 denominations since 1975. It provides ongoing support and consultation from the experienced staff at Stephen Ministries in St. Louis, Mo.

Stephen Ministry, in our congregation, increases the number of caregivers by identifying, training, and supporting lay people to provide high quality Christian care. It supplements and strengthens the ministry of the ordained pastors; the needs for care far exceed what pastors can provide. Stephen Ministers are laymen and laywomen who provide one-to-one Christian care to people who are bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, or otherwise facing a crisis or life challenge.

Lay leaders are extensively trained, and direct the Stephen Ministry in our church. Some of these lay leaders teach those who are interested and drawn to this biblically based and psychologically sound program. As of May 2008, nineteen lay ministers will have completed the 50-hour training.

Those with gifts for caregiving can nurture and use their gifts in ministry. They will grow in their faith as they see God working through them to touch the lives of others who are experiencing a difficult time in their lives and could benefit from ongoing one-to-one Christian care.

Examples of those benefiting from having a lay Stephen Minister are:

those grieving the loss of a loved one
terminally ill people and their families
people who are homebound
the hospitalized
those who are lonely
those with chronic illness or disability and their families
those affected by separation or divorce
those experiencing birth or adoption
those with a job crisis
those facing major transitions.

If you are interested in the Stephen Ministry, as a future lay minister, please call First Congregational Church at (203) 272-5323. If you wish to have a trained Christian friend walk with you through a difficult time, please call Sue Chatfield at 203 235-6294 or the church office.