An Angel at My Doorstep
After her two sons were killed in an automobile accident, Marilyn found the most difficult part of grief was that friends avoided talking about her sons - for fear that they would upset her.
"I had no one to talk to about them. It was as if they had never existed," Marilyn said. ?Then I was matched with a Stephen Minister. She was patient, she was caring, she was accepting. And when she rang my doorbell, I knew I could open up and talk about my sons and the overwhelming grief I was experiencing. My Stephen Minister was an ?angel on my doorstep.? God worked through her to heal my pain.
Multiplying a Pastor's Care
The tornado devastated the small town. Eleven homes were destroyed and dozens more sustained heavy damage. More than thirty people were injured, and six different families lost loved ones.
"How do you minister to an entire community that is grieving, especially when you yourself are grieving?" asked Pastor Williams.
"Our Stephen Ministers made a world of difference by literally multiplying the care I could provide," said Pastor Williams. "They helped in so many ways, from canvassing the neighborhoods to praying with people after worship services. And five of them were matched with people who needed longer-term on-to-one care. And all the while that I was ministering to the congregation, our Stephen Leaders were ministering to me - praying for me, caring for me, helping to carry my burdens, and supporting my family. The 'royal priesthood' that St. Peter speaks about is really evident in our Stephen Ministry."
The One Constant in My Life
Moving to a new town so far from home was difficult for Bonnie, so she was matched with Sharon, a Stephen Minister, to provide emotional support until she got her feet on the ground. Three weeks after they began meeting, Bonnie learned that she had breast cancer.
"Overnight I went from worrying about living in a new city to worrying about living," recalls Bonnie. "Everything happened so fast ? doctors, hospitals, biopsies, a mastectomy, chemotherapy, time off work, reconstructive surgery, bills, paperwork. The one constant in my life was my Stephen Minister, Sharon. She was always there listening to my fears, praying with me, encouraging me through thick and thin."
I'm cancer-free now, and even though Sharon is no longer my Stephen Minister, I consider her a friend. God definitely knew what was in store for me when he brought Sharon and me together.
Real People Who Really Cared
"I gave up on church 20 years ago." said Andy. "I wasn't getting anything out of it and nobody even noticed when I stopped going.
"So when a neighbor told me about Stephen Ministry, I was resistant. The last thing I needed after a triple bypass was someone trying to guilt me into going to church again. But my neighbor explained that a Stephen Ministers' role was to listen and care - not to tell me what I should think or feel or do. I was going to be laid up for a while, so I decided to give it a try.
"My Stephen Minister talked a little, but listened to me a lot. And he showed an unconditional concern for me that I had never experienced before. When I was well enough to get around, I tried church again. I found it different from what I remembered. The people were genuine - real people who really were glad to see me. I began to see there really was a God who cared for me."