Stephen Ministry

Staff Contact: Pastor Steven Newcomb | Email

Stephen Ministry Helpline: 713-458-4709

A Stephen Minister is:

A friend who comes in when the rest of the world goes out.
A dedicated, trained member of the church, commissioned by the First Methodist family to administer confidential, in-depth caring. Someone who will visit with you weekly, listen, offer resources and referrals, pray with and for you, offer Christian love and support.
A caring, supportive, Christian friend who has a desire to be with you in a time of need, grief, or crisis.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalms 147:3

Stephen Ministers address the needs of people who are:

Lonely, depressed, separated or divorced, homebound, hospitalized, grieving the loss of a love one, dying, experiencing the loss of a job or financial setbacks, new to the church, inactive members, struggling with their faith in God.

If you are interested in speaking with a Stephen Minister, please call Stephen Ministry help-line at 713-458-4709.

To contact Stephen Ministry directly with any questions, email us at: [email protected]

How does one become a Stephen Minister at First Methodist Houston?

A training program prepares interested persons to become Stephen Ministers and equips them to care for the many needs of our church.

Those who are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister must submit an application and be interviewed by Stephen Ministry lay leaders. The prospective Stephen Ministers commits to 50 hours of training and two years of service.

Included in the 50-hour training is information on such topics as:
Listening, Confidentiality, Crisis Theory and Intervention, Use of Prayer & Bible, Feelings, Assertiveness, Telecare, Specialized Needs – Grief, Divorce, Depression, Stress, Aging

Please contact a Stephen Minister at [email protected] for more information!

Upcoming Event

Become A Stephen Minister

Interested in becoming a Stephen Minister? Our next training class begins Saturday, January 10, 2026. For more information, please email [email protected] to receive more details about becoming a Stephen Minister. You can also visit our Stephen Ministry page: fmhouston.com/stephen-ministry Date Stephen Leader Instructor Module Reading Assignment Due for This Session 1 1/10/26 Saturday Rita Adrienne – […]

Upcoming Training Classes

Our Stephen Ministry training classes are beginning, and we ask that you keep our class members in your prayers as they begin this important journey. Through this training, participants will nurture their God-given gifts and expand their knowledge as they prepare to serve in this vital caring ministry.

Most of our sessions will be held via zoom on Sundays @ 6:00 PM. Each module is 2 1/2 hours in length for a total of 50 hours.

2026 Training Dates:

January 10, 2026
January 11, 2026
January 18, 2026
January 25, 2026
February 1, 2026
February 15, 2026
February 22, 2026
March 1, 2026
March 15, 2026
March 22, 2026
March 28, 2026
April 12, 2026
April 19, 2026
April 26, 2026
May 3, 2026
May 16, 2026

KE Y: PCR (Pre-Class Reading) / SMTM (Stephen Minister Training Manual) / CC-AWOL (Christian Caregiving—a Way of Life) / CA (Caring Assertiveness: Relating Directly, Honestly, and with Respect) / WAH (When and How to Use Mental Health Resources: A Stephen Ministry Guide)

	Date	Stephen Leader Instructor	Module	Reading Assignment Due for This Session
1	1/10/26 Saturday	Rita Adrienne – Tech	T-1 The Person of the Caregiver
2	1/10/26 Saturday	Susan M. Adrienne – Tech	T-2 Feelings: Yours, Mine, and Ours	SMTM, “Feelings: Yours, Mine, and Ours” PCR CC-AWOL, preface–chapter 4
3	1/11/26	Adrienne Rita/Susan – Tech	T-3 The Art of Listening	SMTM, “The Art of Listening” PCR CC-AWOL, chapters 5–8
4	1/18/26	Rita Adrienne/Susan – Tech	T-4 Distinctively Christian Caring—Part 1	CC-AWOL, chapters 9–14
5	1/25/26	Rita Susan/Adrienne – Tech	T-4 Distinctively Christian Caring—Part 2	CA, introduction–chapter 3
6	2/1/26	Adrienne Susan – Tech Rita out	T-5 A Process Approach to Caring	SMTM, “A Process Approach to Caring” PCR CA, chapters 4–7
7	2/15/26	Rita Susan – Tech Adrienne out	T-6 Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly—Part 1	CA, chapters 8–11
8	2/22/26	Rita Adrienne/Susan – Tech	T-6 Assertiveness: Relating Gently and Firmly—Part 2	CA, chapters 12–18
9	3/1/26	Susan Adrienne – Tech Rita out	T-7 Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving T-8 Crisis Theory and Practice	SMTM, “Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving” PCR SMTM, “Crisis Theory and Practice” PCR
10	3/15/26	Rita Adrienne/Susan – Tech	T-9 Confidentiality	SMTM,“Confidentiality” PCR WAH, preface–chapter 3

	Date	Stephen Leader Instructor	Module	Reading Assignment Due for This Session
11	3/22/26	Adrienne Rita/Susan – Tech	T-10 Caring between Visits: Caregiving and Communications Technology	SMTM, “Caring Between Visits” PCR WAH, chapters 4–6
12	3/28/26 Saturday	Rita Adrienne – Tech	T-11 Using Mental Health Professionals and Other Community Resources	SMTM, “Using Mental Health Professionals and Other Community Resources” PCR WAH, chapter 7–appendix C
13	3/28/26 Saturday	Susan Adrienne – Tech	T-12 Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief	SMTM, “Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief” PCR
14	4/12/26	Adrienne Susan – Tech Rita out	T-13 Caring for Those with Depression: The Stephen Minister’s Role	SMTM, “Caring for Those with Depression: The Stephen Minister’s Role” PCR
15	4/19 26	Susan Rita/Adrienne – Tech	T-14 Understanding Suicide: How to Help People Get the Care They Need	SMTM, “Understanding Suicide: How to Help People Get the Care They Need” PCR
19	4/26/26	Adrienne Susan – Tech Rita out	T-17 How to Make a First Caring Visit	SMTM,“How to Make a First Caring Visit” PCR
16 & 20	5/3/26	Susan Rita/Adrienne – Tech	T-15 Bringing the Caring Relationship to a Close T-18 Go—God Is with You!	SMTM,“Bringing the Caring Relationship to a Close” PCR SMTM,“Go—God Is with You!” PCR
17	5/16/26 Saturday	Susan Rita – Tech	T-16 Supervision: A Key to Quality Christian Care—Part 1	SMTM, “Supervision: A Key to Quality Christian Care—Part 1” PCR
18	5/16/26 Saturday	Adrienne Rita – Tech	T-16 Supervision: A Key to Quality Christian Care—Part 2	SMTM, “Supervision: A Key to Quality Christian Care—Part 2” PCR
June 7, 2026 – Proposed date for commissioning Saturday class location: Westchase Campus, 10570 Westpark Dr., Houston, TX 77042 – Music Suite Zoom link

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