Stephen Ministers Are Ready to Care
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.
Our congregation’s Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one, distinctively 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 is a need.