Stephen ministry @ hope

Hope's Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. For more information or suggestions of individuals who might benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please call

Kathy Weaver at 406-581-0736 or Pastor Steve at 406-586-5572


Who are Stephen Ministers?

Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Once a month, Stephen Ministers gather for supervision, mutual support, and continuing education.


Who are Care Receivers?

Care receivers are people—congregation members and others in the community—who receive care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life—experiencing grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or some other life crisis.

Some important guidelines for this caring relationship protect both the care receiver and the Stephen Minister:

  • The relationship between a care receiver and a Stephen Minister is confidential.
  • Men are matched with men; women with women.
  • When a care receiver’s needs exceed what a Stephen Minister can provide, the Stephen Ministry team makes a referral to an appropriate mental health professional or other community resource.

Typical Needs of Care Receivers

  • Loss of a loved one
  • Hospitalization and rehabilitation
  • Divorce or separation
  • Loneliness or discouragement
  • Spiritual crises
  • Unemployment or a job crisis
  • A terminal illness
  • Incarceration
  • Aging
  • Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
  • A chronic illness
  • Relocation
  • Recovery after an accident or disaster
  • And many more

What is the goal for this relationship?

  • To provide a Holy Spirit led, personal “one on one” ministry representing Hope Lutheran Church, assisting the leadership of the church in attending to spiritual, mental, emotional and physical needs of people seeking care, following biblical principles and modeling Jesus so they in turn are able to minister to others.
  • To provide an outreach and life support ministry that helps achieve the vision and goals of Hope Lutheran's ministry plan.

  • What is Stephen Ministry?

    Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay caregivers—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. To learn more click on the logo to read the Stephen Ministries by the Numbers pamphlet.

  • "I Began to Feel God's Love Again"

    Stephen Ministers help those they care for experience God during those times in life when they might be wondering, Is God even there?  Click on the logo to the left to open a brochure that describes the benefits of having a Stephen Minister.

  • Stephen Ministers: The "After" People

    Stephen Ministers come into a person’s life immediately after a crisis has hit and then provide care for as long after as needed. Click on the logo to see how a Stephen Minister can assist you.

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