Listeners, Encouragers, Prayer Partners
A Stephen Minister provides confidential one-to-one lay Christian care. While they are not professional counselors or therapists, pastors or physicians, they are trained and supervised volunteers who offer support by listening, praying and encouraging. They are willing to talk about spiritual issues but won’t force them. Stephen Ministers usually meet weekly with their care receiver for about an hour.
The “After” People
Oftentimes, we don’t realize the hurt we’re experiencing until after the fact. Stephen Ministers are there for you during these times. After relationships end but the wounds are still present. After the doctor said “there’s nothing more we can do.” After the divorce papers have been signed. After the funeral service has concluded and the emotions come flooding in.
Confidentiality
Stephen Ministers keep personal information confidential. Therefore, you can feel free to share without worrying that anyone else will know about it. There are rare occasions when Stephen Ministers must share confidential information in order to save a life (suicide, homicide or abuse).
Stephen Ministers meet twice a month in small groups to give and receive peer supervision, which is necessary to help them provide quality care and grow as caregivers. They may share small amounts of general information about their care receivers, but they never tell their care receiver’s name and they do not share information that would reveal the care receiver’s identity.
We Are Here to Help
Your referrals coordinator will meet with you in person or by phone to understand your needs and begin the process of matching you with a Stephen Minister or other appropriate resources. Contact a coordinator below and they will be in touch with you soon.
Do you feel called to be a Stephen Minister?
A training class is currently being planned to begin in January 2024. Training consists of 50 hours to be held on Monday evenings from January through May 2024. North Raleigh United Methodist Church hosts our training class and is one of five churches that participate in our Stephen Ministry program.
Stephen Ministers are trained to provide confidential one-to-one lay Christian care. Stephen Ministers are not professional counselors or therapist, pastors, or physicians; they are trained and supervised volunteers who offer their support by listening, praying, and encouraging. You can find the application here. Please send it to one of our Stephen Leaders; Bill Burlington or Frances Riley.
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