Pastoral Care

Stephen Ministry is one-on-one, confidential Christian care offered by trained laypeople to those walking through grief, illness, life transitions, or spiritual struggles. It's available to anyone in our church or community needing emotional and spiritual support. Stephen Ministers are available before and after each Worship Service on Sundays in the Main Lobby at The Loop Campus.

If you feel called to serve as a Stephen Minister, we welcome you to apply for Stephen Ministry. Stephen Ministers complete a 12-week training and commit to ongoing supervision. Other serving opportunities have varying requirements. Contact our team to learn more and get started.

Hope House serves individuals or families traveling to Houston for medical treatment by offering temporary housing near the Texas Medical Center. Priority is given to those facing financial or logistical challenges during extended care.

Yes. Whether it’s a member of our church or a loved one, our trained hospital visitation team offers spiritual encouragement and prayer during hospital stays, surgeries, or recovery—within a 75-mile radius of the church.

We offer a range of biblically grounded support groups for those facing grief, caregiving challenges, illness, memory loss, and more. Each group provides community, encouragement, and practical help for life’s difficult seasons. All current opportunities are shown above. If you have any questions about any of them, please contact us. We’d be glad to help!

Contact the Pastoral Care team to begin planning by calling the church office at 713.681.8000 or sending us an email to PastoralCare@HoustonsFirst.org. We will guide you through selecting a location, coordinating with ministers and musicians, and arranging for receptions and technical needs, all with compassion and care so you can plan a service that honors your loved one and offers to those who grieve.

Volunteers (or PATHMAKERS as we call them) are essential to our ministry. From hospital visits to homebound care, Stephen Ministers to hospitality greeters at funeral services, there are many ways for you to serve. We also appreciate your prayers and financial gifts, which help sustain these vital ministries. However you choose to serve, we equip and support our PATHMAKERS to share Christ’s love and carry out Romans 12-style care.

No. While many services are geared toward our church family, we welcome and serve anyone in need. We believe that care is one of the ways we extend the love and hospitality of Jesus to all.

In addition to support groups, Pastoral Care offers individual prayer, hospital and home visits, Stephen Ministry’s one-on-one care, and referrals to counseling services when appropriate.

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our ministry. Care providers, including Stephen Ministers and PATHMAKERS, are trained to maintain privacy and handle all information with the utmost respect and discretion.

While Pastoral Care itself does not provide direct financial aid, we can connect you with church resources and community partners that offer support for those facing financial hardships.

Stephen Ministry can provide support during difficulties in life. Let a Stephen Minister walk alongside you! 

• Loss of a loved one • Spiritual Crisis • Discouragement • Job loss

• Divorce or separation • Disability • Loneliness • Hospitalization

• Terminal Illness • Life Challenges • Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or

infertility • Accident or disaster recovery