Shepherding Ministries
Lay Counseling
Everyone has times in their life when they are going through a particularly difficult life situation and need a loving friend to listen, pray and encourage. At Providence, we have a program called the Stephen Ministry through which we provide lay counseling for times like those. Through the Stephen Ministry, lay caregivers (called Stephen ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge.
What Kind of Person Would Receive the Care of a Stephen Minister?
- A man like Elijah…who thought he was alone and needed a still small voice to encourage him.
- A woman like Sarah…who faced change in life at an advanced age and needed someone to listen to both her joy and apprehension.
- A man like Job…who lost everything and needed someone to silently endure his pain with him.
- A woman like Hannah…who struggled with her inability to bear a child and needed someone with whom to share her sadness and pain.
