Grace UMC - Enter your slogan here

Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?....

Our congregation's Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.

A Stephen Minister is....

• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting
• A congregation member with gifts for caregiving, who was carefully selected to serve in this role
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care
• A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages
• Someone who will "be there" for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for as long as there's a need
• Is committed to preserving the confidential nature of the caring relationship
• Someone who is willing to serve for at least two years
• Someone who receives continuing education and skill building throughout their years of service

"Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 There are times when....each of us needs the care of another person, a Christian friend, a STEPHEN MINISTER! These needs include but are not limited to...

• hospitalization
• a terminal illness
• relocation
• grief
• loneliness or discouragement
• unemployment or a job crisis
• aging
• chronic illness
• divorce or separation
• spiritual crises
• incarceration
• birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
• recovery from an accident
• and many more

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: those receiving care can be sure that their identity and what goes on in the caring relationship will remain private. "Love one another as I have loved you." John 13:34

Stephen Ministry enhances our outreach by....

• Creating a "caring ministry explosion" where many instead of a few are offering God's love and care in a distinctively Christian way.
• Enabling our entire congregation to grow as a warm, loving, nurturing community where people are cherished and cared for in Jesus Christ.
• Identifying our congregation to our community as a place where people's needs are taken seriously.

"Encourage one another and build one another up." 1 Thessalonians 5:11   If you would like to know more information on this ministry. Please feel free to contact one of our pastors, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Christ Caring for People Through People