Stephen Ministry

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What is Stephen Ministry?

We equip trained lay people to provide confidential one-on-one Christian care to people experiencing difficulties in their lives. We aim to bring help, hope and healing.

Our ministers are members from the parish who listen, care, encourage and provide support.

Stephen Ministers Care for People Facing Difficult Times:

We all experience challenges in life -- times when we could benefit from care and support.  We can provide emotional and spiritual care when faced with a crisis and difficulty such as:

• Aging
• Birth, adoption, miscarriage or infertility
• Caregiver stress
• Divorce or separation
• Incarceration
• Loneliness or discouragement
• Loss of a loved one
• Recovery after illness, accident or disaster
• Relocation
• Spiritual crisis
• Terminal illness
• Unemployment,  job crisis or transition after retirement

A Stephen Minister Is:

• A child of God who walks beside someone who is hurting and who focuses on their needs;
  
  
• A congregation member who is carefully selected to serve in this role because of his or her caregiver gifts;
  
  
• A layperson with 50 hours of training in providing high-quality, distinctively Christian care;
  
  
• A caring Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports and encourages;
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• Someone who meets faithfully with his or her care receiver for as long as there is a need.

Ongoing Support and Education:

Stephen Ministers meet twice a month for peer supervision and continuing education which is necessary for them to improve their ministry and to provide the best quality of care.  Because of the strict confidentiality, required by Stephen Ministry, meetings are restricted to ministers who have completed the 50 hours of training. ​

Ways to Support Stephen Ministry:

• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.
  
  
• Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn't expect you to bear your burdens alone.
  
  
• Tell a friend, neighbor, coworker or relative who is hurting about our ministry.
  
  
• If you are a compassionate person and a good listener, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.

About Our National Organization:

Stephen Ministries St. Louis is a not-for-profit Christian educational organization based in St. Louis, MO. Founded in 1975, Stephen Ministries provides training and resources to thousands of congregations and organizations worldwide.

Our logo symbolizes that we are all broken people -- and that only Jesus can make us whole.

Contact:

Hotline:  636-255-1739

​​Chairperson: 
Sue Witte
[email protected]
 
Other Contact:
Deacon Mark McCarthy
[email protected]