Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?

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. Stephen Ministers are trained to support and extend the care that pastors continue to provide.

Stephen Ministers Care for People Facing Tough Times

We all experience challenges in life—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 terminal illness Incarceration Aging Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility A chronic illness Relocation Recovery after an accident or disaster Disability Life transitions

Stephen Ministry is CONFIDENTIAL ministry: those receiving care can be sure that their identity and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private.

A Stephen Minister is...

• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting
• A congregation member with gifts for caregiving, who was carefully selected to serve in this role
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of initial training in important caring ministry skills and concepts
• 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

Stephen Leaders are trained and commissioned to oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry.

• If you—or someone you know (be sure to get that person’s permission first!) —could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister...
• If you are interested in possibly becoming a Stephen Minister…
• If you have any other questions about Stephen Ministry…

Stephen Ministry Is Your Ministry

You play an important role in our Stephen Ministry. Here’s what you can do:

• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.
• Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn’t expect you to bear your burdens alone.
• Tell a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who is hurting about our Stephen Ministry.
• If you are a good listener and a compassionate person, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.

STEPHEN MINISTRIES ST. LOUIS supports our congregation’s Stephen Ministry. To learn more, log on to www.stephenministries.org or call (314) 428-2600.