What is the Stephen Ministry?
Our congregation's Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.
A Stephen Minister Is...
A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.
A congregation member with gifts for care-giving who is carefully selected to serve in this role.
A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care.
A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages.
Someone who will "be there" for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully weekly, for as long as there is a need.
“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Are you facing a tough time?
We all experience challenges in life. Times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty, such as:
Loss of a loved one
Hospitalization
Divorce or separation
Loneliness or discouragement
Spiritual crisis
Unemployment or job crisis
A terminal illness
Incarceration
Aging
Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
A chronic illness
Relocation
Recovery after an accident or disaster
And many more
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry. The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remain private.