Stephen Ministries is a complete system for training and organizing lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in our congregation and around the community. Stephen Ministers receive 50 hours of initial training, and are a part of regular on-going training and supervision.

Stephen Leaders are the pastor and lay leaders who have attended a Stephen Series Leader's Training Course and now direct our congregation's Stephen Ministry. Through personal contact and referrals, individuals who may be in need of the Christian, spiritual friendship offered by the Stephen Ministry are identified. These may be persons who are entering transition phases of life caused by death, illness, job loss, "empty nests", or other such life events. They may be lonely persons or, in the case of one area of our local Ministry, persons who are incarcerated. All care receivers are treated with respect and utmost confidentiality. Ministers meet with them on a weekly or semi-weekly basis for about an hour.

Listening with skilled ears and a tender heart is the primary work of a Stephen Minister. At FUMC, we currently have four Stephen Leaders and eight trained..