Stephen Ministry

In March 1998, The Church of The Apostles became a Stephen Ministry congregation. Our church was commissioned by the national organization to join an international group of over 9,000 Christian congregations to train lay ministers to care for people experiencing a variety of life crises. The first Apostles training class was held in 1999. Since that time, 74 Apostles members have been trained to serve under Congregational Care, ministering to hundreds of people in our church and community.

The ministry team currently has 20 men and women who are trained to work with people who are dealing with such issues as marriage and family conflict, job loss, relocation, financial problems, grief, illness, retirement and aging, faith challenges, and discouragement. Stephen Ministers are not counselors, but Christian friends who meet with their care receivers weekly for about an hour, to provide one-to-one support and prayer. These relationships are Christ-centered and focus on the healing power of Jesus Christ in our lives. They are confidential and last for as long as there is a need.

These relationships are Christ-centered and focus on the healing power of Jesus Christ in our lives. They are confidential and last for as long as there is a need.

If you are currently facing a difficult situation and could benefit from the presence of a dependable, caring friend to listen to you and walk with you, please call one of our referral coordinators, Sylvia Mosley at 770-987-1929 or Jim Kranzusch at 770-565-1650. They will answer any questions that you have about the ministry. If you request a Stephen Minister, one will be prayerfully assigned to you. Your Stephen Minister will contact you within a day or two, and together you will decide how to proceed. Each relationship is designed to meet the specific needs of the care receiver, whether for a short or long term. Confidentiality is the foundation of Stephen Ministry, and only the referral coordinator and your Stephen Minister will know that you are receiving care from this ministry. You do not have to be a member of Apostles to have a Stephen Minister.

If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, you need to be a member of Apostles. The best way to learn about the ministry is to contact Jim Kranzusch at 770-565-1650. He will tell you about the ministry team and you will receive specific information about the ministry, the application/interview process, and the initial 50 hours of training. You will have a chance to ask questions and to hear about the 10-week training program.

The initial training covers such topics as listening, feelings, Christian caregiving, depression, suicide, grief, forgiveness, and confidentiality. These are taught in 20 modules put together by the ministers from Congregational Care and the Stephen Ministry leadership team. When you are commissioned as a Stephen Minister, you agree to serve for at least two years. This commitment includes meeting with your care receiver weekly and attending Stephen Ministry meetings on the first and third Sundays each month, year-round, for supervision and continuing education. Another important part of the ministry, which is voluntary, is staffing the Prayer Room after each service on Sunday mornings.