October Stephen Ministry Article
“God gave me a heart for other people. Stephen Minister training
gave me the skills I needed to minister to people
and bring God’s love into their lives during a time of deep need.”
- Charlotte
gave me the skills I needed to minister to people
and bring God’s love into their lives during a time of deep need.”
- Charlotte
Stephen Minister Training Begins This October
Starting this October, New Song UMC will be training a new group of Stephen Ministers! Becoming a Stephen Minister is a significant commitment of time and energy. The training consists of 20 weekly sessions that will continue into the spring of 2027. We invite our congregation to keep these individuals in your prayers as they begin this meaningful journey of learning, growth, and discovery.
A Stephen Minister walks alongside a person who is hurting, offering one-to-one emotional and spiritual care. Stephen Ministers listen, empathize, encourage, help people process their feelings, and remind them that they are not alone. Through this caring relationship, they help bring God’s love and presence into the lives of people during difficult seasons. Stephen Ministers provide care to people in the congregation or community who are experiencing challenges such as grief, job loss, divorce, major illness, spiritual struggles, and other difficult circumstances.
What Is Stephen Minister Training Like?
Stephen Minister training is an experience designed to fully equip participants to provide high-quality, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. New Song’s Stephen Leaders use presentations, discussions, readings, skill practices, and spiritual-growth activities to equip and empower participants with practical caregiving and relational skills. Training topics include the “Art of Listening,” confidentiality, ministering to those experiencing grief, and much more. The training is highly interactive, engaging, and — yes — a lot of fun!
Many Stephen Ministers say that their training was life-transforming. In addition to learning how to provide compassionate care to others, they grow in their own faith and develop skills that deepen and enhance many of the relationships in their lives.
As our new Stephen Ministers begin this journey, please pray for them — that God will guide their learning, strengthen their hearts, and prepare them to be compassionate, faithful companions to those who are hurting.
A Stephen Minister walks alongside a person who is hurting, offering one-to-one emotional and spiritual care. Stephen Ministers listen, empathize, encourage, help people process their feelings, and remind them that they are not alone. Through this caring relationship, they help bring God’s love and presence into the lives of people during difficult seasons. Stephen Ministers provide care to people in the congregation or community who are experiencing challenges such as grief, job loss, divorce, major illness, spiritual struggles, and other difficult circumstances.
What Is Stephen Minister Training Like?
Stephen Minister training is an experience designed to fully equip participants to provide high-quality, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. New Song’s Stephen Leaders use presentations, discussions, readings, skill practices, and spiritual-growth activities to equip and empower participants with practical caregiving and relational skills. Training topics include the “Art of Listening,” confidentiality, ministering to those experiencing grief, and much more. The training is highly interactive, engaging, and — yes — a lot of fun!
Many Stephen Ministers say that their training was life-transforming. In addition to learning how to provide compassionate care to others, they grow in their own faith and develop skills that deepen and enhance many of the relationships in their lives.
As our new Stephen Ministers begin this journey, please pray for them — that God will guide their learning, strengthen their hearts, and prepare them to be compassionate, faithful companions to those who are hurting.
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