Stephen Ministry Caring for Hurting People.jpg

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. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting.

STEPHEN MINISTERS

Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour.

Are you Interested in becoming a Stephen Minister? We will have a Stephen Minister Training Class Starting Late-September 2024. Applications for the class are being accepted May 15 - July 15

Who are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are people like you—caring Christians who want to make a difference in the lives of those going through difficult times.

What do Stephen Ministers Do?

A Stephen Minister walks alongside a hurting person to provide one-to-one, emotional and spiritual care—listening, empathizing, encouraging, helping process feelings, and connecting the person with God’s love. Typically, a Stephen Minister meets with his or her care receiver in person for about an hour a week.

What is Stephen Minister Training Like?

Stephen Minister training is an engaging, interactive experience that fully equips you to provide high-quality, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. Experienced Stephen Ministers provide the training in a small group setting at a time that is convenient for the group. Often training occurs during the Sunday morning bible study hour and is usually around 20 sessions.

Click the link below to access an online application.

Once you have completed the PDF, save it to your device and then email it to us at info@2BCLIberty.org.


CARE RECEIVERS

Care receivers are people—congregation members and others in the community—who receive care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.

Some important guidelines for this caring relationship protect both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister:

  • The relationship between a care receiver and a Stephen Minister is confidential.

  • Men are matched with men; women with women.

  • When a care receiver’s needs exceed what a Stephen Minister can provide, the Stephen Ministry team makes a referral to an appropriate mental health professional or other community resource.

If interested in becoming a Stephen Minister or if you need a Stephen Minister email info@2BCLiberty.org.