Stephen Ministers August 2020

by Penny Brill

I am honored to be sharing with you Stephen Ministry News. My name is Penny Brill and I have been a Stephen Minister for five years.

I have found Stephen Ministry to be an opportunity for growth as a Christian. I am learning how to listen when others talk and to not offer advice. Stephen Ministry reinforces that God is the cure giver and we as his disciples, can learn how to be caregivers, sources of support and drinks of cold water to those in need.

We are non-judgmental listeners, offering compassion to others struggling with overwhelming issues in their lives. We as Christians are only in charge of our own behavior, responses and actions. We are available to walk along side others in their time of need. We are not “fixers” but we are people with broad shoulders, open ears and very often are great pressure relief valves!

If you are a good listener, a person people pour their hearts out to, a person who wants to make a difference in someone else's life....you can reach out to the church office or any Stephen Minister here at church to talk about the process of becoming a Stephen Minister. This is a truly life changing way to increase your Christian interaction with others. Most of us are problem solvers who have learned how to listen, reflect and allow our care receivers to work with God to come to an understanding about their life and path.

In 1 Cor 3:6-7 the Apostle Paul wrote: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Think about joining us in this exciting journey. Next month we will talk about the role confidentiality has in Stephen Ministry.

Stephen Ministry:

Christ Caring for People

Through People