(www.stephenministries.org)
Have you ever wished for a real, live body to talk to when you are out of sorts”, hurting, confused, frustrated, sad, exhausted
from stress, maybe even feeling you’re being swallowed up with more than you can handle? Maybe you just could not function
properly on a day-to-day basis any longer? Yes, there were people around every day – loving family, friends, and spouse– but couldn’t there be that someone who would just listen and be unbiased, someone not in the middle of your situation?
God was always present, but there is something to be said about a face-to-face human contact, someone God can work
through – an instrument in His hand.
I truly prayed for such a person while walking through an immediate family member’s onset of Alzheimer’s disease. At that
time, I just knew someone I loved very much was no longer the same person I’d always known and loved. A person who always
nurtured me, been there for me when I needed anything, had most of the answers I needed and could care for herself,
was suddenly no longer mentally there. It was the most difficult time in my life, to put it mildly.
That real, live body to talk to came to me in the presence of a Stephen Minister. She was such a blessed gift in my life. We
met to get acquainted and then set up mutually agreeable days and times to informally meet together. God blessed our time.
My Stephen Minister’s love, caring, presence and listening helped me to open my eyes, ears, and heart to hear the Holy
Spirit’s leading. I truly felt His healing power. She prayed with me and for me but she mainly listened. There were many
times my heart wanted her to give me the answers, but she allowed God to do that.
I wanted desperately to understand this loss I was grieving because all meaningful communication had ceased with my loved
one. The worst part was that I could not fix this and make it better I had always been able to make things work! I was probably
angry with God, if I am honest. I was forced to place total reliance in Him to walk with me through this mess. My faith
was truly being tested!
There is no need to walk the journey alone with tangled emotions and pain. All it took was prayer and a phone call to Dennis
Adams to bring relief and healing. I have thanked God many times for my Stephen Minister.
~ A St. James recipient of a Stephen Minister’s love, support, and encouragement
Would you like to learn how to help people going through a crisis or a time of challenge?
Stephen Ministers are lay persons who have received 20 weeks of training to be caring, listening, and loving companions to others. This powerful ministry has been an important part of St. James UMC for many years now.
If you believe God is calling you to this ministry, please contact Joyce Day (752-6154 or Joyce@stjconnect.org) for more information.
