What Is Stephen Ministry?

Our congregation’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.

How Does it Work?

Our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, Pastor  Skarstad, meets with the person requesting help.  He helps determine whether Stephen Ministry can provide the care that person needs.  He matches that person with one of our  Stephen Ministers.  The Stephen Minister calls  that person to schedule confidential weekly meetings of one hour for as long as the need is there.  The Stephen Minister listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.

Why Lay Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers who are responsible for passing on God’s love.  God calls us to put our gifts for ministry to use.  Through Stephen Ministry, people with special gifts for caring ministry can use their gifts to bring Christ’s love to those in need.

Stephen Ministry Benefactors

Those receiving care benefit from prayer and support throughout their crisis.  Stephen Ministers benefit through the spiritual growth from being involved in meaningful ministry.  Our pastors benefit since caring ministry is expanded, reaching more people in need.  You benefit from the special care that is available if you need it.  You can refer anyone else you know who is going through a difficult time so that they can receive special care with their need.

Why Stephen Ministry?

We have many needs for care in our congregation and community.  Often people with needs suffer silently or do not request the care they really need.  Stephen Ministry expands the care Atonement can offer by equipping and organizing members to provide Christian care.  This gives us a larger pool of people with the gifts, skills, and calling to bring Christ’s love and care to those who most need it.

Stephen Ministry is……..

·    A lay, caring ministry responding to someone in need.

·     An ongoing helping relationship.

·     A meaningful way to use our talents to share another’s burdens and joys.

A Stephen Minister Is Not………

·     A professional counselor, social worker, psychologist, expert in law, finance, church doctrine, or a superficial visitor touching base now and then.

A Stephen Minister Is…….

·     A caring Christian – supporting others in need.

·       A sharing Christian – partnering with another in life’s experiences.

·      A trained Christian – having developed his/her skills through intensive coursework.

·      A dedicated Christian – commissioned by our church to confidential, in-depth caring.

Who Are Stephen Ministers?

Atonement members who have 50 hours of specialized training in providing high-quality Christian care.  Stephen Ministers are assigned a care receiver.  They meet with that care receiver for about an hour a week.  This relationship lasts as long as the care receiver needs it.  On how to become a Stephen Minister or to receive care from one, please talk to Pastor Skarstad.