Chapter 6 and 7 of the Book of Acts tell the story of Stephen. It states that Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit and he was one of the disciples chosen to attend to the needs of the widows.

Every day someone around us is faced with an upheaval in his or her life. It may be from a breakup in a relationship; a serious illness; the death of a loved one; or the loss of employment. Disappointments and struggles abound in life. Think about some of the elderly people in nursing homes who haven’t anyone to reach out to and all they want is for someone to spend an hour with them talking about life and the love of Christ.

As Christians, we believe that all the brokenness has one origin: our brokenness from God. Because we are broken from God, we are also broken from one another. In our hearts, we hunger deeply to be put back together, to be reconciled with God and with one another. If we could somehow cut the heart of the world in half, we would find a God-shaped hole.

Jesus Christ came to feed that hunger and to bridge the gap between God and us. Stephen Ministers are people who know brokenness first hand. But we also know the wholeness that comes through faith in Jesus. Stephen Ministers do not cure peoples’ hurts. We do not solve their problems. Our task is to be a loving, life-giving presence of Jesus Christ in their midst. Through listening, caring, loving and compassion, we accompany hurting and broken people on the long journey toward wholeness. Ours is a very intentional association with one in need that takes great skill and faith. Its effectiveness is not found in method, but in conveying Christ’s love. Success is as sure as the Christ who promises to be present with us.

When we establish trusting, compassionate relationships with hurting people in the name of Jesus, healing begins. How healing it is to know someone is listening and really hears and understands and does not judge. This is the fertile soil in which broken lives begin to grow strong. It is not salvation itself, but it can surely open the door to faith. 

In 1995 Cross of Hope commissioned its first Stephen Ministers. All Stephen Ministers have fifty hours of training and on-going supervision in ministry. There are many occasions when the ministry of others can touch us with the love of God in Christ Jesus. Some examples are:

• grief (when someone we love dies)
• divorce
• depression
• hospitalization
• suicide
• childbirth
• unemployment
• dying
• family crisis
• nursing-home care
• caring for older adults and parents

Stephen Ministers are trained to listen in absolute confidentiality. Stephen Ministers understand that human beings have physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual needs. The Stephen Ministers take seriously their responsibility to provide spiritual and emotional care for members of Cross of Hope.

Our Stephen Ministry program is an extension of Stephen Ministries of St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Kenneth Haug, Director. This organization provides materials and education for the training of the Stephen Ministry Leaders of Cross of Hope, who in turn train the Stephen Ministers here.

To be assigned a Stephen Minister for your need(s), contact Pastor Dale Bauer at 897-0047. If you would like to be part of this Christian care-giving ministry, which is a two year commitment and includes fifty hours of training, also speak with Pastor Dale.