The following story was sent to Stephen Ministry congregations recently by Stephen Ministries, St. Louis.
I was 26, newly divorced, living far away from family and friends, and dealing with a lot of guilt, shame, and low self-esteem. Was I a total failure? Was God condemning me because of my divorce?
I found a new church and made some friends, but still struggled. It seemed like all my church friends were perfect, happy, and full of faith – while I was flawed, gloomy, and full of doubts. When I shared some of this with my pastor, he suggested a Stephen Minister.
Before I met my Stephen Minister, I worried she would judge and reject me once she learned about my past and got to know the real me. But she didn’t. She was patient, loving, and accepting. I truly believe she was sent by God, just for me.
We got together weekly. She’d ask me questions, get me talking, and then listened as I shared my struggles and doubts. She showed me God’s love even when I didn’t feel it. Over time, her faithful care helped me to see that perhaps I wasn’t such a terrible person after all. Through her loving care, I began to think that if God loved me, then maybe I could love myself, too.
After a while, I got to a better place emotionally, and our Stephen Ministry relationship ended. A few years later, I remarried and had a miscarriage, and she was there for me again as a Stephen Minister, providing the care and support I needed. We now live over a thousand miles apart- but she will always hold a special place in my heart.
Like the person in the story above, if you’re dealing with any kind of difficulty, if you’re struggling with faith questions or doubts, if you’re wondering whether you are a worthy person, then I encourage you to consider getting a Stephen Minister. Let Pastor Trozzo or Sue Kuhn, Referrals Coordinator know, and she will match you with a Stephen Minister.
—Sue Kuhn, Stephen Leader