Stephen Ministry at BSPC: Listening and Care

One of my most meaningful experiences at BSPC has been serving in Stephen Ministry as both a Stephen Minister and Stephen Leader. Whether in supervision groups, meeting congregants after worship or meeting with care receivers, such encounters have been lifegiving for me.

Stephen Ministry is basically a listening ministry. One of the principles drummed into Stephen Ministers during training is that while the Stephen Minister is the caregiver, God is the cure giver. That relieves any pressure the Stephen Ministers may feel, especially before meeting with their first care receiver. Although the Stephen Ministry training is “distinctively Christian”, its leaders work to make it Broad Street Presbyterian’s brand of Christianity.

I hope some of you will consider becoming a Stephen Minister as one way of answering God’s call. There is a training class starting in the fall, taught by our newly trained and commissioned leaders, Linda Clem and Grace Gregg. Some of the training topics include: the art of listening, feelings, maintaining boundaries, using mental health and other community resources to mention just a few of the 25 topics covered.

In this picture: Pastor Ann Palmerton with Linda & Grace, our new Stephen Leaders.

During my time as a Stephen Minister, I have had 4 care receivers beginning with an OSU college student whose presenting problem was with her roommate. But we progressed from there to other parts of her life. My other care receivers were church members and all remain meaningful friendships.

One of the challenges of being a church with Stephen Ministers is finding willing care receivers in the congregation. We rely on our ministers to encourage folks going through rough patches or transitions to spend time with a Stephen Minister. If you’re going through a hard time, are depressed or lonely or in a period of grief, consider having a Stephen Minister.

Both of our pastors strongly support the program. Ann Palmerton is our competent staff resource who matches caregiver with care receiver. In 2000 she, Jane Nance (now part of the church triumphant) and Jim Skidmore attended Leader’s Training and started Stephen Ministry here at Broad Street.

I can’t emphasize enough how transformative Stephen Ministry training and especially the community that emerges from the training becomes. It is truly a life changing experience, which involves growth toward becoming a new person in Christ. Caregiving training via Stephen Ministry will provide you with experiences and an environment that will nourish your faith life as you follow God’s call to serve. Give it a try!

-Written by: Betty Lou Stull.