Stephen Ministers - First Class!


Stephen Minister trainees and Stephen Leaders fellowship at their holiday
gathering. Left to right (front): James Brand, Heather Juby, Malia
Blake, (back) Judi Brown-Leigh, Belinda Johnson, Kele Nkhereanye, Mary Jo Brightly. Not pictured: Kevin Slatten-Poss.

In just one year, Middle’s Stephen Ministry has grown from a gleam in Jacqui’s eye to a real ministry composed of three Stephen Leaders and six Stephen Ministers. Last year, Heather Juby, Minister for Care, and Judi Brown-Leigh, a member of our Greater Consistory, attended a Leadership Training Conference to learn how to implement this caring ministry in our congregation.

Stephen Ministry is dedicated to training laypeople to be ministers for care. Currently this program is utilized in thousands of churches around the globe. Stephen Ministers undergo 50 hours of training in listening and other helping skills in order to provide one-to-one care to fellow church members. Stephen Ministers call, visit, and meet with their care receivers on a weekly basis. People usually request Stephen Ministers when they have experienced some type of loss or stress in their lives.

On March 25, Middle Church will graduate its first class of six Stephen Ministers in a special Commissioning Ceremony during the Sunday Worship Celebrations. The six, who are introduced below, have been working hard studying, meeting weekly, and attending three retreats in order to be prepared for their duties. Once they have “graduated”, the Stephen Ministers will each be assigned a care receiver whom they will meet with on a regular basis. In addition, Stephen Ministers are required to attend bimonthly continuing education and support meetings to ensure quality care is provided.

Belinda Johnson felt called by God to become a Stephen Minister. Her caregiving experiences include being a member of Choir Cares (the JJEVGC caring committee), and a health care proxy and caregiver for friends and family. “The thing I like best about Stephen Ministry is the constant support from the leaders and fellow Stephen Ministers,” she says. Belinda hopes our Stephen Ministry thrives and that the team will be able to meet the needs of the congregation and nurture a caring environment at Middle.

James Brand’s prior experience as a volunteer for a crisis and suicide intervention hotline led him to Stephen Ministry. He thought it would be a good way to “make a difference and help people.” He enjoys attending lectures and events at Middle, especially those sponsored by PeaceTalks. James has gone on two marches with PeaceTalks to Washington and spoke about his experiences in one of the past issues of Middle Notes. His hope for Stephen Ministry at Middle is “that it will have a reputation and people will use it—that it will be appreciated.”

Kelebohile Nkhereanye decided to become a Stephen Minister after she visited the Stephen Ministries website. She says, “I felt it would be great to join the caring team at Middle. Also, I knew God will bless me while giving my time to his children.” She is the eldest of five children, whom she cared for while growing up in Lesotho. She has worked as a Home Health Aide. She volunteers for the Celebrate Life Meal. “My dream,” Kele says, “is to see more people join this ministry and witness healing of care receivers, so they can live productive lives.”

Kevin Slatten-Poss says he became a Stephen Minister “to be an example in lending a helping hand to those who have helped me.” Currently he and his partner, Keith, are assisting his parents with their ‘rebuilding’ after Katrina. Kevin prays that Middle members will accept Stephen Ministers as friends, “someone to call on when over-burdened by the cares of this life and to be loved as a simple human being, for who we all are, despite our faults and failures.”

Malia Blake joined Stephen Ministry to “help others expe-rience the healing power of God’s love.” She spreads hope with CDs, readings, coffee get-togethers, and encouraging words. Malia is a member of JJEVGC, Middle Cares, and Choir Cares. She’s led in many ways at Middle including initiating Middle Prays and leading SoulCare. Her favorite part of Stephen Ministry is “being part of a caring family chosen, trained and empowered to spread radical loving care and experiencing the boomerang of Christ’s love!”

MaryJo Brightly joined Stephen Ministry because she wanted to give service to others. She has been a volunteer in many capacities, including working with Cabrini hospice, guiding families in Ulster county with referral services, and with Family of Woodstock in community referral and crisis counseling. Her favorite part of Stephen Ministry is the opportunity to become a better person by being there for others. Her hope for Stephen Ministry is that it will serve a need at Middle and be useful and helpful to others.