Stephen Ministry

University Park United Methodist Church is a Stephen Ministry congregation.

A Stephen Minister is a child of God who walks beside a hurting person. A Stephen Minister is a caring Christian friend who really listens. A Stephen Minister is a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care. A Stephen Minister is not a counselor, a therapist, a problem-solver, or a casual visitor.

Stephen Ministry helps meet the needs of individuals who are hospitalized, terminally ill, bereaved, in a job crisis, new members of the church, disabled, homebound, lonely, in a spiritual crisis, or looking for a a caring, Christian friend.

Stephen Ministers are called to be care givers. God is the cure giver.

The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about a person in need of Christian care and meets with this person to discern if there is need for a trained Stephen Minister. With the hurting person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the needy person in strict confidentiality.

Could you be a
Stephen Minister?

1. Do people feel comfortable sharing their troubles with you?

2. Do you keep conversations confidential?

3. Do you have the qualities of a good friend?

4. Do you listen without giving advice, and are you nonjudgmental?

5. Do you prefer one-on-one conversations?

6. Are you comfortable working in a small group?

7. Are you willing to let God work through you to help someone?

If you answer yes to these questions, you have many of the traits of a good Stephen Minister. If you would like to be part of this caring ministry, contact Shannon Smith at 214.368.1435.