“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ^34 ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’”  Mark 14:32-34

Jesus asks his disciples for the gift of presence.  This is a beautiful picture of Stephen Ministry.  Being present to others, Stephen Ministers are witnesses to someone else’s journey through grief, pain, and difficulty.  These highly skilled individuals meet one-on-one to give emotional and spiritual support through compassion, active listening, empathy and sharing God’s word to help others through life’s challenges.

We currently have eight active Stephen Ministers and four of them are available now to provide support, including two who speak Spanish.  If you or someone you know may benefit from a Stephen Minister, please contact Nancy Riley by email at nancyrileynb@gmail.com or phone 860-250-5946.