About Walking Alongside Stephen Ministry

Walking Alongside is a Stephen Ministry that equips lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to people in our congregations and communities who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.

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Walking Alongside is a confidential ministry. The identity of those receiving care and everything they discuss with a Stephen Minister remains private.

There are three broad groups of people who are involved in any Stephen Ministry:

• Stephen Leaders include any church staff, lay leaders, and pastors who are trained to provide ongoing leadership for a local Stephen Ministry.

• Stephen Ministers are Christians who have been trained by their Stephen Leaders to offer care to people who are hurting.

• Care receivers are people who are going through a crisis or life difficulty. Potential care receivers first meet with a Stephen Leader, who assesses their needs for care and matches them with a Stephen Minister.

We all experience challenges in life – times when we could benefit from care and support. Walking Alongside Companions can provide the emotional and spiritual care we need when faced with a crisis or difficulty such as –

• Loss of a loved one

• Divorce or separation

• Loneliness or discouragement

• Spiritual crisis

• Unemployment or a job crisis

• A terminal illness

• Incarceration

• Birth, adoption, miscarriage,

  or infertility

• Chronic illness

• Recovery after an accident or

  disaster

• Many other life challenges

Pastors will always be on the front lines of care, especially during times of crisis. But there are always many more needs for ongoing, one-to-one care than pastors can effectively meet by themselves.

 

Walking Alongside provides a thoroughly biblical solution – equipping God’s people for ministry. Gifted laypeople receive training to support and extend care that pastors continue to provide.

Stephen Ministers reach out with God’s love to people who are hurting – in the congregation and in the community.