Stephen Ministry

– A Ministry of Help, Hope and Healing

Call Anitra Nevels at 618-875-5989 or send an email to anitra@newlifeestl.com to receive care.

Stephen Ministers are ready to care! Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
Everyone has experienced some kind of life challenge- the loss of a job, death of a loved one, illness, or divorce.  Many people struggle alone, but this was never God’s intention.  In Galatians 6:2, we are told
to “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”  This is one reason being in fellowship with other Christians is so important. 
Many people are loved and cared for in small groups, but others may not have any support at all.  In either case, Stephen Ministers are trained and willing to help people who are struggling and need individualized care.  

What is Stephen Ministry?
Our church’s Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Stephen
Ministers are spiritually mature members of our congregation, many who have experienced and overcome difficulties in their own lives.  Because of God’s grace and the love of people who have helped them heal, they have been called to serve others with “distinctively Christian care” in their time of need.

A Stephen Minister is. 

• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.
• A person 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 about an hour each week, for as long as there’s a need.

After committing to two years of service and completing 50 hours of training, a Stephen Minister is commissioned by church leadership then assigned care receivers- one at a time- who have been referred.  Men care for men; women care for women.  They attend a peer supervision group twice a month for support, accountability, and guidance.  They also attend regular continuing education classes to enhance their caregiving skills and keep their ministry relevant.  

What do Stephen Ministers do?

• Meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour and may also check-in by phone depending on the complexity of needs.
• Listen- really listen- as their care receivers talk through their difficulties.
• Reflect what they hear from care receivers, ask open-ended questions and help care receivers recognize, express, process, and accept their feelings.
• Remain process-oriented.  Stephen Ministers do not try to fix care receivers or their problems. Stephen Ministers focus on the caregiving process and rely on God to achieve the results.
• Relate assertively and maintain boundaries.  Stephen Ministers respect both care receivers and their needs while setting appropriate boundaries in the caring relationship so care receivers remain as independent as possible.
• Recommend professional care when necessary.  Stephen Ministers are not counselors.  Therefore, they are not trained to care for those who have mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, addictions, abuse, suicidal tendencies, etc.  If Stephen Ministers recognize that the needs of their care-receiver exceed the care they are able to provide, they refer them to a mental health professional.
• Maintain confidentiality.  Care receivers need to know that what they say to the Stephen Minister will remain in confidence.  The only exception is when a care receiver expresses suicidal or homicidal thoughts.
• Pray daily for their care receivers asking God to support them, to resolve the difficulty, to achieve the desired spiritual growth, and to remind them of His presence.

Stephen Ministry is Your Ministry.
You play an important role in our Stephen Ministry. Here’s what you can do:

• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.
• Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn’t expect you to bear your burdens alone.
• Tell a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who is hurting about our Stephen ministry.
• If you are a good listener and a compassionate person, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.

Stephen Leaders are. . .