Stephen Ministry is a ministry that belongs to every member of St. John’s. It is your ministry, too, and we ask you to support it in whatever ways you can. One essential way you can help Stephen Ministry is to “Think Stephen Ministry.”

What does it mean to “Think Stephen Ministry?” Thinking Stephen Ministry is remembering Stephen Ministry as you meet and talk to people. When you notice a need, ask about it and listen some more. Might this be a need for Stephen Ministry? Let yourself be the eyes and ears of Jesus. When Jesus saw a need, he recognized it and looked for a way to fill that need. Let Jesus work through you so that you are quick to recognize needs and to find ways to fill those needs.

How do you recognize when needs exist? Look around you. Who do you see? What do they know? What do they say? What don’t they say? How do they act? If a person you talk to each week at church isn’t there one week, give him or her a call to be sure everything is all right. If someone you know at work or in your neighborhood begins to behave differently, take notice. Often people withdraw when a crisis occurs or may not have the energy or drive to contact others to let others know something is wrong. They may be embarrassed about needing help and work extra hard to cover up that need. That is where it is important for everyone in our church, not just the pastors, Parish Nurses, Stephen Leaders, and Stephen Ministers, to recognize our responsibility to look out for one another. You may be the only one who notices that someone has a need. If that person doesn’t tell anyone—and you don’t either—the need goes unmet and the person slips away.