The symbol at the center of the Caregiver’s Compass is “Chi Rho”. The Greekletters that spell the word “Christos” have been shortened to the first two letters – “X P – Chi Rho”.
Thus as we as Stephen Ministers strive to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled and trustworthy, we are above all – Christ centered. There are many other caring ministries and support personnel in various places, but Stephen Ministry is all about distinctively Christian caregiving. Jesus is the center of our focus. We maintain this Christ centered form by sharing Christ’s compassion with others; by relying on Christ to be the “curegiver”; by using the skills Christ has given us; and by modeling the trustworthy character of Christ.
In almost thirteen years since I was commissioned as a Stephen Minister and with the various care receivers I have served, Christ has guided me along every pathway. He has given me strength for the journey with each person as I have listened and cared about their problems and needs; as I have prayed for and with each one; and as we shared readings from the Bible. I have tried to assure them of God’s love and forgiveness and that through Christ, they can have healing and wholeness. As with all Stephen Ministers, my aim has not been for personal recognition; my goal has been that Christ’s name would be glorified.
In John 15: 4 – 5 we read that Jesus said, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, be- cause apart from me you can do nothing.”
In this passage Jesus tells us we should “abide in” him. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. With Christ, our caring ministry can bear much fruit. We are servants of Christ and he is the center of our ministry. The symbol at the center of the Caregiver’s Compass is “Chi Rho”. The Greekletters that spell the word “Christos” have been shortened to the first two letters – “X P – Chi Rho”
Thus as we as Stephen Ministers strive to be compassionate, full of faith, skilled and trustworthy, we are above all – Christ centered. There are many other caring ministries and support personnel in various places, but Stephen Ministry is all about distinctively Christian caregiving. Jesus is the center of our focus. We maintain this Christ centered form by sharing Christ’s compassion with others; by relying on Christ to be the “curegiver”; by using the skills Christ has given us; and by modeling the trust-worthy character of Christ.
In almost thirteen years since I was commissioned as a Stephen Minister and with the various care receivers I have served, Christ has guided me along every pathway. He has given me strength for the journey with each person as I have listened and cared about their problems and needs; as I have prayed for and with each one; and as we shared readings from the Bible. I have tried to assure them of God’s love and forgiveness and that through Christ, they can have healing and wholeness. As with all Stephen Ministers, my aim has not been for personal recognition; my goal has been that Christ’s name would be glorified.
In John 15: 4 – 5 we read that Jesus said, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”
In this passage Jesus tells us we should “abide in” him. Apart from Christ we can do nothing. With Christ, our caring ministry can bear much fruit. We are servants of Christ and he is the center of our ministry.