Stephen Ministry: Professional Lay Counseling and Caring Support

Cornerstone's Stephen Ministers are highly trained lay counselors with a heart to help others through life's challenges. Stephen Ministry is a program that provides trained men and women to meet and talk with Care Receivers about difficulties they are experiencing in their life. All of us need someone from time-to-time to talk with about those things in life that bring us hurt, loss or concern.

One-on-One Care for Life's Challenges

If you or someone you know needs a listening friend in a time of crisis, a Stephen Minister is waiting. Stephen Ministers are equipped to provide one-on-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, or those otherwise facing a crisis or life challenge. This program helps our pastors provide quality, caring ministry for as long as people need it.

Key Benefits of the Ministry

For Care Receivers

People who need care benefit, as they:

• Receive quality, trained, Christ-centered, confidential care for their hurts and needs.
• Find hope, healing, and a new sense of self-worth through the support of a Stephen Minister.
• Know they are remembered and supported by their congregation in times of personal difficulty.
• Receive ongoing care for continuing needs long after the onset of a crisis, when many others have forgotten about them.
• Grow in a deeper relationship with their Lord as they experience God's unconditional love for them through their Stephen Minister.

For Laypeople and the Congregation

Our laypeople benefit, as they discover, cultivate, and use the spiritual gifts they have been blessed with. They experience great joy as they see God working through them to bring hope and healing to a hurting person and grow spiritually as they experience the Lord's loving presence in community with other Christian caregivers.

Our entire congregation benefits, as it:

• Becomes a more loving community that is more sensitive and responsive to people's needs for care.
• Can provide more quality Christian care so that fewer people slip through the cracks.
• Sees itself as not only being served by the pastor but as a caring body of believers actively involved in serving one another in love.

Requirements for Becoming a Stephen Minister

Perhaps, God is calling you! If you feel God is calling upon you to become a Stephen Minister, consider the following qualities and reasons to serve:

• You have the gift of mercy and the gifts of caring and compassion.
• You are a good listener and earnestly pray for others.
• You understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality.
• You understand that God alone is the cure, and you are willing to be used.
• You want to serve and grow in your christian walk.
• You want to impact other's lives for Christ.

How to Request a Stephen Minister

If you need the care of a Stephen Minister, contact Michelle Beaker in Caring Ministries at [email protected], or fill out our online request form. Stephen Ministers are waiting to provide confidential care for continuing needs long after the onset of a crisis.