What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.
A Stephen Minister is…
- a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.
- a parishioner with gifts for caregiving who was 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 for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.
Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times.
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 a 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.
If you would like to speak with a Stephen Minister, or if you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact Deacon Barbara.