Who Benefits from
Stephen Ministry

People Who Need Care . . .

Receive quality, Christ-centered, confidential care for their hurts and needs
Find hope, healing, and a new sense of self-worth through the support of a Stephen Minister
Know they are remembered and supported by their congregation in times of personal difficulty
Receive ongoing care for continuing needs long after the onset of crisis, when many others have forgotten about them
Grow in a deeper relationship with their Lord as they experience God's unconditional love for them through their Stephen Minister

No longer shoulder the entire burden of caring in the congregation, as if the pastor were the only one able, willing, or called to do this ministry
Receive support and care from the laypeople who are part of the congregation's Stephen Ministry team
Reach more members of the congregation with quality Christian care
Experience renewed joy and satisfaction as they equip others and so extend the reach of their own ministries
Have more time to focus on the ministries that only the pastor can do

Discover, cultivate, and use the spiritual gifts they have been blessed with
See themselves as active partners in the mission and ministry of the church
Find all aspects of their lives enriched by the distinctively Christian caregiving skills they learn and practice
Experience great joy as they see God working through them to bring hope and healing to a hurting person
Grow spiritually as they experience the Lord's loving presence in community with other Christian caregivers

Discovers that many members want to be involved in meaningful ministry and will respond to the call to become a Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader
Becomes a more loving community that is sensitive and responsive to people's needs for care
Is able to provide more quality Christian care so that fewer people slip through the cracks
Is able to reach out to nonmembers who are hurting so they can experience the love of Jesus
Sees itself not as only being served by the pastor but as a caring body of believers actively involved in serving one another in love