FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Who can be a Stephen Minister?  Any caring Christian who is willing to dedicate the time for the training and the ministry itself.

• Who can be a care receiver?  Any member of the church or the local community who is in crisis and needs a caring Christian friend to manage it.

• What kind of crisis?  It could be a broken relationship, the loss of a loved one, job related problems or loss of job, illness of oneself or a loved one, or any other situation in which an individual needs the support of a Christian friend.  Stephen Ministers do not offer professional services such a counseling, financial advice, medical referrals, etc.

• What if my problem is such that I prefer it not generally be known I have it?  The Stephen Ministry relationship with the care receiver is strictly CONFIDENTIAL.  With the exception of the pastors and the one Stephen Leader who works with them making the referrals, no one knows the care receiver has a Stephen Minister unless the care receiver him/herself relates the information.

• What is the commitment expected of a Stephen Minister?  First, a Stephen Minister must be commited to fostering a Christian relationship with the care receiver.  There is a 50-hour training course offered at the church, generally every other fall.  Following that there is a 2-year commitment to the program during which Stephen Ministers attend monthly continuing education sessions and twice-monthly peer group meetings.

• Does a care receiver get to choose his/her Stephen Minister?  Not directly.  One of our pastors and the Stephen Leader responsible for referrals will work with a potential care receiver to assure a good match is made with a Stephen Minister.  Each care receiver has a Stephen Minister of the same gender. 

• What is the success rate of the Stephen Ministry program in solving care receivers' problems?  Stephen Minister do not expect to solve any problem a care receive may experience.  Rather the Stephen Minister is the care giver while Christ alone is the cure giver.

• How can I be assigned a Stephen Minister?  Start first by discussing your interest or desire for a Stephen Minister with one of our pastors.  They will quickly put facilitate the process of getting you a Stephen Minister assuming one of your gender is currently available.