Stephen Ministry
Leaders Christine Willard and Vaughan Reale
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(609) 822-7105 ext. 105
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NRSV).
When life brings challenges or throws curveballs, most people feel the need to share that difficulty with a person they trust and who will keep their confidence. Stephen Ministry provides that safe and confidential space.
Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of parishioners—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the parish and the community experiencing life difficulties.
Stephen Leaders are church staff, lay leaders, and pastors trained to provide ongoing leadership for their congregation’s Stephen Ministry. They are equipped for this key role through the Bridge Leader’s Training Course offered by Stephen Ministries St. Louis.
Stephen Ministers are parish members trained by Stephen Leaders equipped to provide ongoing care and support to people experiencing difficulties such as grief, caregiving burdens, illness, unemployment, life transitions, loneliness, relationship challenges and other life challenges. They come from many diverse backgrounds and ages, but all have one important thing in common a heart for bringing Christ’s healing love to hurting people.
Since 1975, more than 600,000 people from more than 13,000 congregations and other organizations have been trained as Stephen Ministers. These individuals, in turn, have brought God’s healing love to millions of people going through difficult times in life.
Video testimonial from Care Receiver
What Stephen Ministers Do:
A Stephen Minister walks alongside a hurting person – called Care Receiver - to provide one-to-one, emotional and spiritual care – listening, empathizing, encouraging, helping process feelings and connecting the person with God’s love. Typically, a Stephen Minister meets with his or her care receiver in person for about an hour a week.
Care receivers are individuals in the congregation or community who are going through a crisis or life difficulty such as the death of a loved one, life changing medical diagnosis, divorce, loss of job etc.
The caring relationship lasts as long as needed and is kept highly confidential. The ministry is offered freely to anyone in the community.
If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister or a Stephen Minister Leader or learning more about our parish’s Stephen Ministry please contact Christine Willard or Vaughan Reale at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
