A desire to bring Christ’s love and care in a deeper, more intentional way to people during a time of need led a core team at Central of Robert Baker, Linda Ferree, Peter Belitsos and Martha Hylton to begin developing a Stephen Ministries at our church.
Stephen Ministers are lay members of the congregation trained to provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care to those experiencing a difficult time in life, such as grief, divorce, job loss, or chronic or terminal illness. The ministry takes its name from Stephen in the Book of Acts, who was chosen to care for those in need.
For Peter, a retired physician and now part-time hospital chaplain, the vision grew out of his own journey. During his chaplaincy training, he recognized how essential it is simply to listen—deeply and attentively. “I realized that people with the skills I was learning—mainly to listen and draw out what’s deep within a person—would be of value to people at our church.” That realization led him to connect with Robert, Linda, and Martha, and together they began discerning how Stephen Ministry could expand the church’s care.
For Robert, Stephen Ministry is at its heart a “ministry of presence”—a gentle, Christ-centered companionship offered to those who are hurting. “Going through difficult times can feel so isolating. Having a Stephen Minister walk alongside you means you don’t have to carry those burdens alone. Together, we can move toward hope, healing, and the deep assurance of God’s love.” Robert brings deep personal experience to this ministry—for over 25 years, he has cared for a daughter with permanent disabilities, giving him a firsthand understanding of life’s hardest moments and the faith and perseverance they require.
Linda was drawn by a desire for deeper connections within the church. “We don’t always see it, but there are a lot of people experiencing hurt, and with another level of care at Central we can more effectively help people through tough times.”
And for Martha, the calling is deeply personal. “I know there are a lot of people out there going through hard things and from personal experience I know the power of having someone come alongside you to just listen and be a presence.”
What Stephen Ministers Do
That quiet, faithful presence is at the heart of Stephen Ministries. Once matched with someone in need, a Stephen Minister meets regularly with that person to listen, care, encourage, and provide emotional and spiritual support. The caring relationship lasts as long as the need for care exists.
Is God Calling You?
If you sense that God is calling you to serve as a Stephen Minister, the first step is to simply find out more.
You are invited to attend an information session on Sunday, April 26, in the Courtyard at 9:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. Or you can reach out to Robert, Linda, Peter or Martha, or Central’s Stephen Ministries website: Stephen Ministry – Central Presbyterian Church or send an email to caregivers@CentralPC.org.
Becoming a Stephen Minister is a meaningful way to share Christ’s love through being present and walking alongside someone while they are going through a difficult time by listening, caring and helping people connect with God through prayer and scripture.
