Our Stephen Ministry program is a confidential ministry providing ongoing one on one Christian care to those in crisis and in need of someone to listen without judgment.
Stephen Ministers are trained caregivers for those who are hurting: a compassionate companion and caring Christian Friend providing emotional and spiritual support. The foundational idea for this program is grounded in Christ's teachings:
"This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12
Stephen Ministries is a Christian education organization founded in 1975 that has developed a complete system of training and organizing lay persons for a caring ministry. Used by over 12,000 congregations worldwide, the program is lauded for its excellence, practicality, psychological integrity & theological depth.
If you are dealing with a life transition such as a divorce, death of a loved one, serious family or personal illness, depression, grief, spiritual needs, or other challenges, please consider having your own Stephen minister.
Each of the Stephen Ministers has undergone over 50 hours of specialized training to enable them to offer comfort and hope in times of need and help you better work through life events.
Special Worship Services with Stephen Ministry
Grief & The Holidays
This annual presentation by Rainbow Hospice takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It provides emotional support and deals with some of the misconceptions about grieving. It is filled with practical, heart-warming suggestions to make the holidays more tolerable for the bereaved, following the death of a loved one or those suffering other personal loss.
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Service of Remembrance
Members and friends of PRCC who have passed during the past year are honored at this special worship service held on a Sunday evening on or around All Saints’ Day.
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Additional Resources
A Stephen Minister is a trained listener, a caring person, and a Christian friend. A Stephen Minister is assigned to a care receiver to become a confidant, someone who you can freely share your thoughts and feelings with. Stephen Ministers have spent 50 hours learning about how to really listen when someone is hurting, and how to offer comfort and hope in times of need.
No, a Stephen Minister is sometimes called a lay minister, someone of strong faith who is part of the congregation. They have gone through over 50 hours of special training and have learned how to minister to another in Christian love.
Each week, a Stephen Minister meets one-on-one with you. He or she listens to you, prays for you, prays with you if you wish, encourages you, and comforts you. He/she gives you his/her undivided time and attention and always treats you with dignity and respect. A Stephen Minister is someone who truly cares about you.
Loss, grief, a life transition, illness of oneself or of a loved one, spiritual depletion. Sometimes simply going through a difficult, painful, or confusing time of life will bring someone to ask for a Stephen Minister. There are as many different reasons as there are people.
Talk with the Pastor or the current Stephen Ministry Leader regarding your life situation and let them give you an overview of Stephen Ministry. They will match you with one of the Stephen Ministers. No one else knows you have a Stephen Minister. You and your Stephen Minister meet (usually once a week) for an hour someplace where you can talk comfortably. Everything you share is kept in total confidence.
Yes, the person would then be contacted by the Pastor or the Stephen Ministry Leader. Stephen Ministry would be fully explained to them. It would be up to that person to decide if a Stephen Minister would be helpful in their lives.
You can decide with your caregiver what works best for you. Meet as many weeks as you wish. Depending on your circumstances, you might meet for a few weeks – three to five times. Most care receivers meet with their caregivers for 12 to 18 months. A few participants have had a Stephen Minister for four years.
God is the cure-giver for you. The Stephen Minister is a spiritual caregiver, not a trained psychologist or all-knowing sage.
Stephen Ministers are always matched with care receivers of their own sex. Men are matched with men; women with women.
The program was started at the church in 1993. In the last 25 years well over 100 members and friends have had Stephen Ministers during that time.
No, anyone in need can have a Stephen Minister.
