Who are Stephen Ministers? Stephen Ministers are trained lay people who provide ongoing one-to-one Christian care to people experiencing a wide range of life struggles or crises. Stephen Ministers listen, accept, care and walk with a person who is going through a difficult time. They pray with and for their care receivers for as long as they are needed. Christ’s love for mankind is shown through Stephen Ministers caring for one person at a time. For more about Stephen Ministry Training and how being a Stephen Minister is a life-changing experience--click here.

Who are Care Receivers? There are times when each of us needs the care of another person, a Christian friend, a Stephen Minister! These needs include but are not limited to those hospitalized, homebound and institutionalized, in a job crisis, grieving, the lonely and discouraged, the aging and elderly, those with disabilities, and their families, those struggling with finances, people who are new to our community, those facing life transitions, the separated or divorced, those struggling with their faith in God, those affected by alcohol or drug abuse, the chronically or terminally ill and their families, those grieving a death or other serious loss, those needing the support of a Christian friend, or households experiencing birth or adoption.

The Referral Process. Stephen Ministry is a ministry that belongs to every member of Calvary. It is your ministry, too, and we ask you to support it in whatever ways you can. One essential way you can help Stephen Ministry is to Think Stephen Ministry. Be the eyes and ears of Jesus. When you notice a need for care-perhaps a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, or a relative-talk to that person, let him or her know you care and tell him or her about Stephen Ministry. Then bring the need to the attention of the Stephen Ministry Coordinator by calling the church office at 218 346 4780. Here is how the referral process works: A person (either you, a relative, or a friend) is hurting and in need of Christian care. The Stephen Ministry Coordinator learns about this need with the person’s permission. The Stephen Ministry Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry. With the person’s permission, Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the care receiver. The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the care receiver with strict confidentiality.

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions