An introductory workshop for persons interested in participating in Stephen Ministry, a nationwide effort that trains laypeople to provide one-on-one Christian caregiving to persons who are hurting, will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Andrew Apostle Church in Silver Spring.

The half-day workshop – which begins with registration at 8 a.m. – consists of three sessions designed to enhance participants' caregiving skills and to help congregations explore ways to expand their caring ministry. The workshop is sponsored by Stephen Ministries, a St. Louis-based Christian training organization that provides congregations with training and resources for Christian.

In the first session, participants will learn about the stages of grief and how to minister to people in each of those stages. The second session provides an introduction to the Stephen Ministry, and the final session of the workshop explains what makes Christian caregiving unique and how to use resources like prayer, blessings, and Scripture in their caring for others.

The cost of the workshop is $15 per person or $50 for a group of four or more from the same congregation. For more information, or to register, contact Stephen Ministries at (314) 428-2600 or online at www.stephenministry.org/workshop. St. Andrew Apostle Church is located at 1600 Kemp Mill Road, Silver Spring.