Stephen Ministry at Sun Lakes United Methodist Church
(Listing - Stephen Ministers - SLUMC 7/6/2005)
Annual Retreat November 17, 2005
Retreat February 12-14 "Spirit in the Desert" Carefree, AZ
Stephen Ministry "Appreciation Day" January 27, 2008

July 2005 – Ramona Ehrmantraut, Coordinator

We are in our fifteenth year of Stephen Ministry

• Approximately 120 persons have been trained in our congregation.
• Regular visits and monthly communion are taken to members and friends of SLUMC who are home bound or at care centers.

Our congregation has been enrolled in the Stephen Series since 1990.

Stephen Ministry is a system of training and organizing lay persons for caring ministry in and around congregations. Stephen Ministry is based in St. Louis, MO, and was founded by Rev. Kenneth Haugh in 1975. “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galations 6:2

STEPHEN MINISTERS

• ARE LAY Christians
• Are selected, trained and supervised by their congregation’s Stephen Leaders to provide effective one-on-one Christian care to others.
• Typically make an initial two-year commitment to serve

STEPHEN LEADERS INCLUDE

Our pastor, Larry Gerber has received training in Stephen Ministry as well as Ramona Ehrmantraut our Stephen Ministry Coordinator.

• Lay leaders trained at one-week Leaders Training Course are;
• MikeAndrews, Kenny Chappee, Jane Gerber, Jane Hill, Mac Jewett, Blaine Johnson, Pat Johnson, Loretta Munsell, Wes Noel, Betty Park, Bob Park, Terry Terrill, Vivian Urton, Jule Yim & Rev. Tony Yim.

STEPHEN MINISTERS

• listen
• pray
• encourage
• care
• visit faithfully
• bring Christ’s love and care

STEPHEN MINISTRY

• Multiplies the ministry of our congregation by extending the reach of the pastors
• Enables the entire congregation to grow as a warm, loving, nurturing community as the caring of Stephen Minister’s expands to more and more lives
• Enriches the live of Stephen Ministers at they apply caring skills to other important relationships

STEPHENS MINISTRY

• Meets the needs of people through CONFIDENTIAL, caring visits to
• the hospitalized
• the terminally ill and their spouses
• those grieving a death or serious loss
• homebound and those in care centers, when communion is taken to them once a month
• those facing life transitions such as retirement, divorce, disabilities or spiritual crisis

STEPHEN MINISTERS ARE SKILLED

• They receive 50 hours of training, using state-of-the art training resources
• A new class will be scheduled in the fall, with Myles and Carol Traphagen as leaders. After being commissioned, they receive ongoing continuing education at monthly meetings and semi-annual retreats

IF YOU OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU WOULD BENEFIT FROM HAVING A STEPHEN MINISTER

• Check with them first, then
• Call Ramona Ehrmantraut @ 802-2333 or the church office

IF YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A STEPHEN MINISTER

• Call Ramona Ehrmantraut @ 802-2333 or see any of the Stephen Ministers (those with the blue nametags) on Sunday morning.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT STEPHEN MINISTRY AT SUNLAKES UMC

• PRAY for our Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers at they provide Christian care to others.
• PRAY for all that are receiving confidential care through the Stephen Ministry of our congregation.
• TELL others in our community about the availability of our congregation’s Stephen Ministry and the care it can provide.
• RECEIVE Stephen Ministry when you are in need of supportive Christian Care.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON STEPHEN MINISTRY, GO TO THE WEBSITE AT.

http://www.stephenministry.com/