Our intention is to offer you the comfort that God offers through spiritual guidance and encouragement in life’s challenges and heartaches.

Woodside Bible Church believes that Christian growth and commitment to Jesus Christ is central to the counseling process.  Foundational to all of our counseling ministries is the personal application of the Bible to the individual, couple or family in counseling.   Due to the volume of requests that are recieved, Woodside Bible Church offers limited counseling to “members and regular attendees” (those attending six months or more) through a variety of pastoral counselors,programs and professional Christian counselors in our area.  Requests that come from outside our church family will generally be referred to one of these outside resources.   Please call the telephone number listed below to set up your personal counseling assessment or to ask for further information.

In addition to our regular counseling ministry, Woodside offers “Stephen Ministry” as a resource to help someone who is going through an emotional crisis by walking alongside them until they regain there emotional balance.  This is achieved by trained and caring individuals who show up, actively listen and who use spiritual resources available to call upon the power of the Lord to bring balance once again in a person’s time of need. 

For a personal counseling assessment or to learn more about becoming a trained Stephen Minister, please contact us at: 1.248.879.8533 ext.168.

A program designed to take the ministry of encouragement to those of our church family wherever they are; be it in the local hospital, nursing home, or a shut-in at their own residence. Would you like to join our team? The only qualifications are a cheerful smile, a listening ear and the desire to minister God’s comfort and care to those who are sick or lonely.

For more information, contact our Congregational Care Pastor at: 1.248.879.8533

The Best Place to be on a Friday Night!

Friday Times: Troy Event:
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM 4 Praise & Worship Lesson, Personal Testimony or Special Guest Speaker

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM 4 Men’s & Women’s Small Groups
9:00 PM - 9:45 PM 4 Fellowship and Dessert @ Sparrow’s Café

The longest journey starts with the first step

Come join us as we climb the twelve steps of recovery together and discover how to let the only true higher power, Christ Jesus guide you!

Men’s Chemical Dependency
Women’s Chemical Dependency
Men’s Sexual Addiction/Pornography
Women’s Love & Relationships
Men’s Issues & Divorce
Woman’s COSA group (wives of husband’s who are sexually addicted)

Celebrate Recovery Is:
Praise & Worship
Teachings/Lessons on the 8 Recovery Principles
Testimonies
Fellowship
Step Study Groups
Sponsorship & Accountability Partners
Gender Specific Open - Share Small Groups
Children’s Ministry provided for children up to 11 years.
For more information, contact Laurie Lonie at 248-879-8533.

The Deacon’s Benevolence Fund is designed to primarily help members of Woodside Bible Church in their time of need. This program seeks to help with immediate needs confronting an individual or family, but also seeks to encourage long-term help through budget planning, management and educational instruction.

Application for assistance should be completed by an applicant and will be forwarded to the Deacon’s committee for their review. The Application for Assistance is available through the church office by mail.

For assistance, contact us at: 1.248.879.8533

Through the Roof Disability Ministry

Through the Roof Disabilities seeks to serve Christ while ministering to people with disabilities and their families.

Deaf Ministry - Worship service interpreted every Sunday at 11:30.

Shadowing - Provide a “buddy” for the child with a disability during their Sunday school class.

Friends Class - Adult AFG that is for everyone, but with emphasis on having special education approach to Bible study. Service projects and social events are also a part of this program. Meets every Sunday at 11:30 in room 178

For more information contact Greg McDougall at 586.228.2835 or go to www.freewebs.com/wbcthroughtheroof

Divorce Recovery & Reconciliation Ministries is for adults and children.

When: Every Thursday throughout the year
5:30-6:30pm: Dinner (optional)
Community Room
6:30-9:00pm: Programs
Various Rooms (check south end of lobby signage for specific room assignments)
Who: Adults and their children Age 0 to 12th grade
Bring: Yourself, your children, a friend and their children who are
divorced, separated or in the process.
For more information, call Laurie Lonie @ 248-879-8533.

