STEPHEN MINISTRY

             In 1975, Dr. Kenneth Haugk, a Lutheran pastor in St. Louis recognized 3 significant needs in his congregation: the church staff we frequently overworked, people in pain were not receiving the depth of care they needed, and member were seeking significant and meaningful ways to actively live out their Christian calling.  So, Dr. Haugk designed a program to meet those needs, training members of his congregation to walk alongside another person during a period of loss or turmoil.  He named the program after St. Stephen, the first lay person the Apostles chose to care for the needs of members of the early church (Acts 6:1-6).  The program is now used by churches in over 90 denominations and has changed the lives of thousands of people in the United States and around the globe.

            In 1997, our newest Associate Minister at that time, Rev. Cyndie Holden, along with Sandi Noel, completed an intensive Stephen Ministry course in California.  With the help of Gail Fulop, who had previously been trained at a Stephen Minister at another church, they taught our first class of Stephen Ministers, who were commissioned in May of 1998.  Many of the members of that first class have now gone on to become Stephen Ministry Leaders, completing the week-long national training course.  Our Stephen Ministry program has been a huge success, growing to include the training and supervision of 11 other churches in the Southington area.  So far, we have trained 76 Stephen Ministers, 53 of who are still actively involved in the program.

            If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Stephen Minister, OR know someone who could use a tangible source of Christ’s care in their lives, please call Rev. Cyndie Holden either at church (860-628-6958) or at 203-206-9607.