Stephen Ministry
What Is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministers are there to care as you are going through a difficult time—physically, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. Stephen Ministers are trained caregivers, ready to listen and encourage you, pray with and for you, and provide confidential one-to-one Christian care. Stephen Ministers provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, job loss, loneliness, disability, relocation, and other difficult life circumstances.
ZUMC is one of more than 13,000 congregations from more than 180 Christian denominations that now have Stephen Ministry. Over 600,000 people have been trained as Stephen Ministers, a number that grows by tens of thousands each year. More than one-and-a-half million people across the United States, Canada, and the world have been touched by God’s love through a Stephen Minister. Through all these people—including our own 22 Stephen Ministers and their care receivers—the story of Stephen Ministry continues.
Important Notes
Stephen Ministers are not counselors. They are trained to be lay Christian caregivers. Their role is to listen and care, not to counsel or advise.
Stephen Ministry is a supervised ministry. Stephen Ministers engage in twice-monthly supervision, led by their Stephen Leaders, to ensure that they are providing the best Christian care they can.
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry. What a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister stays between the two of them. Even in supervision, the names of care receivers and specific details are never discussed.
If you think you might be interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, or feel you would benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please contact Dianne Studebaker at 317-450-6802 or dianne8672@gmail.com.
Additional information about Stephen Ministry is available at stephenministries.org
STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER FOR JULY 2024
Stephen Ministry at ZUMC would like to invite you to join us as we learn more about SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER on Monday, July 22nd at 7:00 PM in the Chapel.
Please join us as we hear presentations by members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. We will also have a presentation from the Boone County Health Department on Intranasal Naloxone (NARCAN) which will include a brief training on administering NARCAN, which is available FREE from the Boone County Health Department and is also available FREE in vending machines at many hospital locations.
Substance Use Disorder, formerly known as addiction, is a disorder impacting thousands of Hoosiers. Substance Use Disorder isn’t a behavior problem. It’s a chronic disorder that changes the brain and body. Substance use disorder can be treated. Treatment takes time but there are many highly effective options available.
Every community in our state is touched by substance use disorder. Around half a million Hoosiers, or one in twelve of us1, meet the criteria for substance use disorder. You likely have a friend, family member, neighbor, or colleague who suffers from some form of this disorder.
Studies show that people who have substance use disorder often face stigma and negative attitudes. They may encounter mistreatment, stereotyping, and negative bias from society, even in healthcare settings. These challenges discourage them from getting the help they need.
We can fight against stigma in our own communities by supporting, listening to, and learning from those who live with substance use disorder. Destigmatizing this disorder can help more Hoosiers seek the treatment they need and ultimately find recovery.
Stephen Ministers are not trained to treat substance use disorder but are trained to recognize the need for help and to make referrals, as needed. Please join us as we do our part to help others get the help they need. Please contact Dianne Studebaker at 317-450-6802 (cell) or dianne8672@gmail.com if you have any questions about this presentation or about Stephen Ministry.