Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry provides congregations with the structure, training, and resources to establish and administer a lay Christian caring ministry (called Stephen Ministry).   

Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry?

People Who Need Care will . . .

  • Receive quality, Christ-centered, confidential care for their hurts and needs
  • Find hope, healing, and a new sense of self-worth through the support of a Stephen Minister
  • Know they are remembered and supported by their congregation in times of personal difficulty
  • Receive ongoing care for continuing needs long after the onset of a crisis, when many others have forgotten about them
  • Grow in a deeper relationship with their Lord as they experience God's unconditional love for them through their Stephen Minister.

What is Stephen Ministry?

It is a ministry in our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Stephen Ministry brings Jesus' healing love to people in need of care in the congregation and surrounding community.


Who is a Stephen Minister and how does a person become one?

A Stephen Minister is a volunteer lay Christian recruited, selected, trained, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide one-on-one spiritual and emotional Christian caregiving focused on their care receivers= needs when he/she has sought help with a life crisis. They are servants, listeners, supportive resource persons, and caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time. Stephen Ministers are not counselors, therapists, pastors, or mental health professionals. Women Stephen Ministers are assigned women care receivers and men are assigned men care receivers. The process of becoming a Stephen Minister begins with a person completing an application, undergoing an interview, and ends with selection by the recruiting and selection team. Once selected, he or she commits to serve a minimum of two years, which includes an initial 50 hours of training followed by twice-monthly supervision and continuing education sessions. A total of 50 hours of training is required before a trainee is qualified to be commissioned to serve as a Stephen Minister. Stephen Ministers can extend their service well beyond their two-year initial commitment, which they often do.

Who can be helped by this ministry?

Any adult person experiencing painful or conflicting feeling as a result of a life crisis or challenge.

Persons in crisis may be dealing with:

  • hospitalization
  • terminal illness
  • death of a loved one
  • unemployment
  • divorce
  • severe financial setback
  • natural disaster
  • aftermath of a fire
  • parenting struggles

Less obvious crises include:

  • retirement
  • stress of moving
  • being a victim or perpetrator of a crime

Persons in other situations requiring ministry:

  • follow-up care in recovering from a major life crisis
  • chronic care for a long-term illness or chronic sufferers with an incurable disease.

    • Some who fall within this area are those who are:

  • disabled
  • aged
  • in nursing homes
  • homebound
  • experiencing chronic pain, such as arthritis, or
  • living with degenerative diseases

Preventive Care to help persons anticipate and prepare for potentially difficult upcoming events, such as:

  • first child birth, difficult pregnancies, miscarriage, or infertility
  • marriage
  • going to college or entering the military service
  • a person who has just received a promotion

Supportive Care for caregivers. Persons needing this type of care include:

  • a spouse caring for his/her dying spouse
  • an adult child considering placing his/her elderly parent in a long-term care facility
  • a parent of a special-needs child a son or daughter supporting a parent through the death and funeral of the other parent, or
  • parent supporting an adult child through the pain of divorce

Where does this ministry happen?

Once a Stephen Minister has been assigned to a care receiver, they will establish a place to meet that is mutually agreeable.

What kind of care do Stephen Ministers give?

They offer care, support, and encouragement to a person whose life has been turned upside down by crisis or tragedy. Stephen Ministers support people who for the most part have their basic coping skills intact, their thinking in order, and their emotions under control. These care receivers can meet the routine demands of everyday life and would be likely to overcome their challenges even without the assistance of a Stephen MinisterBalthough perhaps not as quickly or as well. These care receivers need someone to walk beside them, to encourage them, to pray with them and for them, and to bear their burdens with them. The Stephen Minister offers his or her support through attentive, active listening and a caring presence. Stephen Ministers provide care in many situations (see "Who can be helped by this ministry?" above). But some situations are beyond the scope of a Stephen Minister's skills.

What kind of care do Stephen Ministers not provide?

They do not provide care for: minors; couples, families, or other groups; those suffering serious mental or emotional disturbances; those suffering severe depression; those with personality disorders; extreme manipulators; those dealing with abuse issues; substance abusers or chemically dependent persons; those exhibiting suicidal behavior; and those exhibiting violent behavior.

Why do we need lay caregivers when we have pastors, counselors, and other mental health professionals?

All FBC members are called to care. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples this new command, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34) So Jesus works in and through all Christians to provide care for his people. Certainly the pastor is an important caregiver, and he will remain so. In addition, however, God has called Stephen Ministers to share the congregation's caregiving ministry. The pastor and ministerial staff simply cannot provide all the quality care that people need for as long as they need it. God knows that, and so the Holy Spirit has gifted lay Christians to be caregivers. Everyone who needs care is important in God's eyes and in the eyes of the pastor. FBC started this ministry so that gifted, trained Stephen Ministers can provide care for the people who need it.  More caregivers mean more care. All caregivers at FBC, both lay and pastors, are expressions of God's care for us and of our care for one another.

How can people both in and outside of FBC receive this ministry? How can a person obtain Stephen Ministry for a family member or friend? What is the process for obtaining a Stephen Minister?

Potential care receivers can be referred to Stephen Ministry by the ministerial staff, those involved in Stephen Ministry, any congregational member, or a person outside FBC. After a referral is made, the Referral Coordinator will make a preliminary assessment of the appropriateness of Stephen Ministry for the referred individual. If Stephen Ministry is deemed to be appropriate, the potential care receiver is asked to agree to receive care from a Stephen Minister. If he/she agrees, the Referrals Coordinator will determine if a Stephen Minister is available. If one is available, the selected Stephen Minister prepares for and makes his/her first caring visit. In the event a Stephen Minister is deemed appropriate, but one is not currently available, the Referrals Coordinator will contact the potential care receiver and advise that he/she is being placed on a waiting list or is being referred elsewhere to another congregation with a Stephen Ministry.

How can lay members become involved in Stephen Ministry without becoming Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers need a care receiver. Every member of FBC has a circle of influence and knows people who have needs which can be met by a Stephen Minister. You are the eyes and ears of FBC to getting people the help they need by simply referring a person to Stephen Ministry. You can also pray that the needs of people can be met by the ministry care of Stephen Ministers and that the caregivers will have the mind, heart, and touch of Jesus.