• A system through which members of St. Paul Lutheran Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian care giving to members and friends of our congregation and community
• A support to the pastoral staff
• A team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life

• Those receiving care from Stephen Ministers, because they receive prayer and support throughout the crisis they face
• Stephen Ministers, because they grow spiritually by being involved in a meaningful ministry
• Pastors, because caring ministry is expanded and fewer people will slip through the cracks
• You, because now you know that special care will soon be available to you should you need it

• Selected Stephen Ministers receive an initial 50 hours of training and regular continued education in providing high-quality Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge such as divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, relocation, or loneliness
• They are assigned a care receiver and meet with that care receiver for about an hour a week
• The relationship lasts for as long as the care receiver needs it

• Crisis care, such as hospitalization, terminal illness, death of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, natural disaster, severe financial setback, and so on
• Follow-up care, such as support during after-shocks following the initial crisis
• Chronic care for long-term problems such as chronic illness or suffering, disability, age-related issues, homebound individuals, degenerative diseases, loneliness
• Preventive care to help people anticipate and prepare for potentially difficult events, such as the approach of retirement, marriage in the near future, college students away from home, women expecting their first child
• Supportive care for care-givers, such as a spouse caring for a dying wife, persons placing an senior in a long-term facility, parents of a special-needs child, children supporting a grieving parent, a parent supporting a child facing divorce

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Two years ago, Shelly Moore’s life changed in an instant when her son was diagnosed with an acute form of leukemia. Suddenly this young mother’s world became one of doctors and hospitals and procedures to cure the fragile body of nine-year-old Luke Moore. And, they had only been in the community for eight weeks, having recently moved over three hundred miles from their family and friends.

When visited by the pastoral care staff of St. Paul Lutheran Church who suggested the services of a Stephen Minister, she listened and responded with a nod. “I was searching for help anywhere I could get it,” Moore said.

Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry whereby trained volunteers bring Christ’s healing love to troubled people on a confidential, one-to-one basis. In some way, Stephen Ministers are a channel for God’s care and love to other people. Simply put, Stephen Ministers are the “caregivers”, but God is the “curegiver”.

Shelly Moore’s contact with her Stephen Minister lasted for about a year, as they shared private time together at the hospital or personal visits at Moore’s home. Her Stephen Minister brought a friendly smile and an open ear. “She was like a friend who reached out in a nonthreatening way,” Moore explained. “Her presence was totally without strings or judgment.”

Stephen Ministries, in St. Louis, Missouri, is the 30-year-old nonprofit religious and educational organization that trains pastors and others who lead Stephen Ministry in their congregations and develops the materials for training and organizing lay ministers. The ministry began in 1975 when a Lutheran pastor in St. Louis (who also happened to be a clinical psychologist) trained nine laypersons in his congregation to become Stephen Ministers. The ministry is named for Stephen, who the Bible states (Acts 6) was among the first laypersons to provide caring ministry to those in need.

Stephen Ministers are not trained counselors or mental health professionals. They are, however, thoroughly trained in specific care giving skills through 50 hours of classes held regularly over a six-month period. Stephen Ministers help many people facing tough times and who may be in need of quality Christian care. These needs can range from mild depression, loneliness, unemployment or divorce to terminal illness, recent death, grieving or childbirth.

“When we’re troubled by something, often we can’t talk to spouses, family or friends because they can tend to get their feelings hurt if we’re angry,” said Cheryl Hernes, a three-year Stephen Ministry Leader at St. Paul. “With a Stephen Minister you can show anger, fear or whatever emotions bubble to the surface. A Stephen Minister just readily accepts it all.”

The Moore family is returning to a more normal life with Luke’s cancer in remission. “My Stephen Minister walked with me during a very dark time in my life,” said Shelly. “And I still know that Stephen Ministry is only a phone call away.”