Sometimes We Need Someone to Walk Alongside Us
There are seasons in life when we need someone to listen, care, pray, and walk alongside us. Stephen Ministry provides one-to-one, Christ-centered care through trained members of our LCM family for people experiencing difficult seasons of life.
How Can We Help?
You Don’t Have to Walk Through It Alone
Stephen Ministers are trained members of our congregation who provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care through listening, prayer, encouragement, and companionship.
When Might Stephen Ministry Help?
- Grief or loss
- Serious or ongoing illness
- Divorce or separation
- Major life transitions
- Loneliness or discouragement
- Caring for a loved one
- Job or financial difficulties
- Spiritual or personal struggles
- Other difficult seasons of life
If something in your life is weighing on you, Stephen Ministry may provide a caring Christian companion to walk alongside you.
What Happens When I Request Care?
1. Reach out.
Complete our care request form.
2. We’ll connect with you.
A Stephen Ministry leader will contact you to learn more about how we can help.
3. We’ll help determine the next step.
If Stephen Ministry is a good fit, you’ll be connected with a Stephen Minister.
4. You’ll have someone to walk alongside you.
Your Stephen Minister will listen, pray, encourage, and provide ongoing care.
If you have a heart for listening, encouraging, praying with others, and walking alongside people when life is difficult, Stephen Ministry may be a place where God can use your gifts.
What Does a Stephen Minister Do?
Stephen Ministers:
- Listen without trying to fix the situation
- Offer care, encouragement, and prayer
- Meet one-to-one with a care receiver, usually about an hour each week
- Keep the caring relationship confidential
- Walk alongside someone for as long as care is needed
- Serve as a caring presence alongside the ministry of our pastors
What Training is Involved?
Before serving as a Stephen Minister, you’ll complete 50 hours of training that prepares you to provide Christ-centered care. Training covers listening skills, maintaining healthy boundaries, confidentiality, prayer, caring for people in different life situations, and other practical skills for the caring relationship.
Stephen Ministers also continue to meet regularly for support, guidance, and continuing education as they serve.
What is the commitment?
Stephen Ministry is a meaningful commitment of time and care. At LCM, Stephen Ministers commit to two years of service after completing their training. The role includes regular meetings with your care receiver as well as ongoing support and continuing education.
Who can become a Stephen Minister?
Stephen Ministers are members of our LCM family who have a desire to serve others through caring, listening, prayer, and encouragement. You don’t need to have all the answers or be a professional counselor. You simply need a willingness to listen, learn, and walk alongside someone who is hurting.
What Happens After Training?
After completing training, Stephen Ministers are paired with a person who could benefit from ongoing care. Stephen Ministers typically meet with one care receiver at a time, usually about an hour each week. They continue to receive support, guidance, and ongoing training as they serve.
Interested in learning more?
Complete the Stephen Minister Interest Form, and someone from our Stephen Ministry team will follow up with you.
FAQ
Stephen Ministry provides one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people who are experiencing a difficult season of life. Stephen Ministers are trained members of the congregation who listen, care, pray, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support.
Stephen Ministry is designed to provide ongoing care and companionship while someone navigates a difficult time.
Stephen Ministry is available to people in our LCM Family experiencing a crisis or difficult season of life. This may include grief, illness, divorce, job loss, hospitalization, relocation, life transitions, or other circumstances that leave someone needing care and support.
Care may be available to an individual or family member.
A Stephen Minister provides one-to-one care by listening, caring, praying, encouraging, and offering emotional and spiritual support.
A Stephen Minister typically meets with one care receiver at a time, usually once a week for about an hour. The caring relationship continues as long as the need for this type of care exists.
Stephen Ministry can be a source of care during many difficult seasons, including:
- Grief or loss
- Serious or ongoing illness
- Divorce or separation
- Job loss or other major changes
- Hospitalization or recovery
- Relocation
- Loneliness or discouragement
- Caring for a loved one
- Other significant life transitions or challenges
Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers are committed to keeping the caring relationship private. What you share with your Stephen Minister remains confidential and is only shared with the Stephen Ministry leader or a pastor, when appropriate.
No. Stephen Ministers provide Christian care, not professional counseling or therapy. If someone needs professional counseling, medical care, or other specialized support, the Stephen Ministry team can help connect them with appropriate resources while continuing to provide care when appropriate.
Stephen Ministry provides an additional layer of care alongside the ministry of LCM’s pastors. Stephen Ministers are trained lay caregivers who provide ongoing, one-to-one care to people experiencing difficult seasons of life. Together, Stephen Ministers and our pastors help ensure that people in our LCM family have caring support when they need it.
Every situation is different. A Stephen Minister typically meets with a care receiver about once a week for about an hour. The caring relationship continues for as long as the person needs this type of care.