Stephen  Ministries     

What is the difference between Care ministry and Stephen Ministry? Care Ministry meets the short term needs of people. They provide rides to appointments, meals upon the arrival of a new baby or a return from time in the hospital, flower delivery during the week to shut-ins or people who haven’t been able to be at church due to illness or other difficulties, they provide visitation on an interim basis as well. They send out birthday cards and deliver cookies and cards at Christmas.  Everyone in the church can be a part of Care Ministry.

Stephen Ministry provides emotional care for the long term.  Stephen Ministers are members of the congregation who have gone through special training on how to develop relationships built of trust, where a care receiver can feel safe to express their deepest feelings.  Stephen Ministers know that God is the cure-giver and they are simply the caregiver.  Knowing this, they don’t feel that they have to fix the person but simply walk beside them, listen to their story, and provide emotional support for as long as needed.  

If you, or someone you know would like to inquire about having a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office at 760-789-3348.  We can help connect you to the right people.

We hope to begin our next Stephen Minister training session later in 2012, this class would be held during the day - rather than in the evening - to hopefully accommodate different schedules.  If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, you can print the application at the right and return it to the office or pick up a hard copy from the church narthex.  If you have any questions about becoming a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office.