Stephen Ministry
Do you or someone you care about need support through a difficult time?
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 trained lay person who:
- has received over 50 hours of training and extends pastoral care through a personal ministry of listening and reflection
- has been commissioned by the church to offer a confidential, Christ-centered, caring ministry to persons in need; and offers compassionate support on a regular basis as long as needed
- will care by listening, supporting, encouraging, praying, being dependable and trustworthy and maintaining confidentiality in their caregiving
- will “be there” for the care receiver, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.
A Stephen Minister comes alongside a hurting person and meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support. Men are paired with men; women with women.
Stephen Ministers address the needs of people who are:
- Hospitalized or convalescing
- Grieving the loss of a loved one
- Lonely
- Depressed
- Separated or divorced
- Homebound
- Expecting the birth of a child
- Dying as well as the families of the terminally ill
- Experiencing the loss of a job or financial setbacks
- Experiencing vocational stresses
- Adjusting to family changes
- Single parents
- Bereaved
- Struggling with their faith in God
- Facing a crisis or life challenge
Confidentiality
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry; what is shared remains private.
Contact Us
If you are in need of a Stephen Minister or know someone who is, contact John Smolenyak.