Stephen Ministry
What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is a congregation member who is recruited, selected, trained, commissioned, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide one-to-one Christian care to persons in need on behalf of the congregation. Stephen Ministers typically are assigned one care receiver at a time and meet with that person for about one hour each week. Stephen Ministers usually serve for two years, which includes an initial 50 hours of training followed by twice-monthly supervision and continuing education sessions.
“A Friend to a Friend”
Contact: Terri Garbielson
We have lay people who have received extensive training in supporting people through turning points and times of need. Everything is kept absolutely confidential. If you might like a Stephen Minister or want to learn more about this program, contact the Pastor or the other Stephen Leaders.
What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a system through which members of St. Catherine’s are trained and organized to help provide Christian care giving to members of our congregation and community. This multiplies the amount of caring ministry St. Catherine’s can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life.
Why Lay Ministry?
We have many needs for care in our congregation and community: people experiencing divorce, grief, a terminal illness, loss of a job, relocation, an empty nest, retirement, hospitalization, loneliness, and many other stresses or challenges. Often people with needs suffer silently or do not request or receive the level of care they really need. With the size of our congregation, it is difficult if not impossible for our pastors to meet every single need of every single person. Stephen Ministry expands the care St. Catherine’s can offer by equipping and organizing members to provide Christian care.
How Does Stephen Ministry Work?
When someone requests a Stephen Minister, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs. Our Referrals Coordinator then matches that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for around an hour each week as long as the need is there. Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential. The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.