Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministers are caregivers. They do not take the place of Pastor Tom, rather they enhance and multiply the caring he can provide. Our ministry is grounded in Jesus’ command to love one another. Through one-to-one caring and confidential relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them.

Care Receivers are the recipients of Stephen Ministers’ care. They are people from our church who are experiencing such things as divorce, grief, loss of a job, hospitalization, or terminal illness. Stephen Ministers usually meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour. The length of time they will be seen is variable and will be decided by the care receiver, myself, and the Stephen Minister.

Stephen Ministers are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or a tough time. Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen and care–not to give advice or counsel.  Stephen Ministers are trained to recognize when a care receiver’s need exceeds what they can provide. When that happens, they work with care receivers to help them receive the level of care they really need.  

YES! Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in the strictest confidence.

If you or someone you know would benefit from receiving care from a trained Stephen Minister, contact our Stephen Ministry leader, Terri, at: terri@grandviewdubuque.org or call 563-582-8875.