HOW STEPHEN MINISTRY STARTED AT TUMC.

"The Stephen Ministry was begun at TUMC in 1996.  Ann Beaty and Elizabeth Douglass attended a leadership training session in April of that year in St. Louis , Missouri ,  and the following August we started our first training class.

After taking the Stephen Ministry Training Class, Helen Almanza went for leadership training and joined our teaching staff, but had to leave because of other duties.  Sue Cullen then joined us. Sue  attended leadership training and served as a Stephen Leader in another congregation  prior to moving to Austin . 

We have trained over 80 people and presently have 74 on our rolls. This ministry is named after Stephen, the first layperson the Apostles asked to care for the needs of that early congregation (Acts 6:1-6).

Our goal with the training sessions is to equip our congregation to be better care giving people in their daily living. It is our hope that participants will serve in the congregation as a Stephen Minister, but is not a requirement of the training. Our ministerial staff supports this ministry, and feels it is just one more way that we can keep our community of TUMC connected and cared for.  As our church family grows, the Stephen Ministry assists and supports our clergy, and congregation in various ways. 

WAYS OUR STEPHEN MINISTERS SERVE OUR
CONGREGATION:

1.  Some Stephen Ministers serve on what we call our Hospital Visitation Team ; each weekend. One member of this team visits our congregation members that are hospitalized at that time, and then does a follow-up call when they are released. 

2.  Some Stephen Ministers serve on our Funeral Care Team . The FCT provides support for a family when there is a funeral at the church. One member of the team is at the church for the family, and then does a follow-up call/visit a few weeks later.  If the funeral is held out-of-town, a member of the team makes a follow-up call to check on how they are doing.

3.  Some Stephen Ministers serve on our Homebound Visitation Team . These persons visit those from our congregation who are living in retirement/nursing homes or who are unable to leave their homes. They visit at least once a month and sometimes more often. 

4.  Some Stephen Ministers are involved in what we call one-on-
one relationships with someone that is going through a difficult time
(divorce, all kinds of losses, feelings of isolation or guilt or lack of self-
confidence, etc.)  These relationships may go on for several weeks or
months, but we are there for the duration and these relationships are
completely confidential.

A FINAL WORD.

Stephen Ministers are not counselors.  We are lay people who have had special training in communication, feelings, crises, spirituality and establishing emphatic/loving relationships.  This training is wonderful life training, whether you sign up to become a Stephen Minister or not. Taking our training course does not obligate you in anyway to become an official Stephen Minister.

We will begin another class this fall, August 22, and our last class will
be on February 27, 2007 .  The class is held on Tuesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. and child care is available by reservation. We do have a week off at Thanksgiving and two weeks off over Christmas/New Years. 

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY ."Series on Caring"

The Stephen Ministry also sponsors speakers during the year on some of the 1st Tuesdays of the month.  Look for special announcements in the bulletin, on the TUMC website, and also posters placed around the church facilities.

If you have any questions, or are interested in joining our class this fall, please contact Elizabeth Douglass at 458-1812 or esdouglass@aol.com Staff contact is Ann Beaty.