THE DOVE | SUMMER | MAY, JUNE, JULY 2022
A Stephen Ministry Story
Walk Beside Me BY A ST. DAVID’S CARE RECEIVER
Several years ago, our family unit was dramatically disrupted. My world was spinning, I felt like I was free-falling from the sky with nothing to break my fall. To say that I was lost and heartbroken would be an understatement. Although my faith was present, it was not strong at that point in my life. I had not been to church in over a year, yet I felt the urge to speak with Frank. It was Frank who then referred me to the Stephen Minister Program. The Stephen Minister Program is unique because it offers both confidentiality and a component of faith/Christian influence. This was a time when I did not know who I could trust and my faith was waning. I thought about the program and concluded that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I had others in my family who needed me. I would equate my Stephen Minister to a picture she once gave me. The picture depicts Jesus walking alongside His disciples. My Stephen Minister was gentle, discerning, and present every step of the way. She never made me feel ashamed, and gave my parents some emotional respite in the process. She opened my heart up to God in a way I had never experienced. We would discuss His presence throughout this tumultuous journey and thus, I began to heal. What I love most about the program is that we would discuss how faith and God play an active role in our lives. My faith not only strengthened, it became the wind in my sails. The emotional wounds I have tell an intricately woven story filled with love, hope, and forgiveness. Like Jesus, I have scars still there to remind me of the suffering, however, I gained a lot more than I lost in this journey. Without my Stephen Minister, I would not be who I am today. My new mantra these days is, “trust in the slow work of God”. It is my prayer that those who are struggling will reach out and learn more about this incredible resource available to us. Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which trained and supervised lay persons provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges. If you would like to receive care, please contact a member of the clergy to be connected to a care giver. For more information about joining the Stephen Ministry as a care giver, please contact Clayton Platt by email at ctplatt55@gmail.com 12