Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a system through which members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are trained and organized to help provide Christian caregiving to members of our congregation and community. This multiplies the amount of caring ministry we can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses.

Good Shepherd’s program has trained over 30 Stephen Ministers. Stephen Ministers are members of our church who have gone through 50 hours of training to provide high-quality Christian care to individuals experiencing a crisis or challenge such a divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, relocation, or loneliness. Stephen Ministers are each assigned a care receiver and meet with that care receiver for about an hour a week. This caring relationship will last for as long as the care receiver needs it.

When someone requests a Stephen Minister, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs. Our Referrals Coordinator then matches that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for about an hour each week as long as the need is there.

Equipping the Saints… In Ephesians 4 (NRSV) Paul talks about pastors and other leaders as gifts God has given the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Stephen Ministry has given us an organized way to equip those gifted for caring ministry so that they can build up the body of Christ by providing Christian care and support to those experiencing a difficult time. If you would like more information on our Stephen Ministry, please call Pastor Clint.

How Does Stephen Ministry Work at GSLC? When someone requests a Stephen Minister, our Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator, will meet with that person, explain what Stephen Ministry is, and help determine whether Stephen Ministry is the kind of care that person needs. Our Referrals Coordinator then matches that person with one of our available Stephen Ministers. The Stephen Minister will then call that person and begin meeting with him or her for about an hour each week as long as the need is there. Everything a care receiver says to his or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential. The Stephen Minister doesn’t try to solve problems; rather, he or she listens, cares, prays, and helps the care receiver find his or her path to healing and wholeness.

Visit Social Ministry (SM) for information on other programs.