Stephen MinistrY
Are You:
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Feeling lonely?
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Experiencing a crisis?
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Struggling through a difficult time?
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Stressed by everyday life?
Our Stephen Ministers are ready to care for you!

What Is IT?
The Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one caring ministry by trained, caring lay persons known as Stephen Ministers. It was founded by Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1975 and is named after Stephen, the first deacon in the early church(Acts 6).
Stephen Ministers are lay people with gifts for care-giving who receive 50 hours of training before providing confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing temporary difficulties or challenges. For example, individuals who are lonely, grieving, divorced or separated, new to their location, in a spiritual crisis, unemployed, aging, new parents, or experiencing other stresses in life. Although Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry, Stephen Ministers are not counselors. They are trained Christian caregivers. Their role is listen and care – not counsel and advise.
Stephen Ministers Are Care-Givers, God Is the Cure-Giver. The role of a Stephen Minister is to give care. They listen, empathize, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support on a weekly basis to hurting people for as long as the need persists. God works in and through them to bring hope and healing.

Contact a Stephen Ministry Leader
Fred Archer, farcher@nlcc-li.com
Cathy Mclaughlin, cmlaughin@nlcc-li.com