Stephen Ministry is a Bethel lay ministry which delivers uniquely Christ-centered care. Our ministers receive at least 50 hours of training prior to accepting their first care receiver assignment. This ministry is free of charge and will be provided only if the potential care receiver wishes to establish the Stephen Ministry relationship.

Stephen Ministry is not counseling or therapy. Some people's issues are too complex for Stephen Ministry assignment. Ministry training contains material to assist them to recognize when to refer issues to professionals. A Stephen Minister doesn't do errands or provide transportation.

Stephen Ministers make appointments with care receivers at an agreed upon location. Stephen Ministers are assigned to a person of their own gender on a one-to-one basis. The minister accepts only one care receiver at a time. The visits are coordinated with the care receiver. Some meetings are by telephone, but face-to-face visits are more effective and desireable.

Stephen Ministers listen carefully to the care receiver and through reflecting and clarifying, the care-receiver is often able to make enlightening discoveries and important life-decisions. Stephen Ministers listen and provide spiritual, scriptural visits as the care-receiver wishes. A Stephen Minister listens and prays with or offers prayers on the receiver's behalf as desired.

Supervisory sessions with Stephen Leaders are part of the ongoing training for Stephen Ministers. One of the most unique traits of Stephen Ministry is its confidentiality. Only the Stephen Minister and Leaders know who is visited and particulars of why.

If you want to become a Stephen Minister, need this service yourself, or know someone who would benefit from a Stephen Minister relationship, please call Pastor Wilson, John Jens, or Wayne Thaemert.