Stephen Ministry

What Is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a ministry of our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. Training is provided the Stephen Leaders in our church. Stephen Ministry incorporates the great commandment of loving one another and going out to share the word.

Why Is The Name Stephen?

The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need as recorded in Acts 6.

What Is A Care Receiver?

A care receiver is a recipient of a Stephen Minister’s care. They are people from our church or community who are experiencing divorce, grief, loss of a job, loneliness, hospitalization, terminal illness or any other life difficulties. Stephen ministers usually meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour and the relationship will last for as long as it is beneficial to the care receiver.

What Do Stephen Ministers Do?

Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept and pray for and with care receivers. They are not counselors but trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care—not to give advice or counsel.

Stephen SeriesStephen Ministry Logo?

The logo consists of a cross and circle together with a broken person and a whole person. The broken person behind the cross symbolizes the brokenness in our lives . The whole person stands in front of the cross because it is only through the cross of Jesus that we are made whole. The circle symbolizes both the wholeness we receive through Christ and God’s unending love for us.

Stephen Ministers Are Called to Be Caregivers

• Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14 “ Encourage the faint- hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.”

Can You Trust a Stephen Minister?

Trust and confidentiality are essential to a caring relationship. The relationship between a Stephen Minister and their conversations are kept in the strictest confidence.

How to give or ask for a referral

• A person such as yourself, a relative, or a friend could be hurting and in need of Christian Care.
• The Stephen Minister Referral Coordinator learns about this need from the pastor, you, or a friend (with the permission of the person who is in need of the Christian help).
• The referrals coordinator will meet or phone the care receiver to explain the Stephen Ministry program.
• If this type of ministry is appropriate a Stephen Minister will be assigned.
• The Stephen Minister provides distinctively Christian Care with trust and confidentiality.

How to Become a Stephen Minister or receive one

Please call Peggy Yelverton at 727-3999, the church office, 723-6761, or speak to any of our other Stephen Ministers.

First United Methodist Church of Melbourne
110 New Haven Avenue (US 192), Melbourne, FL 32901 | Office: (321) 723-6761