Stephen Ministry

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 Stephen Ministers are members of our congregation who listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support to people who are facing a crisis or going through tough times. The care you'll receive is confidential, free, and very helpful. 

 Our congregation's Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.

Contact the Stephen Ministry at stephenministry@newfriendshipchurch.org

 The Stephen Series logo symbolizes that we all are broken people and that it is through the cross of Jesus that we are made whole.

"To equip the saints for the work of ministry." --Ephesians 4:12a

• A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting
• A congregation member with gifts for caregiving who was carefully selected to serve in this role
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care
• A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages
• Someone who will "be there" for his or her care receiver; meeting faithfully for about an hour each week, for as long as there's a need

"Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." 

-Galatians 6:2

We all experience challenges in life-- times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministers are ready to provide the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty such as --

• Loss of a loved one
• Hospitalization
• Divorce or separation
• Loneliness or discouragement
• Spiritual crisis
• Unemployment or a job crisis
• A terminal illness
• Incarceration
• Aging
• Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
• A chronic illness
• Relocation
• Recovery after an accident or disaster
• And many more

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remain private.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other." --1 Thessalonians 5:11

You play an important role in our Stephen Ministry. Here's what you can do:

• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.
• Accept care  from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn't expect you to bear your burdens alone.
• Tell a friend,  neighbor, coworker, or relative who is hurting about our Stephen Ministry.
• If you are a good listener and a compassionate person, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.