Stephen Ministry
Ongoing Caregiving & Encouragement
What is Stephen Ministry?
Founded in 1975, Stephen Ministry is a non-profit providing training and resources for biblical caregiving in churches and organizations worldwide. While the organization is based in St. Louis, WCC’s Stephen Ministry is one of thousands of ministries around the world practicing its model of care.
Receiving Care
We all experience challenges in life — times when we could benefit from care and support. Stephen Ministers can provide the emotional and spiritual care you need when faced with a crisis or difficulty such as:
Becoming a Stephen Minister
Do you believe God has gifted you to care for hurting people? Then prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister. A Stephen Minister is:
- A child of God who walks beside someone who is hurting.
- A member of the church body who is carefully selected to serve in this role because of his or her caregiving gifts.
- A person who has received 50 hours of training to provide high-quality, distinctively Christian care.
- A caring Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports and encourages.
- Someone who meets faithfully each week with his or her care receiver for as long as there is a need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Stephen Ministry?
The name Stephen comes from the Bible in Acts 6 when the Apostles commissioned the first layperson to provide care to those in need.
How can Stephen Ministry help me?
Stephen Ministers can provide emotional and spiritual support when you are faced with a challenge such as:
- Loss of a loved one
- Hospitalization
- Divorce or separation
- Loneliness or discouragement
- Spiritual questions or crisis
- Unemployment or a job concern
- Dealing with terminal illness
- Incarceration
- Aging
- Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
- A chronic illness
- Relocation concerns or anxiety
- Recovery after an accident or disaster
Can I get a Stephen Minister for someone I know?
Yes. The steps to refer someone to receive help from WCC Stephen Ministries are:
- Someone—you, a relative, or friend—is hurting and in need of Christian care.
- Always with the person’s permission, our Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care from the person, a pastor, staff member, or a friend.
- Our Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
- With the person’s permission, arrangements are made for a Stephen Minister to meet weekly with the person.
- The Stephen Minister continues to provide Christ-centered, confidential care as needed.
What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is:
- A Christ-follower who walks beside a person who is hurting.
- A Christian friend who cares, encourages, listens, prays, and supports.
- A carefully selected WCC attendee who completed 50 hours of training to provide distinctively biblical care
- Someone who faithfully meets weekly with his or her care receiver for as long as there’s a need
A Stephen Minister is not:
- A licensed counselor or therapist
- A problem-solver
- A casual visitor with a quick fix
Contacts
