Stephen Ministry

The Stephen Ministry Program at Holy Cross has suffered the last several years primarily because of the COVID epidemic but we now have a new start with the commissioning of 6 new Stephen Ministers along with 3 recommissioned Stephen Ministers as of this past Sunday, August 11. Pastor Don Henry and Deacon Tim Breininger are trained Stephen Leaders/Stephen Ministers, together lead the Stephen Ministry Program.

Stephen Ministry Leaders are lay leaders and Pastors who are trained to provide ongoing leadership for our Stephen Ministry. They have been trained by Stephen Ministries Leaders Training Course.

Stephen Ministers are Congregation members trained by their Stephen Leaders to offer care to people who are hurting. The initial training consists of 50 hours classroom training. A Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver and meets with that person once a week for about one hour. Supervision and additional training last about 2 to 2 1/2 hours per month. Holy Cross' newly installed Stephen Ministers are Helen Laws, Ed McFarland, Mary McFarland, Becky Henry, Peter Schillace, Phil Borchelt, Jane Borchelt, Wendy Pflughoeft and Bruce Hartley.

Care Receivers are individuals in the congregation or community who are going through a crisis or life difficulty. Potential care receivers first meet with a Stephen Leader, who assesses their need for care and matches them with a Stephen Minister. The caring relationship lasts as long as the need persists.

Interested in receiving more information about Stephen Ministry contact Pastor Don Henry (dhenry@holycrossfw.org or 739-6566) or Deacon Breininger (hckydad42@aol.com).