My name is Donald Meyer and I would like to introduce myself as your new Stephen Ministry Coordinator at Hope. Pastor Michael Cofer and I feel very blessed and honored to have received Stephen Ministry Leadership training over the summer to serve Hope in the Stephen Ministry Program. The week- long training with hundreds of dedicated fellow believers was a spiritually moving and uplifting experience which strengthened my own faith. To those new to Hope and as a reminder to long time members, let me explain the value and role of Stephen Ministry in a congregation.

One value of a Stephen Ministry (which derives from Jesus' command to love one another) is the self-discipline involved in providing distinctively Christian care in a structured environment. The structure guides us into making a consistent effort, staying on task over the long haul, using care giving skills with discernment, and maintaining these skills through an extensive program of continuing education. Through Stephen Ministry people can enter into a confidential, one to one, Christ-centered relationship with a caregiver who will walk along side them during a time of need. The caregiver is not a person who has a specific solution, rather just someone to talk to about the difficult things that everyone else was afraid to discuss. The program further energizes a congregation to seek out relationships among groups and maintain or restore a sense of Christian community among the believers.

Stephen Ministry is a caring and giving ministry, and there are also many collateral benefits to all involved. The care receivers no longer have to walk alone in life's struggles while pastors with many responsibilities can multiply their ministry. Stephen leaders and ministers may discover and develop their own spiritual gifts. All of these benefits serve to make the whole congregation a more caring place for worship and fellowship. Certainly, the wider church grows and spreads the Gospel as more people within a congregation experience Christ's love in personal and significant ways. I hope that all of you will join the Pastors and Stephen Ministry Team in helping to grow and make this program a vital part of our congregational life.