Update:  June 2009

Dear Friends,

Are you or is someone you know going through a crisis in life?  These crises happen in all of our lives at one time or another.  They include such things as depression over the loss of a job, grief at the death of a loved one, the necessity of hospitalization, the birth of a child.  When crises come, it is helpful to have someone who cares for you.  Our congregation has trained lay people who offer a ministry of Christian caring for those in need.  When a crises happens, make use of their ministry.

To find out more about our Stephen Ministry please contact: Pastor Scott or Julie at 592-3480 or Penny at 592-3234.  You may also contact one of the following trained Stephen Ministers:  

Mark Essex, Curt Hossman, Mary Ann Morack, Shelby Mulcahy, Sherrie Orcholski, James Schmiedlin, Dotty Sutfin, Eileen Wickham, Rita Zeimet, or Penny Schmiedlin

Please consider whether you know of someone who needs their care.  And I ask you to remember them and their ministries in your thoughts and prayers.

Yours in Christ,

Penny Schmiedlin

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The Story of Stephen Ministry

Penny Schmiedlin, Stephen Ministry Leader

The Stephen Ministry dates back to 1974 when Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist, was pastor of St. Stephen’s Church in St. Louis, MO.  Fresh out of seminary, his strengths and heart were in care giving ministry.  He was looking forward to making a positive impact on his congregation and community by providing pastoral care to all those experiencing divorce, grief, hospitalization, discouragement, and other life difficulties. 

He quickly found that the need for care far exceeded what he could provide.  One of a pastor’s greatest frustrations is seeing people slip through the cracks because their urgent needs are going unmet.  In November 1974, he discussed the situation with two seminary friends.  The conversation turned to Ephesians 4 and ”equipping the saints for the work of ministry.”  Haugk realized that God didn’t intend for pastors to monopolize ministry.  God gave all his people gifts for ministry and his role as pastor was to equip others to use their gifts. 

Haugk returned to St. Stephen’s with a plan.  In the coming months he recruited nine lay people who had the gifts and heart for “caring ministry.”  He then used his combined backgrounds in theology and psychology to develop a training program in Christian care giving.  By March 1975, the nine were commissioned as “Stephen Ministers.”  Their first care receivers included a widower, a blind person, a young woman with cancer, a truck driver forced to retire early, and an inactive member struggling with faith issues.

The impact was immediate.  People began receiving focused Christian care.  Fewer people were slipping through the cracks, and Haugk found he had more time for other pastoral duties.  The Stephen Ministers were surprised by the spiritual growth they encountered as they saw God working through them to bring love and healing to others. 

The story would have ended there, had not two of the Stephen Ministers cornered Haugk after worship services.  “This is good stuff,” they said.  “We’re not going to let you go until you promise to bring this ministry to other churches!”  Haugk agreed to find a way to bring Stephen Ministry to other churches. 

In November 1975, Haugk founded the nonprofit Stephen Ministry.  It spread like wildfire.  The Lodi United Methodist Church is one of more than 10,000 congregations from more than 100 Christian denominations that now have the Stephen Ministry.  Over a quarter million people have been trained as Stephen Ministers, a number that grows by tens of thousands each year.  More than a million people across the United States, Canada, and the world have been touched by God’s love through a Stephen Minister.

In April, Dotty Sutfin will be traveling to St. Louis for the Stephen Leadership training session. Thank you Dotty for listening to God’s call and answering "Yes!".  Penny Schmiedlin will be attending this April’s training also for her continuing education as a Stephen Leader.  With this additional leadership we pray for God’s continued blessings on this ministry as we plan for more training sessions and new growth in the fall of 2010.

God may be calling you to serve your church family and our community through this important ministry, if you have any questions or concerns please contact one of your Stephen Ministers, Pastor Scott or Julie.  We would welcome your questions.