One-On-One Support Through Stephen Ministries
Stephen Ministry was founded in 1975 to help congregations equip lay people for one-on-one care ministry. Stephen Ministry involves putting God’s love in action—that is Christ caring for people through people. What this looks like specifically is providing help with grief-related issues.
What I find encouraging is that God uses people to help me through this journey of life. I don’t have to travel that path alone.
Therefore, you’ll find an application to Stephen Ministry from Galatians 6:2 , which says “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
How specifically do Stephen ministers care for people and bear others’ burdens?
1. Stephen Ministry provides the opportunity for one-on-one support in times
of grief and difficult life situations. Men are paired with men and women
with women generally for a period of a few months.
2. Stephen ministers are not counselors but are there to listen, encourage and
pray.
3. Stephen Ministry is committed to confidentiality, which includes the pairing
itself and anything discussed between Stephen minister and care receiver.
4. Care receivers have the opportunity to process their grief and talk things
out, allowing for a healthy journey and ability to cope well.
5. Stephen Ministers help the pastors. There are always many more needs for
ongoing, one-on-one care than pastors can effectively meet by themselves.
6. In addition, the Stephen Ministry includes dozens of hours of training in
important caring ministry skills and concepts, which helps the Stephen Minister
meet the needs of those who are:
• hospitalized
• terminally ill
• grieving a death or serious loss
• homebound
• facing a job crisis
• facing life transitions
• and many other life difficulties
We all experience challenges in life—times when we could benefit from
the support of a brother or sister in Christ. We encourage you as a potential care
receiver to be open to the love God wants to show you through others.
If you would like to be connected to a Stephen Minister, see if your church can work that out. If the church you’re in offers that type of ministry, talk to your pastor about setting up a pairing. If no such program is available, find out if the leadership has connections with other churches who provide that one-on-one support.
Speaking of one-on-one support, those who shy away from groups would benefit from this type of grief support. You meet weekly with a Stephen Minister in a quiet, confidential, and relaxed setting. The caregiver’s job is to listen, love, and pray. The nature of the conversation is non-judgmental.
However, if you’re looking for a counselor, you need to contact a professional who works in that field. Once again, Stephen Ministers are lay caregivers, not counselors.