NEWS RELEASE for religion/community editors

From First Presbyterian Church

405 S. Van Buren

Moscow, Idaho 83843

Release Date:  Sept. 8, 2007

Contact: Pastor Norman Fowler, 882-4122, (fpcpastor@turbonet.com), or Bruce Pitman, Stephen Ministry Coordinator, 882-8847 (bpitman@turbonet.com), for more information.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BEGINS STEPHEN MINISTRY

MOSCOW – Five members of First Presbyterian Church of Moscow will be commissioned during worship services September 16, to lead Stephen Ministry, a caring ministry that reaches out to those in need with confidential, one-to-one Christian care.  Through Stephen Ministry, some church members will be equipped to provide quality Christian care to people facing personal crises, such as loss of a loved one, divorce, a terminal illness, loneliness, unemployment, or a spiritual crisis.

“Becoming a Stephen Ministry church expands our existing caring ministries,” said Pastor Norman Fowler, “creating an effective way to walk alongside individuals facing difficult life challenges.  The need for this type of care exceeds what pastors alone can provide.  All Christians are called to care for and love one another,” he continued.

Stephen Ministry began in 1975 when Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist, trained parishioners to help meet the needs for care in his congregation.  Since then, more than 9,000 congregations, representing over 100 Christian denominations and coming from all 50 states, 9 Canadian provinces, and 21 countries have become involved in Stephen Ministry.

During the next six months, the leadership team will recruit and train church members to become Stephen Ministers who will then begin their service in the Spring. For more information about First Presbyterian Church’s Stephen Ministry, contact Pastor Fowler at 882-4122, or Bruce Pitman at 882-8847. 

PHOTO CAPTON:  First Presbyterian Church Stephen Ministry Leadership Team:  (l-r) Pastor Norman Fowler, Mary Read, Marianne Shupe, Susie Heustis, Bruce Pitman, and Kathy Pitman.