Carroll Lutheran Village Commissions First Class of Stephen Ministers

February 25, 2019 – Five Carroll Lutheran Village residents were commissioned as Stephen Ministers on February 24.  Stephen Ministry trains lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to those experiencing grief, illness, hospitalization, life transitions, or another life challenge.

Jean Hammond, Carl Martens, John Regal, Barbara Yockey and Susan Wright were the first class to complete the 15-week training to become Stephen Ministers since the Village was approved as a Stephen Ministry in March of 2018.  Rev. Robin Simpson Litton, Assistant to the Bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA, served as the guest preacher and commissioning minister for the service.

“A Stephen Minister extends the spiritual care that a pastor can provide, especially when ongoing support is needed.” said Deacon Don Myers, Associate Chaplain at Carroll Lutheran Village, who coordinated the Stephen Minister training.

More than 13,000 congregations and organizations from more than 170 denominations in the United States, Canada, and 30 other countries utilize Stephen Ministers.  More than 600,000 laypeople have received Stephen Minister training and have provided support to more than 1.5 million people.

About Carroll Lutheran Village

Carroll Lutheran Village is an accredited, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Westminster that includes 398 homes and apartments, 50 assisted living suites in the Diven House and 103 skilled nursing beds in the Health Care Center.  The Village is currently home to nearly 700 residents.  For more information visit www.clvillage.org.

About Stephen Ministries

Stephen Ministries is a not-for-profit Christian educational organization based in St Louis, Missouri.  Founded in 1975, Stephen Ministries provides training and resources to thousands of congregations and organizations worldwide.  For more information visit www.stephenministries.org.