What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministers are equipped to provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives such as loss of a loved one, loneliness, spiritual crises, divorce or separation, chronic and terminal illnesses, aging, relocation, birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility.

Pastors will always be on the front lines of care especially during times of crisis. But there are always many more needs for ongoing, one-to-one care than pastors can effectively meet by themselves. Stephen Ministry provides a Biblical solution: equipping God's people for ministry. Gifted lay people are trained to support and extend the care that pastors continue to provide.

What are Stephen Ministers?

• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting

• A congregation member 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/her care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each weeks, for as long as there is need