The Stephen Ministy is a program comprised of our church's members with a heart for caring ministry and a vision for expanding the congregations' pastoral care - for bringing Christ's healing love to those facing life's many challenges. These trained members are equipped to listen, offer a caring presence and provide emotional and spiritual support.
These members, known as Stephen Ministers, abide by a four point compass; compassionate, full of faith, skilled and trustworthy in the interactions with a person who is going through new territory. These individuals who could benefit from receiving care are called a Care Receiver. A Stephen Minister is paired with a Care Receiver to journey with them, walk alongside them to the point where the Stephen Minister is no longer needed, when the individual is well on his/her way, stronger and ready for release.
Stephen Ministers acknowledge that Jesus is the source of transformation and ministry; they are just the hands and the feet to help the individual achieve a sense of wholeness and well-being.
The program was started in 1975 and grown to be a world wide lay caring program with proven success of bringing hope and healing.
Individuals who have sought this confidential free service typcially were facing:
- Job changes
- New living arrangement/location changes
- Family dynamic changes; divorce, caregiver of parents, empty nesters, etc.
- Diagnosis, family death
