Becoming a Stephen Minister

As the Stephen Minister provides one-to-one caregiving to another, there is an ongoing time commitment involved in the ministry that requires the minister to be able to meet with their care receiver weekly for about one hour.  Stephen Ministers also are required to attend monthly supervision meetings where they discuss their ministry and continue to receive on-going training.

At the completion of training, Stephen Ministers are commissioned during a worship service to serve others.  Stephen Ministers are then matched with a care receiver by the Leadership Team. The match continues as long as the care receiver requires care.

To learn more about becoming a Stephen Minister, call the church at 920-231-7520, and ask to talk to the Stephen Ministry Coordinator, Ginnie Sherer.

Bear one another's burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ. -- Galatians 6:2

Trainees are provided with the necessary training materials through FCC.  Training materials include three books that are read as class assignments and a set of training manuals, which also include required readings for training.

Following acceptance into the training, the person will receive more than 25 hours of training about how to provide Christian Caregiving to another person.  Topics covered in training include: listening, feelings, behavioral health information on depression and suicide, confidentiality, boundaries, grief and prayer.  Training will help to explore the minister's faith and commitment to working with others in providing lay pastoral care.

Stephen Ministers are selected by the Leadership Team with input of the FCC Pastor to attend Stephen Ministry Training.  The interested person completes a written Stephen Ministry Application, is interviewed by two people from the Leadership Team and is required to complete a background check before attending Stephen Ministry Training.

Stephen Ministers are lay people within the FCC congregation who have the gift of mercy, the ability to be compassionate and encouraging to someone they are caring for.