Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a listening ministry.

Stephen Ministers are people in our congregation who are trained to listen and help others sort through their life challenges. They are not counselors or therapists; rather, they are caring Christian friends who can offer a listening ear to help others through tough times in life.

Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one ministry.

Initially, a Stephen Leader will meet with each potential care receiver to determine whether our Stephen Ministry Program can be helpful or if professional help is more appropriate. Male Stephen Ministers meet with male care receivers; women meet with women. For GNC, transgender, and nonbinary individuals, personal preference in the gender of care givers is available. The length of time an individual needs to meet with their Stephen Minister will vary. Some individuals need to meet with their Stephen Minister only a few times, while others may need to meet over a period of weeks or months.

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry.

Stephen Ministers are trained in confidentiality, and the system of care that we use is set up in such a way to promote this in every area – from record keeping to regular Supervisory meetings. Confidentiality will be a priority to ensure privacy and protection.