STEPHEN MINISTERS

Hurting? Struggling? Discouraged? Stressed? Confused? Broken?
Stephen Ministers Are Ready to Care
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 crises
• Unemployment or job crisis
• A terminal illness
• Incarceration
• Aging
• Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
• A chronic illness
• Relocation
• Recovery after an accident or disaster

Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains private. Stephen Ministry at NPC equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our church family 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.
• An NPC member with gifts for care giving, 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’s a need.

Stephen Ministry Is Your Ministry

You play an important role in our Stephen Ministry.

Here’s what you can do:

• Pray for God to bring hope and healing to hurting people through our Stephen Ministry.

• Accept care from a Stephen Minister during your time of need. God doesn’t expect you to bear your burdens alone.

• Tell a friend, neighbor, coworker, or relative who is hurting about our Stephen Ministry.

• If you are a good listener and a compassionate person, prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister.

The Stephen Series logo symbolizes that we all are broken people and that it is only through the cross of Jesus that we are made whole.

Love one another as I have loved you. John 13:34

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

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