What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is a church member with extensive training, who will listen to and care for an individual who is going through a hard time. Stephen Ministers are people just like you, who are specially trained to help people through the tough times, no matter what they’re facing. A Stephen Minister is:
- Trustworthy—what you say is held in confidence
- Faithful—reliant on God’s love and power
- Skilled—50 hours of initial training followed by monthly continuing education
- Compassionate—loved by God and sharing God’s love
Who benefits from Stephen Ministry?
If you are going through a hard time, a Stephen Minister could help. If you are dealing with a difficult situation (grief, divorce, job loss, health crisis, an unwelcome relocation) and not in need of psychiatric care (suffering from depression or mental illness), then a Stephen Minister may be a blessing from God for YOU.
Having a Stephen Minister made all the difference in the world. I don’t know what I would have done without mine. When you’re going through something, you don’t want to dump on your kids or your friends. That’s what my Stephen Minister was for. I consider myself a very strong person. A lot of people think, “I don’t need a Stephen Minister,” and I want to tell them, “Don’t do this to yourself. Ask for a Stephen Minister.”
- Former Care Receiver at WPC
- Former Care Receiver at WPC