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Process of Becoming a UBC Stephen Minister

Stephen Ministry is a high commitment, high excellence program! If you have gifts of caring, encouragement, and confidential listening, please begin to prayerfully consider whether you might want to be part of this exciting ministry.

Stephen Ministers (SM) are Commissioned by Pastor Verlin D. Williams: to walk alongside, to care about, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people who are going through a difficult time such as:

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Divorce
Grief
Hospitalization
Unemployment
Terminal Illness
Relocation
Chronic Illness
Loneliness 
& more
THE BASIC COMMITMENT FOR STEPHEN MINISTERS AT UNION BAPTIST CHURCH
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  • Application & Interview Discernment Process (see details below)

  • We ask that the Stephen Ministry Trainee (SMT) be committed to a 3 year term including Training time, Commissioning, Care Receiver contacts, Continuing Education and Supervision Groups.

    • SMT training is a total of 50 hours

    • Near the end of training the SMT is interviewed by the Stephen Leader who serves as the Referral Coordinator (RC). This process allows the RC to make appropriate matches with Care Receivers (people in need of Stephen Ministers).

    • Once Commissioned, the Stephen Minister (SM) is matched with a Care Receiver who the SM commits to meet with their Care Receiver once a week for about one hour.

    • In order for the SM's care to be of the highest quality, the commissioned SM commits to attend Continuing Education monthly and Supervision Group twice a month after Commissioning throughout their 3 year term.

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THE DISCERNMENT INTERVIEW PROCESS

The application will ask about your interest in Stephen Ministry

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  • your perception of your strengths & potential challenges serving within the context of SM

  • how people would describe you or the way you relate to others

  • assessing your commitment to 50 hours of training and a three year term of service.

  • description of your own faith

  • 3 references

  • other relevant information

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Application submission is ongoing. Next class scheduled to start September 2023 Complete your application by downloading the app here.

  • There is an enrollment fee, please speak to a Stephen Leader if it presents a financial hardship.

  • After completed application and all three references are received, a Stephen Leader will contact you to set up an interview, which will be with at least two Stephen Leaders

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