In
April 2004 Madison UMC joined with approximately 9,000 other
congregations worldwide to offer distinctively Christian care to
individuals going through difficult times.
Christ Caring for People
through People
That's the motto of Stephen Ministry.
What is a Stephen Minister?
What do they do?
Stephen Ministers are members of Madison
United Methodist Church who have gone through 50 hours of initial
training to provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to people
who are facing a crisis or simply going through a difficult time.
Stephen Ministers meet with care receivers once a week for around an
hour to listen, care for, pray with and for you, and provide
emotional and spiritual encouragement. Men are matched with male
Stephen Ministers, women are matched with female Stephen Ministers.
And in the midst of this confidential, one-to-one, caring
relationship, God's healing love comes pouring through. To find out
more about how you or someone you know could be matched with a
Stephen Minister, talk with one of our Stephen Ministry Leaders:
Janice Stenmark, 601-853-0459; Patsy McCarty, 601-856-7674; or
Rodger Wasson, 601-750-5381.
What is Stephen Ministry
for?
- Grief
- Loneliness
- Unemployment
- Separation and divorce
- Retirement changes
- Despair
- Childbirth
- Hospitalization
- Loss of a spouse
- Terminal illness
- Shut-in
- Many of life’s struggles
Preparing to Serve
Learn, Grow, and Serve by Becoming a Stephen Minister
Do you have gifts for caring, encouragement, and listening? If
so, please prayerfully consider becoming a Stephen Minister. Stephen
Ministers provide emotional and spiritual support and care to people
who are going through a difficult time, such as divorce, grief,
hospitalization, unemployment, terminal illness, relocation, chronic
illness, or loneliness.
Love One Another As I Have
Loved You . . .
In John 15:12, Jesus says, "'This is my
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.'" Loving
and caring for one another is not just the pastor's job--it's
something Jesus calls us all to do! Stephen Ministry is a ministry
in which people with special gifts for caring ministry can put those
gifts to use in an organized way, bringing Jesus' love and care to
those who most need it.
To find out more about becoming
a Stephen Minister or how you or someone you know could be matched
with a Stephen Minister, talk with one of our Stephen Ministry
Leaders:
- Janice Stenmark,
601-853-0459
- Patsy McCarty, 601-856-7674
- Rodger Wasson, 601-750-5381
- Rev. Susannah Grubbs Carr,
601-856-6058