Stephen Ministry

“One to One Christ-focused Care”

Our Purpose:
To train lay people to provide confidential, one to one, same gender, reliable, Christ-focused compassion and care to members and nonmembers 18 and older, who are going through a difficult time and want someone to listen and share the burden. Berkmar UMC commissioned its first class of Stephen Ministers on March 2003.

What is a Stephen Minister?
A Stephen Minister is a person who offers Christian love to a hurting person. The role of a Stephen Minister is to provide confidential, compassionate, nonjudgmental care. They are lay people who have received 50 hours of training to provide effective Christian Care. They are not counselors, therapists, pastors, or best friends. They are trained to listen and understand your needs, not to tell you what to do.

Who can receive a Stephen Minister?
Any person 18 and older, who is experiencing difficulties, is hurting, and is in need of Christian Care. Stephen Ministers help meet the needs of persons experiencing hospitalization, an extended or terminal illness, bereavement or grief, job loss or relocation, separation or divorce, loneliness or depression, childbirth or “empty nest syndrome”, a spiritual crisis, or similar types of hardships.

How does the Referral Process work?
An individual, either you, a relative, or a friend, with the individual’s permission contacts the Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator. The Referrals Coordinator can learn about a need for care from the pastor, the individual, or a friend. The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about the program. If mutually agreeable, the Referrals Coordinator confidentially assigns a same gender Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the individual.

How does a person become a Stephen Minister or Leader?
A person contacts the pastor or the Stephen Leader Team members. The team will gladly discuss the program with the person or contact the Stephen Series program in St. Louis, Missouri .
The Stephen Series website is: www.stephenministry.org

How does a person reach a Stephen Leader?
A person contacts the Church Office at 770-923-1403 and asks the pastoral staff to notify one of the Stephen Leaders.