A Heart for Care: Compassion in Action
Have you heard about the Stephen Ministry team at FAC? It’s a group of caring volunteers trained to offer Christ-centered support to people going through difficult times—whether it’s grief, illness, loneliness, or other struggles. We spoke with two individuals who took part in the Stephen Ministry Course to get a closer look at their experiences and how the training is equipping them to care for others.
What led you to take the Stephen Ministry Course?
C: “Since I was little, I have always prayed this simple prayer: ‘Use me, Lord.’
So when I attended an info session led by Pastor Tolu, presenting the Stephen Ministry Course, I felt something stir within me—a fire in my belly but also a fear of messing up and not being enough!
I knew it was God speaking because I was scared. But I also knew I had to say yes.”
M: “I have always wanted to be an instrument for God. But I was also fighting with Him.
I have struggled with depression for many years, but the last two were the hardest. A long time ago, I received a word from God that I didn’t fully understand at the time, ‘As God consoles us, we will console others.’ In our deepest struggles, God is there for us, and in the same way, we are called to be there for others.
Just as others have been there for me, I wanted to be there for someone else!”
What were some things about the course that stuck out to you?
C: “The #1 lesson in this course? How to be a better person.
That means becoming more compassionate, learning how to communicate effectively, and creating a safe space for others. To care well, we must put God first—praying, trusting that He is with us, and spending personal time in His presence. Stephen Ministry isn’t about trusting in our own abilities but in God’s power at work through us.
One of the most important skills we develop is listening—truly listening. We don’t think for the person we are giving care to. If we jump to a solution, we interrupt their process. Instead, we ask open-ended questions that draw them out: ‘Tell me more about that.’ We reflect their feelings back to them, validating their experience—not necessarily agreeing with them, but recognizing their emotions as real.
And sometimes, we just sit in silence. Awkward silences are okay. A simple, ‘I’m here, and I care,’ can mean the world. At the same time, we recognize that healing takes time. We’re not in a rush to move people through their crises. God does what only He can do in His timing. Our role is to be present, to communicate hope, and to meet people where they are.
A prayer a fellow participant in the course shared really resonated with me: ‘May we never elevate our challenges above You, Lord.’ That is my prayer as I walk this journey. And I trust that God will continue to use me, just as I prayed He would.”
M: “The course allowed us to be vulnerable, and that vulnerability helped us really understand others. It taught us how to step into someone else’s shoes, without judgment. I think that’s essential for anyone who wants to care for others—you need to be able to practise compassion. Through this course, we learned to be more compassionate, especially when we realize that people go through different circumstances at different points in their lives.
I’ve been through a lot of pain, but I believe God is for me, and for you too. Even though I still struggle with confidence—but with God, anything is possible. The Bible tells us that we can do all things through Jesus. We just need to trust that when God places something in our hearts to do, He’s going to equip us with everything we need! He will put us in the right place, surrounded by the right people, and what might seem too big for us, we can do through Jesus.
We tend to focus on our flaws, but we all have abilities and talents—even ones we might not be aware of. What I’d say is we can (and should) ask God to show us who He created us to be. Sometimes, we know who we are, but we’re afraid to accept it. We doubt ourselves. But if we truly trust God, we’ll believe that whatever He calls us to do, He will be there with us, every step of the way.”
Thank you both for sharing your Stephen Ministry Course experience and what God has been teaching you!
Anyone can train to become a Stephen Minister! Volunteers engage in comprehensive training on Christian caregiving, including topics like listening, boundaries, confidentiality, and assertiveness. Interested? Let us know!
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