Stephen Ministry


The mission of Stephen Ministry is to provide confidential high quality individual support to people going through tough times. This may be due to loss of a loved one, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or separation due to military deployment or other issues. Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life. Our passion is to be non-judgmental listeners and faithful partners, bringing Christ’s love and care to people during a time of need.


If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty adjusting to life challenges and might benefit from developing a confidential Christian friendship with a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office, at 319-338-7523, or Pastor Kyle Otterbein.

Dedicated to caring:

Specially-trained members of St. Andrew provide one-on-one caring, confidential relationships with those who are hurting or who are in need of Christian companionship and compassion. Stephen Ministers care, listen, and share God's love to help individuals get through stress, confusion, loneliness, or just plain difficult times.


Making contact: Are you or someone you know hurting or in need of ordinary care? We invite you to take a step toward caring by contacting our Associate Pastor, Kyle Otterbein.

Frequently asked questions

What Exactly is Stephen Ministry?

Stephen Ministry is a ministry at St. Andrew in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-on-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties.


Who is Involved?

Stephen Leaders are the ones who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize, and supervise our Stephen Ministers, identify people in need of care, and match them with a Stephen Minister. 


Stephen Ministers are caregivers with 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving including general topics such as listening, feelings, boundaries, and assertiveness. Their training includes specialized topics such as ministering to those who are divorced, hospitalized, bereaved, and aging. 


Care receivers are the recipients of Stephen Minister care.


What do Stephen Ministers Do?

They are caring Christian friends who listen, understand, accept, and pray for and with care receivers who are working through a crisis or tough time.


Are Stephen Ministers Counselors?

Stephen Ministers are NOT counselors; they are trained lay caregivers. Their role is to listen, care and not give advice or counsel. They are trained to recognize when a care receiver's need exceeds what they can provide. When that happens, they work with care receivers to locate the level of care they need.


Can I Trust a Stephen Minister?

Trust is essential to a caring relationship, and Stephen Ministers are people you can trust. Confidentiality is one of the most important principles of Stephen Ministry, and what a care receiver tells his or her Stephen Minister is kept in strict confidence.


What is the Pastor's Role?

Pastors will always be primary caregivers, but there is no way pastors can meet all the needs for care. God has called all of us, not just pastors, to minister to one another. Stephen Ministry multiplies ministry by turning pastors into equippers so they can enable lay people to provide caring ministry as well.