A Reflection from Stephen Minister Julia Leary
After Stephen Ministry care is completed. Is Christ’ s work done?
Many of you are aware of the Stephen Ministry program here at St. Barnabas which provides one-on-one spiritual and emotional support to someone in our church who is facing a crisis in their lives such as divorce, severe medical illness, loss of employment and so on. The person seeking help is seen confidentially by a trained Stephen Minister who is also a member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, a fellow parishioner.
I have had the honor of being a Stephen Minister for four months for a fellow congregant. During that time, we developed a close relationship, she sharing things about her life story and situation that few had ever heard or would ever hear. I assured her that confidentiality about our Stephen Ministry relationship and what she shared with me was of the utmost importance to me. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance to all Stephen Ministers.
When the time for my ministry to her came to an end, I began to think about what now? Now that we will not be seeing each other weekly to share God’s presence amidst the crisis in her life, how will it feel when I see her in a church service or at a church gathering. What do we say to each other? As I imagined how that might feel in the moment, I felt a certainty in my gut that she and I were very tightly woven together in the fabric of St. Barnabas and had developed a bond through Christ that could not be erased. We would be fine when we saw each other at the church’s service or at the church gathering. We would talk and smile, knowing what God had done for each of us in our time together as care receiver and caregiver through Stephen Ministry. And, Christ would still be in our midst whenever we were together, just as Christ was there amid her crisis. As I continued to imagine this change in our relationship, I also saw all the people in the church service being woven together into a beautiful fabric, making the most beautiful tapestry. Can you see it?
I am so very grateful that I answered the call to become a Stephen Minister. It has been a blessing to me in more ways than I could have imagined. If you have any questions about Stephen Ministry as a potential care receiver or caregiver, I would love to try to answer your questions or share about my experience. Christ’s work continues through each of us in whatever way we choose to share our gifts.
-Julia Leary
New Session of Stephen Ministry Training
will begin starting Tuesday, March 2
St. Barnabas will begin a new training course for Stephen Ministers on Tuesday, March 3. For anyone interested in learning more about Stephen Ministry at St. Barnabas, please reach out to to Julia Leary in the Realm Connect app for more information or contact the church office so we can pass on your interest. Stephen Ministers are companions who offer one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation experiencing life difficulties. Learn more about Stephen Ministry on the ministry website.
