Stephen Ministry

What is Stephen Ministry?

Our congregation’s Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation 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

  • A congregation member with gifts for caregiving 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 is a need.

Caring for people facing tough times...

We all experience challenges in lifetimes 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 crisis

  • Unemployment or a 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 remain private.

About the national organization...

Stephen Ministries St. Louis is a not-for-profit Christian educational organization founded in 1975. The organization provides training and resources to thousands of congregations and organizations worldwide.

For more information...

For more information about Pinnacle’s Stephen Ministry, please contact Dr. Michael Hegeman.