What Is Stephen Ministry?
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NRSV).
Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of congregation members—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties.
Who’s Involved in Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Leaders are church staff, lay leaders, and clergy trained to provide ongoing leadership for their congregation’s Stephen Ministry. CtK’s Stephen Leader Team is Pastor Tim, Deacon Mandy, and Sue Johnson.
Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by their Stephen Leaders to offer care to people who are hurting. A Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week for about an hour.
Care receivers are individuals in the congregation or community who are going through a crisis or life difficulty. Potential care receivers first meet with a Stephen Leader who assesses their needs for care and matches them with a Stephen Minister. The caring relationship lasts for as long as the need persists.
Be a Stephen Minister at CtK
CtK looks forward to training a group of Stephen Ministers in the fall of 2022 so we can begin care for people in our church and community. The 50-hour training is our investment in you. We teach a variety of topics such as active listening, Christian assertiveness, maintaining boundaries in caregiving, confidentiality, and more.
The training is distinctively Christian and focuses on God as the one who cures as we care. When the Stephen Ministers have completed the training, they will be commissioned and ready to begin their ministry.
Does a person have to “have it all together” to be a Stephen Minister? Naw. Otherwise, we’d just say, “Ascend already!”
Commitment
Stephen Ministers commit to at least two years of service, continuing education and supervision. Many enjoy serving as a Stpehen Minister so much that they choose to serve more than two years.
While being a Stephen Minister requires commitment of time and effort, it also brings joy and fulfillment. Stephen Ministry may be one of the most rewarding challenges you will ever embrace. In addition, you will use the skills you learn not only in your caring ministry, but also in your everyday relationships with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Think and pray about this opportunity.
For more information, email our Stephen Leader Team.
Apply
Read the Stephen Minister Covenant to Care (No need to sign yet, just read and digest).
Complete the Stephen Minister Application. The deadline to apply is September 11, 2022. (Hard copies are available in the CtK office and Welcome Center.)
Email the application to the Stephen Leader Team. You can also mail it or drop it off at the CtK office Monday – Thursday mornings or at Sunday Worship.
Our Stephen Leaders will call or email you to set up an interview.
Together, we will discover if Stephen Ministry is right for you.
We are excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of those who undertake this ministry and in the lives of those who will receive care from our Stephen Ministers!
In need of a Stephen Minister?
We cannot wait to serve you in this way!
But we’ll have to.
CtK plans to be able to serve our first care receivers by March of 2023. As we close in on this date, we’ll have a way here for you to reach out.