Stephen Leaders will match Stephen Ministers with care receivers who have requested a Stephen Minister.  Each Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week for about an hour.

A Stephen Ministry caring relationship lasts as long as the need is there.  Some relationships last only a month or two.  Others, such as caring for a person experiencing grief, may last a year or more.  The Stephen Minister may 'care' for the care receiver by bringing in other ministry resources, e.g., Mercy Ministry, Listening and Prayer team (for emotional and spiritual needs).

Stephen Ministers meet twice a month for supervision and continuing education.

Who's Who

• Care receiver:  A person experiencing a life crisis or challenge who receives the caring ministry of a Stephen Minister. The needs of care receivers may include divorce, loss of a loved one, hospitalization, terminal illness, loneliness, relocation, unemployment, retirement, empty nest, and other life transitions. 
• Stephen Leader:  Pastor or lay leader who has completed a Stephen Series Leader’s Training Course and directs Stephen Ministry in his or her congregation. Typically, a congregation will have two or more Stephen Leaders who work together as a team, each overseeing different aspects of Stephen Ministry.
• Stephen Minister:  A congregation member who is recruited, selected, trained, commissioned, and supervised by Stephen Leaders to provide one-to-one Christian care to persons in need on behalf of the congregation. Stephen Ministers typically are assigned one care receiver at a time and meet with that person for about one hour each week. Stephen Ministers usually serve for two years, which includes an initial 50 hours of training followed by twice-monthly supervision and continuing education sessions.