Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. A Stephen Minister is someone with a of a kind heart, open mind and good listening ear. If you fit the description, please consider this valuable ministry.

Clergy The Rev. Hillary Raining x216
Contact George Vosburgh  Betsy Aikens
 

Who is involved?

Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize and supervise our Stephen Ministers, identify people in need of care and match them with a Stephen Minister. We have six Stephen Leaders—Betsy Aikens, Margy Conlon, The Rev. Tom Pumphrey, Susan Nagy, and George and Melissa Vosburgh.

Read More from The Rev. Tom Pumphrey

Stephen Ministers are the caregivers. They have been through 50 hours of training in Christian care giving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness and using Christian resources in care giving. In addition, their training covers specialized topics such as ministering to the divorced hospitalized, bereaved and aging.

Care receivers are the recipients of Stephen Ministers’ care. They are people from our church or outside of our parish who are experiencing divorce, grief, loss of job, loneliness, hospitalization, terminal illness, or any of an endless number of other life difficulties. Stephen Ministers usually meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour for as long as the care receiver will benefit from the relationship. 
 

"For the past year and a half, I have met with my Stephen Ministry Caregiver every week.  She has been a lifeline during a period of my life when I have needed it the most.  She is also available to me by phone, text and email if I am feeling vulnerable.  She has met me when times were almost unbearable, when I thought I just could not do what needed to be done.  She listens when I need someone to listen to me; I do not seek advice, I just need someone to listen even if I am being irrational.  She accepts that I feel the way I feel and she comforts me, and in the most caring way, shows me there is hope."

-Stephen Ministry Care Receiver Testimonial

Are Stephen Ministers counselors?

Stephen Ministers are not counselors. They are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care, not to give advice or counsel. Stephen Ministers are also trained to recognize when a care receiver’s needs exceed what they can provide. When that happens they work with care receivers to help them receive the level of care they really need.
 

Is my relationship with a Stephen Minister confidential?

Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in the strictest confidence.

To learn more about Stephen Ministry go to http://www.stephenministries.org/.