Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one care to people in crisis or who need a caring heart to help them through a difficult situation. They’re matched in a confidential relationship with someone who is experiencing any kind of challenge in life including:
- hospitalization
- grief
- depression
- divorce
- loss of job
- health situation
- a change in life
- and many others.
Stephen Ministers receive 50 hours of initial training and participate in regular continuing education. The training helps Stephen Ministers to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties.
Need a Stephen Minister?
If you are someone you know are going through a difficult time, whether it is a short-term or long-term situation, please contact the church office at (704) 889-2022 or churchoffice@pinevilleumc.org. All inquiries are kept confidential. A person does not need to be a member of the church, and there is no charge for the caring relationship with a Stephen Minister.
Become a Stephen Minister:
Stephen Ministers across the world have cared for over one-and-a-half million people in one-to-one caring relationships—and they have touched countless more lives with compassionate understanding and encouragement. If you sense that God might be calling you to serve by helping people in our congregation and/or community with a one-on-one relationship, find out more information about becoming a Stephen Minister by contacting the church office at (704) 889-2022 or churchoffice@pinevilleumc.org.
TESTIMONY ROB ROSE
When I heard about Stephen Ministry, I was interested because I thought it would be a meaningful way to help people get through difficult times that they were having in their lives. When the Stephen Minister training was scheduled, I expected to spend time learning about ways to help fix problems. When I attended the training, I soon learned that a Stephen Minister does not fix or heal – that is God’s job. Our job as a Stephen Minister is to listen, be present, and walk side-by-side with our care
receiver while God does the healing. What I did not expect was how the things I learned in Stephen Minister training affected my
everyday life. There were more than a few instances where I felt like I was better able to help my own friends and family members who were going through rough patches in their lives. I tried to listen more carefully and reminded myself that I cannot always “fix” the problems that others have. I even had a few friends and family comment on how easy they found it was to talk to me about their problems. They noticed a change. Of course there are times that I fail to avoid the “You should…” conversations, but I find that the more I focus on God and stay plugged into the Stephen Minister community, the better I am at being there, listening, and letting God do the healing. I went into Stephen Ministry expecting to help others, but I have found that it has
impacted me in more ways than I ever expected.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
– Psalm 34:18 (NIV)