Stephen Ministry FAQ
Bear one another’s burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ
Galatians 6:2 NRSV
What Is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a confidential, one-to-one lay caring ministry within Saint John’s and also in over 13,000 other congregations worldwide.
Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower Stephen Ministers to provide high quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.
Stephen Ministers are laypeople and members of the congregation that have received 50 hours of training in providing spiritual and emotional care. They are caring Christians who listen, support, pray for, and encourage. They are someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for an hour each week, for as long as there is a need. Stephen Ministers are not professional counselors, psychologists, social workers, or experts in law, finance, church doctrine, and so on, but neither are they merely casual visitors. “Stephen Ministers are the caregivers, but God is the curegiver.”
Who can receive the care of a Stephen Minister?
Care receivers are people – congregation members and others in the community – who receive care from a Stephen Minister. They are people struggling through a difficult time in life: experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.
Would you or someone you know…
Benefit from having a Stephen Minister walk alongside them as they face a difficult time in their lives?
Possibly be interested in becoming a Stephen Minister?
Then…
Don’t be afraid to ask. Reach out to Pastor Greg, or any of our Stephen Ministers and Leaders: Gordon Eiland, Robin Eiland, Mel Gomez, or Rebecca Linquist. All discussions and requests are confidential.