Information about Stephen Ministers

What is Stephen Ministry?

Everyone is broken in one way or another. Loss, crises, and other painful life events show our brokenness and drive us to Jesus for healing and hope. In His cross Jesus bore our sins. In Him we find healing. Stephen Ministers bring hurting people to Jesus for healing and hope. They care for the person while God provides the cure. A symbol of the Stephen Ministry is a cross with a broken person to one side and a whole person on the other.

The mission of Stephen Ministry is to show the love of Jesus. The ministry was named after the Stephen found in Acts 6:1-7 as he was a person set apart to do a caring ministry.

Stephen Minister Job Description:

Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who are trained and commissioned to provide one-to-one caring to people in crisis or with other needs for care. They participate in the initial training as well as in Supervision twice a month. Their initial commitment to serve is for two years and they may renew that commitment if they so choose.

Qualities of Stephen Ministers in Four Key Areas:

Personality:

  • Humility
  • Accepting and forgiving, shows regard for others
  • Is reliable, trustworthy and dependable
  • Is teachable and accepting of supervision

Spirituality:

  • Understands faith as a relationship with Jesus and a way of life 
  • Has a growing relationship with God
  • Has a heart for servant ministry
  • Has an authentic desire to serve others

Relationships:

  • Is welcoming and hospitable
  • Is open to differences of opinion
  • Expresses feelings in an honest and caring way
  • Has the capability to be vulnerable, to laugh and cry with others

Motivation:

  • Shows a willingness to work hard
  • Is keenly interested in Stephen Ministry and who it serves
  • Grasps the commitment level required for this ministry
  • Shows a willingness to take responsibility for their own actions

Commitments We Ask of Stephen Ministers:

  • Participate in Stephen Ministry for two years
  • Attend all training sessions (50 hours)
  • Attend twice-monthly supervision
  • Faithfully meet with the care receiver each week for about an hour
  • Maintain phone contact with the care receiver as needed

Rewards of Being a Stephen Minister:

  • Satisfaction of walking alongside someone and sharing God’s love with them
  • The joy of serving others using the gifts God gave you
  • Friendship and support of fellow Christians that develop through the training and supervision times
  • Personal growth
  • Enhanced relationships with others due to learned and practiced skills
  • Increased faith as you see God working in people firsthand

Training and Support for a Stephen Minister:

  • The 50 hours of training will leave you well-equipped to walk alongside care receivers
  • Continuing education sessions will further your skills as you progress through the Stephen Ministry
  • Supervision, the twice-monthly meetings where Stephen Ministers meet in small groups, provide support and encouragement as well as accountability for each Stephen Minister

How does a Stephen Minister provide care?

  • Consistently spending time with the care receiver
  • Listening
  • Dealing with feelings
  • Sharing Christian caring resources (prayer and scripture)
  • Focus on care giving, not on fixing problems or finding a cure
  • Relating assertively to respect the needs of both the care receiver and themselves
  • Maintaining boundaries
  • Recommending professional care when necessary
  • Observe confidentiality
  • Refer those who need care to the Stephen Ministry

Back to the Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry FAQs

Who are Stephen Ministry care recipients?

Stephen Minister Application