Stephen Ministry began in 1975 when the Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a pastor and clinical psychologist, trained nine laypeople at his congregation in St. Louis to be Stephen Ministers. They assisted him in providing distinctively Christian care to members of the congregation and community. These trained caregivers were so enthused about their ministry, they encouraged Dr. Haugk to offer Stephen Ministry to more congregations. Today, more than 10,000 different congregations are enrolled in the program and serve in 25 countries.
A Stephen Minister is not a therapist, but a layperson or better known as a "Care Giver", providing care to a person going through a crisis which could include divorce, loss of a loved one, spiritual crisis, terminal illness, hospitalization, aging, and so on.
A Stephen Minister receives 50 hours of training to provide emotional and spiritual care. These individuals are people who have a heart for God and a heart to care for people who are hurting. They are someone to "be there" for the "Care Receivers", meeting faithfully approximately one hour per week for as long as needed.
Liberty Churches commissioned its first Stephen Ministry class on January 9, 2010 at the 6:30pm service in Shrewsbury and on January 10, 2010 at the 11:00am service in Shrewsbury and at the 10:00am service at the New England Dream Center in Worcester.
A Stephen Minister is not a therapist, but a layperson or better known as a "Care Giver", providing care to a person going through a crisis which could include divorce, loss of a loved one, spiritual crisis, terminal illness, hospitalization, aging, and so on.
A Stephen Minister receives 50 hours of training to provide emotional and spiritual care. These individuals are people who have a heart for God and a heart to care for people who are hurting. They are someone to "be there" for the "Care Receivers", meeting faithfully approximately one hour per week for as long as needed.
Liberty Churches commissioned its first Stephen Ministry class on January 9, 2010 at the 6:30pm service in Shrewsbury and on January 10, 2010 at the 11:00am service in Shrewsbury and at the 10:00am service at the New England Dream Center in Worcester.
