Caring Ministry
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28
Stephen Ministry
A ministry of care by trained lay persons to walk alongside, listen to, and pray with those in difficult life transitions
Our team of Stephen Ministers extend the work of pastoral care through:
• one-to-one, confidential listening, caregiving, and prayer;
• visits to those in hospitals and care facilities;
• serving communion to those who cannot worship in person; and
• being a caring presence at memorial services and special worship services/events throughout the year.
Life can become unbalanced little by little or all at once without warning. You do not have to face challenges alone.
Contacts
If you or someone you know could benefit from someone who listens confidentially and prays with you, we would be happy to tell you more about Stephen Ministry to help you decide if this could be a helpful path. All communications are confidential.
• Men's Referrals Coordinator - Rev. Scott Luginbill - scott@fumcr.com
• Women's Referrals Coordinator - Karen Varner - kvarner@fumcr.com
If you are interested in becoming part of the Stephen Ministry team, please contact Karen Varner - kvarner@fumcr.com - to learn more about the application and training process.
Impact
I realized that God had not left me at all, but simply spoke to me through my Stephen Minister.
I was so impressed and inspired by the dedication [of my wife's Stephen Minister] and her loving care, that I decided to become a Stephen Minister myself. I hope I can return some of that love and care to someone else.
I didn't take [the process] seriously at first, but my Stephen Minister's presence started to make sense and then his presence made all the difference. With his help, I gained confidence in myself that I needed at the time.
Stephen Ministry training gave me courage to face my own situation with understanding and strengthened my skills for all relationships - intentional listening, genuine empathy, and gracious acceptance.
In the darkest place, my Stephen Minister helped me find hope and ways to heal.
History
In February, 1996, six FUMCR members attended a seven-day training conference and became our first Stephen Ministry Leadership Team. Their first training class began in July that year, and our first 20 Stephen Ministers were commissioned in January, 1997. Since then, new Stephen Leaders and new Stephen Ministers have been trained on a regular basis to continue the work of caring for people who are going through difficult life transitions.
