Stephen Ministry expands caregiving at Niles First Presbyterian Church

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Dr. Dan Stenberg of First Presbyterian Church of Niles was among 446 pastors and lay leaders returning last week from a Stephen Ministry Leader’s Training Course (LTC) Aug. 1-8 in Pittsburgh.

Participants came from 39 U.S. states, Canada and Australia to take part in an intensive one-week study of a system of Christian caregiving.

The Pittsburgh group represented 46 denominations and 286 separate congregations.

Since the program was founded in 1975, more than 10,000 congregations from 154 denominations have brought Stephen Ministry to their local communities.

Dr. Stenberg, formerly of Southwestern Michigan College, will lead a team of Stephen Ministers at First Presbyterian, which has had a program since 1978.

“Stephen Ministry gives First Presbyterian an effective way to train and organize members to provide one-on-one Christian care to individuals struggling with a crisis such as grief, divorce, loneliness, relocation, hospitalization, a terminal illness, or unemployment,”said Pastor Fran Lane-Lawrence. “Even a joyous event such as child birth or adoption is often life- changing and calls for special care.

“The need for care greatly exceeds what a pastor alone can provide. All Christians are called to care for and love one another — it’s not just the pastor’s job. By equipping laypeople, we can help them fulfill their calling as Christians and also expand the amount of caring ministry available at First Presbyterian.”

Dr. Stenberg, currently a Stephen Minister, was trained as a Stephen Leader at the Pittsburgh conference.

His next steps will be to recruit, select and train members of First Presbyterian to become new Stephen Ministers, the ones who will provide the one-on-one care.

Those newly trained will join current Stephen Ministers and will be matched with individuals in need of care.

Training involves extensive study, ongoing supervision upon completion and lifelong continuing education.

“One of the highlights of the LTC was that people from dozens of denominations set aside any differences for seven days and became unified in a single mission: how to bring Christ’s healing love to hurting peoples,” said Dr. Stenberg. “My small study group included a Methodist pastor, a Baptist pastor, a Roman Catholic lay leader, an Assembly of God pastor, an Evangelical Free Church lay leader and others. It’s a beautiful thing to find almost 500 people lifting their voices in song and working together to bring Christ’s love of people through people.”

For more information about Stephen Ministry at First Presbyterian contact Dr. Stenberg through the church office at 683-7600.