I have had the privilege of being a Stephen Ministry Leader for the last couple of years. When I speak with people about this ministry, I am often met with confused looks and lots of questions. For a ministry that has been around for a long time with a stellar track record for offering comfort in times of crisis in the name of Jesus Christ, the lack of knowledge about what Stephen Ministry does is troubling for me.

As a Stephen Leader, one of my jobs is to increase understanding of the ministry. I am not sure that I have done as good a job as I should in this task. It is easy to stay within the bounds of comfort, talking only with those who are on the same wavelength. Those who don’t need a lot of effort to understand because they been a part of the ministry from the start here at Joy for almost eight years now.

However, to grow and continue to fulfill the mission of comfort and consolation for the people of Joy, the ministry needs a fuller understanding by all members. So, let’s start with the name – why Stephen? This ministry was named after the first martyr for the Christian faith, Stephen. But not because he was a martyr, but for the role to which he was appointed by the early church elders.

Stephen was the first lay deacon, assigned to care for the widows and orphans of the infant church. He was chosen along with six others to perform this ministry, freeing the Apostles to preach and teach. He was chosen to assist with the feeding and clothing of those in need.

There is a quite a long account of these happenings in Scripture (Acts 6 & 7, just two chapters but chocked full of information) which describes why he was appointed, his arrest, trial and defense and finally his execution. Several times, the description, “Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”, is used when speaking about him. In many ways, Stephen acted as Christ’s hands and feet on earth, just as today’s Stephen Ministers act for their care receivers.

And while today’s Stephen Ministry does not provide food and clothing to widows and orphans, they do bring the Bread of Life to those experiencing spiritual hunger and drought. Many situations may cause God’s people to be in spiritual stress. Pastors can provide the first dose of spiritual healing, but long- term recovery is aided by highly trained Stephen Ministers who can stay with the “widows and orphans”, the lonely and confused, the grieving and the angry, for as long as necessary, without judging, haranguing or abandoning.

Stephen Ministers are living proof that God loves you unconditionally.

Terri

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.”   Acts 6:8-10