The Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers are lay congregation members trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation.

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.

Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers. These individuals, in turn, have brought God’s healing love to millions of people going through difficult times in life.

What Stephen Ministers Do

After being matched with a person experiencing a life crisis, the Stephen Minister meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. The relationship lasts as long as the need for care exists.

The following quotes, stories, and articles (in PDF format) illustrate what Stephen Ministers do.

• “Real Ministry, Real Difference” — A man shares his story of discipleship, ministry, and unexpected transformation through becoming a Stephen Minister and witnessing God at work in his caring relationships.
• “I Began to Feel God’s Love Again” — A young woman describes how her caring relationship with her Stephen Minister allowed her to experience Jesus in a personal, tangible, life-transforming way.
• “Stephen Ministers: The After People” — A concise, poignant description of what a Stephen Minister is.
• “Care Receivers Share How Their Stephen Ministers Made a Difference” — This piece shows the wide variety of situations for which Stephen Ministers can provide care, as well as thoughts from care receivers about their experiences.

If you would like to explore having a Stephen Minister, call Sharon Galassini at 215 651-7084, or email .