What is 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 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.
Pastors will always be on the front lines of care, especially during times of crisis. However, there are always many more needs for ongoing, one-on-one care than pastors can effectively meet by themselves. Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times. We all experience challenges in life or 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 chronic or terminal illness
- Incarceration
- Aging
- Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
- 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 remains private.
For additional information, talk to any of the Stephen Ministers or Pastor Dawn Chesser, borrow the DVD called "The Heart of Stephen Ministry", or go to the Stephen Ministry website. There are also several handouts available at Christ Church. A training session for those interested in becoming Stephen Ministers will start as soon as a group of individuals are ready.
