~A Brief Explanation of Stephen Ministry ~

   The Stephen Ministry was formed in 1975 by Rev.  Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D.  He was fresh out of seminary and graduate school in clinical psychology and he had high hopes for providing pastoral care to his congregation and community because that was where his gifts were and that was why he felt called to the pastoral church—to bring Christ’s love to hurting people.

    Dr. Haugk soon learned he did not have the time to provide pastoral care for his entire congregation. So he sought a solution.  It took years to develop, but from his efforts, was born the Stephen Ministry.  Stephen Ministry trains committed lay ministers to provide pastoral care to those in need, thus extending the reach of pastors to their congregations.

     Today there are more than 11,000 congregations from 150 Christian denominations, in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and 23 other countries that have an operating Stephen Ministry program.   More than 500,000 Stephen Ministers have been commissioned since the program began.

     Trinity’s Stephen Ministry program began in 1997 and currently has 20 commissioned Stephen Ministers.  Each Stephen Minister has completed 50 hours of classroom training and attends required monthly continuing education classes. All Stephen Ministers also meet monthly for Peer Supervision.  This supervision program provides oversight to Stephen Ministers with care receivers to ensure progress is being made.

      Stephen Ministry reaches out to people experiencing personal difficulties or some crisis in their lives.  We serve both Trinity’s congregation as well as people within the general community.   Some of the areas that Stephen Ministers provide emotional and spiritual support  are:

terminal illness, health issues, family concerns, divorce, separation, loss of job, aging issues, loss of a loved one, birth, adoption, miscarriage, spiritual needs, grand-parenting concerns, family concerns, loneliness, discouragement & more

The process to obtain a Stephen Minister:

1. A Stephen Minister will first meet with a person requesting a Stephen Minister
2. It is then determined if a Stephen Minister should be assigned
3. A  form is signed outlining what Stephen Ministry does & does not do
4. After an assignment is made,  the assigned Stephen Minister will contact the person (known a the care receiver)
5. Each will talk and agree on a time and place to begin meeting
6. Meetings generally take place once a week for about an hour, but the frequency and time is determined by the needs of the individual
7. A Stephen Minister may work with an individual for a short time or the relationship may last longer than 1 year
8. The name of the care receiver is never known to anyone except the interviewing Stephen Leader and the assigned Stephen Minister
9. All work and conversations by Stephen Ministers are strictly confidential

Call Trinity at: 457.4841 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   to inquire further.