Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. It involves three groups of people: Stephen Leaders, Stephen Ministers, and Care Receivers.
STEPHEN LEADERS
Stephen Leaders establish and direct Stephen Ministry in a congregation. They—
- build awareness of Stephen Ministry within the congregation and community
- recruit and train Stephen Ministers
- meet with potential care receivers to assess their needs
- match care receivers with Stephen Ministers
- provide Stephen Ministers with ongoing supervision and continuing education
STEPHEN MINISTERS
Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Once a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education. They are:
- Christians who care in Jesus’ name
- Open to discussing spiritual issues.
- Able to listen, support and encourage, and pray
- Dependable and trustworthy
- Able to maintain confidentiality.
Stephen Ministers are fully trained as lay volunteers and need not have a background as professional counselors, therapists, pastors, or physicians.
CARE RECEIVERS
Care receivers are congregation members and others in the community who receive care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.
Guidelines for this caring relationship protect both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister:
- The relationship is confidential.
- Men are matched with men; women with women.
- When a care receiver’s needs exceed what a Stephen Minister can provide, the Stephen Ministry team makes a referral to an appropriate mental health professional.
THE BLESSINGS OF STEPHEN MINISTRY
Stephen Ministry multiplies blessings through the church & community.
- Congregations receive a practical and powerful way to respond to Christ’s commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you”
- Pastors have a team of gifted, trained, and committed lay caregivers ready to minister to hurting people.
- Laypeople nurture and use their gifts in meaningful ministry, growing spiritually as they serve others.
- People who are hurting have a compassionate companion—a caring Christian friend who provides emotional and spiritual support.
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. It involves three groups of people: Stephen Leaders, Stephen Ministers, and Care Receivers.
STEPHEN LEADERS
Stephen Leaders establish and direct Stephen Ministry in a congregation. They—
- build awareness of Stephen Ministry within the congregation and community
- recruit and train Stephen Ministers
- meet with potential care receivers to assess their needs
- match care receivers with Stephen Ministers
- provide Stephen Ministers with ongoing supervision and continuing education
STEPHEN MINISTERS
Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Once a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education. They are:
- Christians who care in Jesus’ name
- Open to discussing spiritual issues.
- Able to listen, support and encourage, and pray
- Dependable and trustworthy
- Able to maintain confidentiality.
Stephen Ministers are fully trained as lay volunteers and need not have a background as professional counselors, therapists, pastors, or physicians.
CARE RECEIVERS
Care receivers are congregation members and others in the community who receive care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.
Guidelines for this caring relationship protect both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister:
- The relationship is confidential.
- Men are matched with men; women with women.
- When a care receiver’s needs exceed what a Stephen Minister can provide, the Stephen Ministry team makes a referral to an appropriate mental health professional.
THE BLESSINGS OF STEPHEN MINISTRY
Stephen Ministry multiplies blessings through the church & community.
- Congregations receive a practical and powerful way to respond to Christ’s commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you”
- Pastors have a team of gifted, trained, and committed lay caregivers ready to minister to hurting people.
- Laypeople nurture and use their gifts in meaningful ministry, growing spiritually as they serve others.
- People who are hurting have a compassionate companion—a caring Christian friend who provides emotional and spiritual support.
