Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of parishioners—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the parish and the community experiencing life difficulties.
Stephen Ministers are lay parishioners trained to provide one-to-one care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, but they all share a passion for bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.
Stephen Minister training is an engaging, energizing experience that features a mixture of presentation, video, group discussion, skill practice, and spiritual growth activities. Since 1975, more than 600,000 Stephen Ministers have been equipped by this training to provide care to millions of people.
About Stephen Ministry St. Louis
Stephen Ministries is a not-for-profit Christian education organization founded in 1975 that produces training and resources known for their excellence, practicality, psychological integrity, and theological depth. These resources cover topics such as caring ministry, assertive relating, spiritual gifts discovery, grief support, spiritual growth, and more.
Congregations and other organizations use these resources to strengthen and expand ministry. Individuals use them to improve their ability to relate to and care for others, grow in faith, and journey through life crises. Our 30-person staff is based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Our Mission
The mission of Stephen Ministries St. Louis is summed up in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
“To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13).
These words describe why our organization exists, what we do for people and congregations, and the difference we hope to make in the world. They’re written on the wall in the entryway of the Stephen Ministries Center in St. Louis, an encouraging reminder that always keeps us focused on our mission.
The core values of Stephen Ministries St. Louis are:
- Incarnational theology (God in Christ, and Christ caring for people through people)
- Ministry as the privilege and responsibility of all God’s people
- Empowering those we serve to get excellent results
- Personal humility
- Organizational stability
- Positive work environment
These core values are the unifying beliefs, principles, and ideals that drive the way we think, talk, and act at Stephen Ministries St. Louis.
To learn more about this rewarding ministry, contact Alberta McGilligan at 636-399-6567 or albertamcgilligan@yahoo.com or Michele McCartney at 636-675-1159 or furniturelady@charter.net
Stephen Minister training:
- Teaches principles and skills that equip you to provide high-quality, Christ-centered emotional and spiritual care to others.
- Gives you new insight into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of people who are hurting.
- Equips you with relational and caring skills you can apply to all aspects of your life.
- Helps deepen your faith as the Holy Spirit fashions you into a Christ-centered caregiver.
- Builds a special bond of Christian community and camaraderie among all those in your class.
- Is highly interactive, engaging, and a lot of fun!