Stephen Ministry

Ames Catholic Community Stephen Ministry

St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Cecilia and Sts Peter & Paul Catholic Churches

Are you or someone you know hurting?

Would you like to have someone in your life who really cares? 
Stephen Ministers Care
Stephen Ministers are servants of Jesus, trained to provide personal and confidential support for people who are facing life's challenges.

To obtain a Stephen Minister, please call Cindy Hauber, 515-291-0250; Jennifer Noem, 515-291-8734; or Anne Schmitt, 515-291-8257.

Bear one another’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.   Galatians 6:2

Everyone goes through difficult times.  Having someone to care, to listen, to share God’s love with you can help you get through confusion, stress, or loneliness you may be experiencing.

Stephen Ministries is a  National Organization to which we are connected; it was  founded by Dr. Kenneth  C. Haugk in 1975 in St. Louis, MO.

How does the referral process work?

• Anyone can refer a hurting person in need of a Stephen Minister.  For guidance in introducing Stephen Ministry to the person, see Suggesting Stephen Ministry.
• The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care, always with the person’s permission.
• The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry.
• With the person’s permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a weekly basis with the person. 
• The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the person in strict confidentiality.
• Learn more about the impact of our Ames Community Stephen Ministers through our Care Receivers' Testimonials.

Who is a Stephen Minister?

• A child of God who walks beside a hurting person
• A caring Christian friend who really listens
• A lay person who has received 50 hours of training in how to provide distinctively Christian care.

Reflection on the patron of Stephen Ministry: St. Simon of Cyrene.        

A Stephen Minister is not... 

• a counselor or therapist
• a problem solver
• a casual visitor
• a person to run errands

Stephen Ministry helps meet the needs of individuals who are….

• hospitalized
• terminally ill
• bereaved
• in a job crisis
• new members of the church
• disabled
• homebound
• lonely
• in a spiritual crisis
• looking for a caring Christian friend

In general, learn more about our Care Receivers' Life Situations from the past year.

Stephen Ministers are called to be caregivers

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

Encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1 Thessalonians 5:14b

God is the Curegiver

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.   Psalm 55:22a

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Interested in Becoming a Stephen Minister?

• Join other Stephen Ministers in the Ames Catholic Community who share the spiritual gifts of faith, mercy, and encouragement.
• Learn more about the Life Changing Impact our Stephen Ministry program has had on our Stephen Ministers. 
• Discover Stephen Ministry’s Impact in our Ames community.
• Contact the Ames Catholic Community Stephen Ministry Leaders for more information:
  • Mary Lynch 515-441-0563
  • Tom Schmitz 515-290-4755
  • Tonya Meyer 515-290-9051

Loving God,

St. Stephen was a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.  As one of the first deacons in the early church, he was commissioned by the apostles to care for the needs of the people in the Christian community.  We ask for his intercession to guide us in our Stephen Ministry for the Ames Catholic Community.

Saint Stephen, pray for us!