What is Stephen Ministry?

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.


A Stephen Minister is:

  • 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 is a need


Stephen Ministers Care for People Facing Tough Times

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 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 Contacts

Could you benefit from the confidential, one-on-one, care of a Stephen Minister? Do you know someone else who could benefit from Stephen Ministry? Are you interested in becoming a Stephen Minister?

Contact one of our Stephen Leaders at 330-499-3307:

Diane Diehl

Judy Forsythe

Rosemarie Millin 

Joe Wonsettler 


“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11