Holy Cross has become a Stephen Ministry congregation. What does this mean? Holy Cross has trained members who provide quality care and extend the caring ministry our pastors already do.

Stephen Ministers are members of Holy Cross who have gone through 50 hours of training in providing high-quality Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge such as: divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, relocation, or loneliness. Stephen Ministers are each assigned a care receiver and meet with that care receiver for about an hour a week. This caring relationship will last for as long as the care receiver needs it.

It is one-to-one ministry by trained, caring lay-ministers who have responded to Christ's call to "carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2

Stephen Ministry is grounded in Jesus' command to love one another. Through one-to-one caring and confidential relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them.

• Loneliness
• Loss of a spouse
• Retirement changes
• Unemployment
• Despair
• Childbirth
• Hospitalization
• Separation & Divorce
• Grief
• Terminal illness
• Being shut-in
• Most of life's struggles

It provides someone who cares, supports, listens & shares.

A Stephen Minister is

• A child of God who walks beside a hurting person
• A caring Christian friend who really listens
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care.

A Stephen Minister is not

• A counsellor or therapist
• A problem solver
• A casual visitor

Do you have the gift of mercy, encouragement, or intercession?

• Pray for our Stephen Ministers
• Help us stay sensitive to those who need caring support
• Help make others aware of the support system that is available
• Consider God's direction as to whether you should become a Stephen Minister

If you are interested in being a Stephen Minister, complete an application available on the Church bulletin board (across from the Church office) or from the Church office. Following the training, you will be expected to provide care for your care receiver at least one hour per week. You will also be expected to participate in on-going supevision twice a month.

To find out more, contact:

• Kent Scheiwe at 577-4327 or kls@hclc.in.lcms.org
• Paula Patrick at 826-0216 or pkplaw@aol.com
• or the Holy Cross Church Office at 823-5801

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