Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a system through which  lay members of the Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian caregiving to members of our congregation and community. This multiplies the amount of caring ministry St Stephen's can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses of life.

Why Lay Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers.  The responsibility for passing on God’s love is for all Christians, not just for a chosen few.  God has given us all gifts for ministry and called us to put those gifts to use.  Stephen Ministry is a place where people with special gifts for caring ministry can use those gifts to bring Christ’s love to people in need.

Why Stephen Ministry?

We have many needs for care in our congregation and community:  people experiencing divorce, grief, a terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, an empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges.  Ordained resources cannot personally meet all the needs of every person.  Stephen Ministry expands the care that St Stephen's can offer.

How does Stephen Ministry Work?

When someone requests a Stephen Minister, Miranda Spates, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs.  Our Referrals Coordinator then matches that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers (note that the match is always with a same- sex  caregiver).  The Stephen minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for around and hour each week as long as the need is there.  Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential.  The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.

  Questions about Stephen Ministry?  Email us at caring@ststephenstroy.org.

This page last updated: 02/01/2008