John 21:16b Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The Church of God in Landisville is a Stephen Ministry congregation. We are in the process of implementing this very important ministry. The following questions are typical questions asked when a church begins this ministry.

What is a Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a system through which people in our church are trained and organized to help provide Christian care-giving to members of our congregation and community. This will multiply the amount of caring ministry that the Church of God of Landisville can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ's healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life.

Why Lay Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers. The responsibility for passing on God's love is for all Christians. Stephen Ministry is a way in which people with special gifts for caring ministry can use those gifts to bring Christ's love to people in need. We have many needs for care in our congregation and community; people experiencing divorce, grief, a terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, and empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges. With only two pastors, you can quickly see why it would be impossible for them to meet every single need of every single person. Stephen Ministry expands the care the Church of God in Landisville can offer by equipping and organizing members to provide Christian care.

Who are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are members of the Church of God in Landisville who have gone through 50 hours of training to provide high quality Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge. Stephen Ministers are each assigned a care receiver and meet with that care receiver at least once a week. This caring relationship will last for as long as the care receiver needs it.

How does Stephen Ministry Work?

When someone requests a Stephen Minister our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator will meet with that person to explain what Stephen Ministry is and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs. Our Referrals coordinator then matches that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for about an hour each week as long as the need is there. Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential. The Stephen Minister doesn't try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.

The symbol for Stephen Ministry is a cross and circle along with a broken person and a whole person.  The broken person behind the cross symbolizes the brokenness in our lives due to our sin and imperfections.  The whole person in front of the cross symbolizes the wholeness we can only receive through the cross of Jesus.  The circle symbolizes both the wholeness we receive through Christ and God's unending love for us.

Any questions about the Stephen Ministry should be directed to Pastor Barry Sellers or Barb Sutton, the Landisville Church of God trained Stephen Leaders.