stephen ministry

“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 the one-to-one lay 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.

Who are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are laypeople—Christian men and women—trained to provide one-to-one care to people experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or separation due to military deployment.

What does a Stephen Minister do?

A Stephen Minister comes alongside a hurting person and meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support. Men are paired with men; women with women. The Christ-centered care of a Stephen Minister is entirely confidential—no one knows the identity of a care receiver except for his or her Stephen Minister and the pastor or Stephen Leader who paired the two together.

Get Support

We provide care to people who…

Stephen Ministers provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people who are:

Grieving the death of a loved one
Hospitalized or recovering from hospitalization
Lonely or discouraged
Coping with a terminal illness or caring for a family member with a terminal illness
Dealing with divorce or separation
Caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
Unemployed or in a job crisis
Disabled or caring for a disabled family member

Moving or relocating
Anticipating the birth or adoption of a child
Homebound or institutionalized
Transitioning into retirement
Dealing with the crisis of aging
Experiencing a spiritual crisis
Victims of a disaster or accident
And people facing countless other crises or life challenges or who are going through a difficult time and could benefit from the care of a supportive Christian friend.

Stephen Ministry Training

Stephen Ministers are pre-screened and trained by their congregation’s Stephen Leaders. The training they receive in the congregation equips them to provide high-quality care to people who are hurting.

The training takes place in your congregation and is led by your congregation’s Stephen Leaders. It is typically taught in 20 weekly sessions along with a weekend retreat. The training combines pre-class reading, devotions, lecture, video presentation, discussion, and skill practice.