Stephen Ministries

My family has the support we need.

There for YOU When You, a Relative or Friend Needs Someone Who Is Caring and Supportive...

A Stephen Minister IS:

• A member of Morningstar who is trained to be a caring listener.
• Part of a team that meets regularly with a Pastor or Stephen Leader for supervision and ongoing education.
• Someone willing to walk and talk with another, in fulfillment of our covenant to seek and serve Christ by loving others as ourselves

A Stephen Minister IS NOT:

• A therapist
• A problem solver
• A casual visitor
• A counselor

A Stephen Minister is appropriate for someone facing one or more of the following:

• Facing a job crisis; Homebound; Bereaved; In an abusive relationship;
• Overwhelmed; Impaired from illness or trauma;
• Newly divorced or in a failing relationship; Terminally ill; Facing a spiritual crisis

How to refer:

• If referring oneself, contact a Pastor or use the referral form below.
• If referring a friend or relative, always obtain the person's permission first.
• Persons outside Morningstar can receive a Stephen Minister.
• The Pastor meets the potential care-receiver to become familiar with the situation. If appropriate, referral is made to the Referrals Coordinator, who matches the person with a caregiver.

What about confidentiality?

• Confidentiality is at the heart of Stephen Ministry. Only the care-receiver, his/her Stephen Minister, the Pastor, and the Referrals Coordinator will know of the assignment, and the identity of the recipient.
• Generally, a Stephen Minister is in contact with a care receiver on a weekly basis over a span of weeks or months. When appropriate, referrals to professional services are made, but this may not terminate the Stephen Minister contact.

Stephen Ministry is a lay ministry; in a large church such as Morningstar, it supplements the availability of Pastoral care, and makes use of the very real skills and spiritual gifts of our Church members.

With support at a difficult time, most of us adapt sooner and better to the challenges we face.

Stephen Ministry is named for a deacon of the Early Church as recorded in Acts chapter 6, the best known of several lay persons chosen by the apostles, and sent out to do caring ministry.

Stephen Ministry evolved in the 1970's guided by Dr. Kenneth Haughk, both a psychologist and associate pastor at the St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Louis. Stephen Ministry exists as a non-denominational in thousands of churches in this country and all over the world.

"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

Pastor Jim Trueman
(416) 281-4138 ext 3225
jack.chen@morningstarfellowship.ca