Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a system through which member’s of St Matthew’s are trained and organized to help provide Christian caregiving to members of our congregation and community. This will multiply the amount of caring ministry SMLC can provide by giving us a whole team of skilled caregivers who are equipped to bring Christ’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis or experiencing other stresses in life.

Stephen Ministry is based on the idea that all Christians are ministers. The responsibility for passing on God’s love is for all Christians, not just for a chosen few. God has given us all gifts for ministry and called us to put those gifts to use. Stephen Ministry is a place where people with special gifts for caring ministry can use those gifts to bring Christ’s love to people in need.

If you are interested in talking with a Stephen Minister or are interested in becoming one please contact the Stephen Ministry Hotline at 425/226/2420 ext 102

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Stephen Ministry

What exactly is Stephen Ministry? Stephen Ministry is a ministry in our congregation in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.

Who is Involved? Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize and supervise our Stephen Ministers, identify people in need of care, and match them with a Stephen Minister. We have 3 Stephen Leaders: Mary Bergeson, Jill Larson and Joan Stewart. Stephen Ministers have been through 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving, including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, assertiveness and using Christian resources. In addition, their training covered specialized topics, such as ministering to the divorced, hospitalized, bereaved and aging. We currently have 11 active Stephen Ministers. They are John Bergeson, Mary Bergeson, Terri Eddy, Pearl Jacobson, Jill Larson, Debbie Morfeld, Lynna Philips, Joan Stewart, Leann St Germain and Susan Thompson.

How can someone receive care from a Stephen Minister? Joan Stewart, our Stephen Leader, coordinates referrals. If you or someone you know could benefit from the care of a Stephen Minister, you can talk to Joan, one of our pastors, or to any of our other Stephen Leaders. One of our Stephen Ministers would also be happy to help you through the process.

How can someone become a Stephen Minister? Begin by talking to one of our Stephen Leaders or Stephen Ministers and they can tell you more. We plan to begin our next training class in the late spring. Stephen Ministers make a two-year commitment to train and serve.