After completing 50 hours of training, individual study, homework and reading, SPC members Linda Becken, Jane Henderson and Sandy Kaufhold were commissioned as Stephen Ministers at the June 29 SPC worship service.
“Stephen Ministry is about equipping congregation members to provide distinctively Christ-centered care to those who are going through difficult times,” said SPC Pastor Carrie Evans. “It’s a quiet ministry — but a powerful one. Week in and week out, our SPC Stephen Ministers meet confidentially with their care receivers, providing a listening ear and emotional and spiritual support. Today SPC is blessed add three additional Stephen Ministers to our current team.”
According to Evans, Stephen Ministry is a quiet ministry, but a powerful one. “These dedicated lay caregivers provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care and support to individuals facing life’s crises or navigating tough times. They meet weekly with their care receivers for about an hour to listen, care, encourage, pray, and offer vital emotional and spiritual support for as long as needed.”
Southport Presbyterian Church is part of a global network of more than 13,000 congregations across 160 Christian denominations that utilize the Stephen Series system of lay caring ministry. The SPC ministry was developed by Stephen Ministries in St. Louis and is one of four Stephen Ministry Programs Brunswick County, along with Southport Baptist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church and Seaside United Methodist Church in Sunset Beach.
In addition to providing care for SPC members, the SPC Stephen Ministry program has begun extending its ministry to those in the community, including Food Pantry patrons, Habitat for Humanity recipients and applicants and others who may be going through major live transitions or difficult times.
Southport Presbyterian Church is located at 1025 East Moore Street in Southport, N.C. For more information, contact (910) 457-6811 or visit southportpresbyterian.com.
