STEPHEN MINISTRY

@ DAYBREAK


Bear one another’s burdens, 

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

- Galatians 6:2

Need care?

Do you know someone struggling and in need of emotional or spiritual care? Our inaugural team of Stephen Ministers are ready to provide one-on-one care! Learn more below and contact one of our Stephen Leaders for more info!


Below are situations in which individuals could benefit from the emotional and spiritual care a Stephen Minister provides: 

Grief 

Divorce or Broken Relationships 

Major Medical Diagnosis 

Job Related Crisis/Stress 

End of Life/Hospice 

Military Deployment 

Major Life Transitions 

Financial Difficulties 

Challenges related to starting or adding to a family 

Difficult Family Situations 

Spiritual Crisis

What is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of congregation members—called Stephen Ministers—to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties.


You’ll find Stephen Ministry in congregations from more than 180 Christian denominations, across the U.S. and Canada and in 30 other countries. Since Stephen Ministries St. Louis was founded in 1975:

  • More than 13,000 congregations have enrolled in Stephen Ministry.

  • More than 75,000 pastors and lay leaders from those congregations have been equipped as Stephen Leaders.

  • More than 600,000 laypeople have received Stephen Minister training.

  • More than one-and-a-half-million people have had a Stephen Minister to walk with them, providing one-to-one Christian care during tough times.

Stephen Ministry multiplies blessings throughout the church and community.

  • Congregations carry out Christ’s commandment to “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12 RSV) in a powerful and practical way.

  • Pastors have a team of gifted, trained, and committed lay caregivers ready to minister to hurting people.

  • Laypeople nurture and use their gifts in meaningful ministry, growing spiritually as they serve others.

  • People who are hurting have a caring Christian presence to provide emotional and spiritual support.

In short, Stephen Ministry helps carry out the mission of the church.

Who’s Involved in Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Leaders are church staff, lay leaders, and pastors trained to provide ongoing leadership for their congregation’s Stephen Ministry. They are equipped for this key role through the Bridge Leader’s Training Course offered by Stephen Ministries St. Louis.


Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by their Stephen Leaders to offer care to people who are hurting. A Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week for about an hour.

Care Receivers are individuals in the congregation or community who are going through a crisis or life difficulty. Potential care receivers first meet with a pastor or Stephen Leader, who assesses their needs for care and matches them with a Stephen Minister. The caring relationship lasts for as long as the need persists.

Stephen Ministers @ Daybreak

Check out this video to hear from a few of our Stephen Ministers about how intentionally they have been called to serve!

Stephen Leaders @ Daybreak

  • Could you benefit from the confidential, one-to-one care of a Stephen Minister?
  • Do you know someone else who could benefit from Stephen Ministry? 
  • Are you interested in possibly becoming a Stephen Minister?

  • Contact one of our Stephen Leaders below!

  • Pastor Ron O'Neil

    (717) 791-1200 ext. 105

    ron.oneil@daybreakweb.com

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  • Bryan Sholtis

    bsholtis@gmail.com

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  • Megan Diderrich

    diderrichfam@gmail.com

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