They provide one-to-one care to people experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, illness, loneliness, or other difficulties. They aren’t counselors; they are trained lay caregivers from our Gateway congregation. They’re compassionate listeners who show up, pray, and walk with others through hard seasons. Sharing a cup of coffee or chatting together. A Stephen Minister typically meets with their care receiver once a week for about an hour, for as long as the need for care persists. Stephen Ministers also meet regularly with their Stephen Leaders for supervision, support, and continuing education.

Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one, confidential Christian care for people going through difficult seasons of life. While every situation is unique, here are some common needs where care may be helpful:

They often walk alongside people who are:

• Grieving the loss of a loved one
• Facing hospitalization, illness, or recovery at home or in care facilities
• Living with a terminal or chronic illness, or supporting a family member who is
• Going through divorce (before, during, or after)
• Experiencing infertility, adoption journeys, unplanned pregnancy, or the birth of a child
• Supporting a child with disabilities or caring for a loved one with special needs
• Adjusting to major life transitions (moving, downsizing, retirement, or early retirement)
• Dealing with job loss or significant job-related stress
• Experiencing financial hardship
• Navigating family separation, including military deployment
• Struggling with transition into a new community or church
• Feeling disconnected or in need of renewed care and support
• Facing spiritual crisis or other major life challenges, including trauma or disaster

Stephen Ministry care is available for many other critical needs as well. If someone is walking through a difficult season, this is often a good place to start for support.

Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one, confidential care for people navigating difficult life circumstances. However, there are some situations where Stephen Ministry is not the right form of support:

Stephen Ministers do NOT provide care for:

• Minors
• Couples or entire families (Stephen Ministry is designed for one-on-one care)
• Individuals actively dealing with addiction
• Individuals experiencing or diagnosed with serious mental health disorders that require clinical treatment
• Individuals exhibiting manipulative, threatening, or violent behavior
• Individuals involved in abusive situations where safety is a concern

In these cases, more specialized professional, clinical, or emergency support is needed to ensure appropriate care and safety.

Stephen Ministry care happens through regular, one-on-one conversations with a trained Stephen Minister. Meetings are typically weekly. Each conversation is confidential and focused on listening, care, and support.

Yes. Conversations with a Stephen Minister are kept confidential, with the exception of situations involving safety concerns. This allows for open and honest sharing in a trusted environment.