What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a program to help someone (called a care receiver) who is going through an emotional crisis providing a trained Stephen Minister to walk with the care receiver and the Lord until the care receiver regains their emotional balance. It’s a complete system for training and organizing lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around our congregation.    Stephen Ministers achieve this by showing up, actively listening to them and calling on the power of the Lord to cure their emotional crisis.

Mission
The Mission of Stephen Ministry is to support the purpose of Woodside Bible Church through enhancing its distinctively Christian care giving culture.  This will be accomplished by incorporating a well defined Stephen Ministry program that will provide Spirit guided care giving to both the Woodside Community as well as its surrounding region.

Vision
Woodside Bible Church demonstrates a culture of distinctively Christian care giving in part by having a vibrant, Spirit guided Stephen Ministry program which multiplies ministries in the Woodside Bible Church Community and our region.

Goals
1.    Train 30 Stephen Ministers by December 1, 2008.

2.    Identify and provide training for 2 to 6 Stephen Leaders and Supervision Group Facilitators by December 31, 2008.

3.    Commission Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers by January 2009.

4.    Start providing care through Stephen Ministers by January 31 2009

5.  Start training for at least 30 additional Stephen Ministers in February 2008

Frequently Asked Questions about Stephen Ministry

Who should I contact if I have questions about the program?
You can contact Norm Sims at 248-672-2072 or Nlsims@comcast.net or Melanie McIlrath through the church office at 248-879-8533.

What is the Status of the Stephen Ministry Program?
The First Class of Stephen Ministers is in Training.

When will the Stephen Ministry Program accept Care Receivers?
Care Receivers will be taken in January 2009.

What does a Stephen Minister do?
The Stephen Minister meets with the care receiver for about one hour per week and serves as a “skilled” listening board for the care receiver.  Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, prayer and a set of appropriate questions, the care receiver is led to deal with the core of the emotional crises.

What is meant by the term Care Receiver?
Stephen Ministry calls the people receiving care under the program Care Receivers.

How long does a Stephen Minister work with a Care Receiver?
A typical Stephen Minister relationship will last for 1 to 2 years and is terminated when the two agree that the emotional state of the care receiver no longer requires further meetings.

What are the requirements to become a Stephen Minister?
The requirements to become a Stephen Minister include 50 hours of specialized training, a two year commitment to the program once training is completed, attendance at twice monthly supervision meetings and membership in the church.

What skills are needed for Stephen Ministers?
Shepherding skills, reliability, capability to keep confidences and good judgement are the skills Stephen Ministers need.

What is the process for selecting Stephen Ministers?
Candidates submit applications to the Stephen Leaders who review them.  Once the applications are reviewed candidates with the proper skills are interviewed.  After the interview the Stephen Leaders determine if the candidates have the right skills to work with emotionally hurting people.  A background check is run on all Stephen Ministers and membership status is confirmed before they are commissioned.

When will the next Stephen Minister Training class begin?
The next training class for Stephen Ministers will begin in February 2009. To download a training schedule, click here.

What is the cost for the program to the Stephen Ministers?
We ask that those candidates who can afford to pay for their books.  The cost is $50.

Who is responsible for the cure of a Care Receiver?
God is responsible for the cure and leads the Stephen Minister through the Holy Spirit throughout the emotional crisis.

Is the relationship between the Stephen Minister and the Care Receiver confidential?
The relationship is confidential and only the Stephen Leader or Leaders who pair care receivers and Stephen Ministers knows who is receiving care from which Stephen Minister.  Stephen Ministers retain confidential specific information communicated to them by Care Receivers.

Who is the Pastoral Sponsor for Stephen Ministry?
Vince Messina is the Pastoral Sponsor of the Woodside Stephen Ministry Program.

Who are the Stephen Minister Leaders?
The Leadership Team of Norm Sims, Christina Broomfield, Karen Zale and Vince Messina have completed Stephen Ministry Leadership Training. To contact us for further information about how you can become a Stephen Ministry Leader, email Norm Sims at Nlsims@comcast.net or Vince Messina at vincemessina@woodsidebible.org. 

How can I become a Stephen Minister?
You can apply to be a Stephen Minister by contacting Norm Sims at 248-672-2072 or Nlsims@comcast.net or Melanie McIlrath through the church office at 248-879-8533.