Stephen Ministry

What exactly IS Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a ministry of our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-on-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.

What do Stephen Ministers do?

Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time.

Are Stephen Ministers counselors?

Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care – not to give advice or counsel. Stephen Ministers are also trained to recognize when a care receiver’s need exceeds what they can provide. When that happens, they work with care receivers to help them receive the level of care they really need.

Can I trust a Stephen Minister?

Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principals of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strictest confidence.

How can someone receive care from a Stephen Minister?

Margaret Ferguson is our Stephen Leader who coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, you can talk to her, to one of our pastors, or to any of our other Stephen Leaders (Petie Corell, Diane Mizell, Randy Silver, or Mary Wray).

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

For more information about the Stephen Ministry, contact Margaret Ferguson at mferguson@signalpres.org or 886-2190.