Stephen Ministers Reflect
What’s it like to be a trained lay minister providing pastoral care?
COORDINATED BY REV. LINDSAY HARREN-LEWIS
FPCA’s Stephen Ministry equips lay members of our church to provide confidential, one-to- one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulty in their lives. Nine Stephen Ministers and six Stephen Leaders currently serve in our congregation. Hear what they have to say about the ministry:
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
Top: Newly commissioned Stephen Ministers gather with leadership. From left are Rev. Lindsay Harren- Lewis, Ellen Myers, Becky Tacca, Laura Rabenold, Sharon Ward, Nida Hadeed, Chris Bockstanz, Tina Stephens, Kathy Hemphill, Elaine Smith, Helma Rosenthal, and Bob Martin.
Above: Te Stephen Ministry logo emphasizes making people whole in Christian community.
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I became aware of Stephen Ministry in the 1980s when my sister, who lived in Michigan, was going through a difficult divorce. She was in a deep depression, and it was difficult for her children who lived close by and her sisters who all lived in other states to reach her. Along came her church, which matched her with a Stephen Minister. It was a slow process, but I could hear the improvement each time I spoke with her on the phone. Once she was over the hump, she and her Stephen Minister became very good friends, and her family was very grateful for the progress she made. Before long, she took the training and became a
Stephen Minister herself. I was in the first class of Stephen Ministers here at FPCA five years ago and have been committed ever since. —Joyce Gobrecht
One day a very dear friend of mine approached me at church and asked if I would consider being a Stephen Minister. She said she thought I’d be wonderful at it. With a great deal of uncertain thoughts rushing through my mind, I said I would need to think about it. With her kind response, she asked that I would pray and consider this wonderful calling. So with great thought and constant prayer—not to mention a considerable amount of conversation—I decided that this is my calling.
—Tina Stephens
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