Camarillo Community Church Care Ministry Relationships Matter!

“Caregivers” (Stephen Ministers) “The After People”

Frequently people ask, “I know you’re with the Caregiver Ministry at Camarillo Community Church. Can you tell me what a caregiver (Stephen Minister) is? We like to explain that caregivers are “After People."

Caregivers are there:

after you’ve washed and returned the last casserole dish.
after the divorce papers have been served and the bottom falls out of your life.
after the last child honks the horn, waves and drives away—and the house suddenly seems incredibly empty.
after you arrive home following the funeral service and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.
after the relationship has ended but the wounds are still bleeding and painful.
after the doctors have said, “there’s nothing more we can do."
after the door has slammed shut-for the very last time.
after the phone call you’d always hoped you’d never get.
after you realize the hands on the gold watch you received at your retirement party move more slowly than you ever imagined.
after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, 'Welcome to your new home."
after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, and your loved one is led away.
after the baby has arrived, putting more demands on you than you ever dreamed possible.
after you find the pink slip inserted with what is now your final paycheck.
after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.

Caregivers are the “After People." They are ready to come alongside you—or your friends, neighbors, coworkers, or relatives—and provide comfort and support for as long “after” as we are needed.

Need a caregiver or know someone who does? Contact the church office or any Caregiver Leader (brochure available at the Information Counter).

Interested in becoming a caregiver? You can pick up an application at the church office or contact Julie Russell. You’ll be joining a great group of caring people and be blessed as you serve others.

(adopted from a presentation by Ernie Bourland, a Stephen Ministry Leader at the First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas).

Caregiver's Ministry (Stephen Ministry)

Purpose of Ministry: The purpose of this ministry is to provide trained, Christian Caregivers to persons in our congregation and community who are experiencing problems or difficulties in their lives.

The Caregiver Ministry is a confidential ministry. Our trained caregivers are assigned (one-to-one) to persons (care receivers) experiencing various life problems. A care receiver’s permission is always obtained prior to the assignment of a caregiver to him/her.

Caregivers and their care receivers meet on a regular, mutually agreed basis. Caregivers provide support and encouragement to their care receivers using their training, “spiritual tools” (e.g., prayer, Scripture) and faith in Jesus Christ as the “Cure Giver” to help the person cope with the difficulties they may be experiencing.

Meetings

Ministry Leadership team meets monthly. Caregivers attend monthly Continuing Education/Supervision Sessions. The Continuing Education (CE) portion of our Caregiver's monthly sessions will be opened to the congregation on a "sign-up to attend" basis. CE classes may include guest speakers, videos, panels and satellite broadcasts on a broad range of general "caring topics."

Training

Caregivers receive an initial 50 hours of formal classroom instruction using materials provided by Stephen Ministries. Following this training, caregivers are formally commissioned by our church to provide care. Additionally, monthly “continuing education/supervision” sessions are held to provide additional training to caregivers.

Persons interested in the ministry training program may pick up applications from our church office or call Julie Russell.

Daryl Lundberg Daryl Lundberg is the pastor of Outreach and Membership Care.

Daryl and his family joined Camarillo Community Church's staff in March 1984. Daryl came on staff in March of 1987 and has over 20 years of experience in church ministry.

He and his wife, Gloria, have two adult sons both living in the Ventura County area and one granddaughter born in 2006.