Stephen Minister Formation Class

The Stephen Minister formation class creates a small group community with the intention of nurturing faith, creating connections, and teaching spiritually supported listening skills. The hope is that participants will be blessed in their own lives and will be equipped to be a blessing to others by providing emotional and spiritual support during difficult times.

Everyone is invited to join the Stephen Minister formation class. At the end of the training program, the Stephen Leader team and each participant will discern together which area(s) of congregational care best match the gifts of the Stephen Minister and needs of the congregation.

• Caregiver to Care Receiver (weekly commitment)

• Worship Prayer Minister (monthly commitment)

• In-Home visits to unwilling absent members (monthly commitment)

• Funeral team (as needed)

• Hospital visitation (as needed)

• Grief Follow Up (as needed)

• In-home communion (as needed)

Most of the training sessions will take place in-person on Sundays after church (12:00 – 2:30 pm). We will begin with a Brown Bag lunch. We plan to begin in October and end in April. Below are the fall dates. (The spring dates are not quite set.) Note that we have a grace-filled policy about making up lessons.

Fall Training Class Dates:

• October 4 - The Person of the Caregiver

• October 18 - Feelings: Yours, Mine and Ours

• October 25 - The Art of Listening

• November 1 - Distinctively Christian Caring (Part 1)

• November 8 - Distinctively Christian Caring (Part 2)

• November 15 - A Process Approach to Caring

• December 6 - Assertiveness (Part 2)

• December 13 - Assertiveness (Part 1)

The cost for Stephen Minister training is $50. There are scholarships available.

Questions? Contact Pastor Allison.
aangell@tumc.church