Are you going through a difficult time?

Members of our congregation, called Stephen Ministers, are available without cost to provide fully confidential support and a friendly, listening ear to anyone troubled by life’s many complications, and who would appreciate having someone to talk to.

How a Stephen Minister helped me: care receivers speak.

People find the listening ear of a Stephen Minster helpful in many situations:

• Illness

• Death

• Family issues

• Divorce

• Caregiving

• Work issues

• Job loss

What does a Stephen Minister do?

Stephen Ministers listen, encourage, and provide spiritual support. We meet with you in person, usually once a week, for about an hour. Depending on your needs, we might have just one or two conversations, or more than that—it's your choice. Men are paired with men; women with women.

Will other people know if I have a Stephen Minister?

This care is entirely confidential—no one knows the identity of a care receiver except for his or her Stephen Minister and the pastor or Stephen Leader who paired them two together.

How do I get a Stephen Minister?

If you would like to discuss the possibility of having a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Peter Wilkinson.

How are Stephen Ministers trained?

Stephen Ministry volunteers have completed a 50-hour training program led by our Stephen Leader. Stephen Ministers also receive supervision and continuing education every month from our Stephen Leader, Pastor Peter Wilkinson.

More about the Stephen Ministry program:

The Stephen Ministry Program was begun in 1973 by Dr. Kenneth Haugk, a Methodist minister and clinical psychologist, and has served over 12,000 congregations. Any Christian denomination is welcome to participate in the program. The Stephen Ministry program gets its name from the book of Acts, chapter 6, in which Stephen was chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need.

How can I volunteer to be a Stephen Minister or Leader?

To find out more about volunteering, click here.