Stephen Ministry at Oswego Presbyterian Church

Its Mission:  Stephen Ministry is a lay caring ministry    in which one person reaches out to another during a time of need or crisis, offering encouragement and friendship in an ongoing helping relationship.

Who May Want To Join:  A Stephen minister is trained to be an encourager, a listener, a confidential "special friend," to someone who may be experiencing any number of life's trials or crises. A Stephen minister should be someone who cares about others, one who has a heart for people and is compassionate and empathic and who, of course, has the time to commit to an extensive training program and a very worthwhile ministry.
    
Activities:  Lay caregivers called Stephen Ministers provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry does not replace the visitations by the pastors, but supplements and helps pastors enhance the church’s caring ministry. To date, about 60 of us have received this training since it was started at OPC. Each annual class consists of between 5 and 15 members. The training includes classes  on listening, feelings, confidentiality and assertiveness, and specific situations such as grief, death and dying, illness, depression, divorce and ministering to the elderly or shut-ins. Scroll down for more about the 2009/2010 class recently concluded. We expect to start a new class in September, 2010.
 
Individual Ministry Opportunities:  Stephen Ministry will bring many blessings into your life including 1) growing in the understanding of your own Christian calling, 2) knowing that you are a vital part of the body of Christ and are fulfilling the commandment of Jesus to "love one another" and 3) finding that the skills you receive in the training are applicable in your everyday life as well as in the lay caring ministry.

Meetings & Time Commitments:  A 2-year initial commitment, beginning in late September, is necessary. This will include the 50-hour training course over five months of weekly classes and two overnight retreats. After commissioning, you will be asked to attend a support team meeting each month and, most importantly of course, you will be expected to make weekly visits in ministry with an assigned care receiver. This is a substantial commitment of time and effort, but it could be one of your most fulfilling commitments. Please contact us if you think you may be interested in enrolling in the 2010/2011 class we expect to start in September.
   
Contact:  Kathy Mozingo  

2009/2010 Class Picture

On March 21, Laura Arthur, Norine Leithem, Jim Davidson and Kathy Davidson were commissioned at Oswego Presbyterian Church (OPC) as Stephen Ministers after completing the 20-week series of Stephen Ministry Training classes held jointly with Good Shepherd Methodist (GSM) and St. Luke’s Lutheran (SLL) churches. Many of their classmates and Stephen Ministry leaders from the other churches participated in the commissioning.

[First row left to right]  Pam Nickels (SLL), Jim Davidson (OPC), Kathy Davidson (OPC), Norine Leithem (OPC), Laura Arthur (OPC), Billie Mateer (GSM) and Kathy Mozingo (OPC leader)
[Second row left to right]  Ken Mozingo (OPC leader), Donna Beitel (OPC leader), Carol Steinwart (SLL leader), Eileen Wendorf (SLL leader), Shirley Bamford (SLL), Kathy Perez (GSM) and Ruth Henning (SLL leader)
[Third row left to right]  Dennis Batt (SLL), Linda Batt (SLL), Nancy Patush (GSM leader), PK McDonald (GSM) and Tim Scott (SLL)]
[not present for this picture]  Debbie Ingram (GSM), Diane Gross (OPC), Nancy Brossman (Wheatland Pres.), Dick & Deb Krase (OPC), Nancy Webb (OPC), Lyn Santa (GSM leader)

Stephen Ministry trains and organizes members to provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals struggling with a crisis such as grief, divorce, loneliness, relocation, hospitalization, terminal illness, unemployment, and other serious issues.  The need for this type of care far exceeds what a pastor alone can provide. Oswego Presbyterian has had Stephen Ministry for 23 years and has trained over 60 members to become Stephen Ministers. The training of these faithful servants empowers them to fulfill their calling as Christians and expands the amount of care giving ministry available through our churches.