STEPHEN MINISTRY

These one-on-one Christian care givers minister to those in need of a friend during crisis situations in their lives. They reach out to others in times of loneliness, depression, illness, hospitalization, grief, facing problems, becoming new parents, and in other times of stress during life’s "journey."

Stephen Ministers are not professional counselors. They are committed Christian lay persons who have dedicated their time and gifts from God to be trained for this special and confidential ministry. Persons in need of such a ministry may call the church office and request that a Stephen Minister contact them.

For information about becoming a Stephen Minister please call 352-628-4083.

Six new Stephen Ministers were consecrated on Sunday September 17th, 2006.
They are (L-R): Karen, Kim, Joyce, Carol, Shirley and Joanne (missing from photo).

On Sunday, January 18^th our congregation commissioned eleven Stephen Ministers who had been in training. These dedicated people trained for five months and are now ready to begin their caring Ministry among us here at First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. We thank God for all our Stephen Ministers and pray that God will bless their ministries. As this first class was commissioned, we (the leaders) will be contacting those who will be interested in going into training for the second class.

Persons commissioned were: *Kay Bast, Peggy Benson, *Bob Bunting, Judy Bunting, Diane Cary, Ernie Dorrell, Martha Dorrell, Betty Eldridge, Charles Peters, Shirley Wardrip and *Jocelyn Woods. Those with the *denote the Stephen Leaders.

Stephen Ministers can walk beside you when life’s journey is difficult. Contact Kay 382-4908, Bob, 382-0302, Diane 382-7242 or Don 628-9923 in confidence to learn more.