View Screen-Reader Accessible Site

Stephen Ministry

  • Do you need to talk to a Christian friend who knows how to listen?
  • Would you like to talk with a qualified person about a personal situation you are dealing with?
  • Are you looking for a caring person to help you through a crisis?
What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which trained and supervised laypersons called Stephen Ministers provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis, a tough time, or a life transition.

Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and to care, not to give advice or counsel.

Stephen Ministry is confidential.

In what kinds of situations might a person receive a Stephen Minister's care?
  • Loss of a loved one
  • Depression
  • Divorce/separation
  • Hospitalization
  • Terminal or chronic illness
  • Job loss
  • Loneliness or discouragement
  • Being new in town
  • Birth, adoption, miscarriage or infertility
  • Disappointment
  • Health problems
  • Life changes
  • Retirement
  • Aging
  • Fear
  • Family problems
  • Incarceration
...and many others

How can someone receive care from a Stephen Minister?
Mtr. TJ is our Stephen Leader who coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, please contact Mtr. TJ. (If you want to talk about Stephen Ministry for someone else, please make sure you get his or her permission first.)

How does one become a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministers undergo 52 hours of training in Christian caregiving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in care giving.

Our next Stephen Ministry training course will begin in January 2012. Please contact Ed Sweeney, Mtr. TJ, Fr. Jeff, Rob Turley, Meg Chamberlain or Bob Wilson for further information.