Stephen Ministry
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. — John 13:34 (ESV)
We all face challenges in life — times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. We don’t have to “go it alone”! Stephen Mentors 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 or a friend
- hospitalization, a chronic illness, being homebound, disabled, or having a terminal illness
- recovery after an accident or disaster
- divorce or separation in your family
- loneliness or discouragement
- spiritual crises
- unemployment or a job crisis
- military deployment or relocation
- incarceration or other legal issues
- aging, “empty nest” issues, or retirement
- birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private. A Stephen Mentor will not tell others about conversations or even acknowledge that a person is receiving care unless legally or ethically required to do so.
Stephen Mentors receive supervision in order to provide the best care possible. They meet regularly with a group of other Stephen Ministers to receive peer supervision for their caring ministries. This involves sharing appropriate information with the supervision group, but it does not involve disclosing the identities of those receiving care.
Our Stephen Mentors are:
- Children of God who walk beside a person who is hurting
- Congregation members with gifts for caregiving, carefully selected and trained to serve – providing emotional and spiritual care
- Caring, Christian friends who listen, care, pray, support, and encourage
- People who will “be there” for their care receivers, meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there is a need
Could you, or someone you know (friend, neighbor, coworker or relative) benefit from the confidential, one-to-one care and support of a Stephen Mentor? Contact your ward-elder or one of our pastors. For more information about the program, please contact our coordinator.
