“Now What?”
By Brenda Ferguson
Life isn’t supposed to crumble! We trust! We believe! Yet sometimes our worlds come crashing down. Where can we turn? We don’t have to suffer alone. We don’t even have to have all of the answers.
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.” 1 Corinthians 16:11.
Stephen Ministry was born out of a conversation between two friends whose challenges were similar but one with support and one without. When my “perfect world” crumbled many years ago, fellow Christian friends, my CRHP sisters, came to my rescue. They encouraged me to allow God to place a Stephen Minister on my path; to walk with me through a difficult chapter of life. I accepted the offer of spiritual support by a total stranger in my parish (Holy Family). It was life-changing! The sun began to shine again. One step, one moment, one decision at a time, until I could freely breathe again. When I no longer needed the support of a Stephen Minister, I knew the time would come when I would want to pass it on.
Twenty-five years later that nudge of the Holy Spirit to ‘Pass It On’ was speaking loudly in my heart. Leave it to God, the ultimate doctor of all wounds, to once again connect me with a friend from years gone by. Carla and I reconnected once again; this time with the same fire burning in our hearts. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. As Carla and I rekindled our friendship, I shared my journey of healing, of basking in the love of Our Father, sent through another parishioner, bringing me back to a state of wellness. Carla spoke of her own life’s challenges but without having the support of a Stephen Minister. She had wonderful friends and family support but recognized the additional support in what a total stranger, a Stephen Minister, could have brought to her healing journey. From this conversation, and with guidance, support and leadership from Deacon Mike, several St. Isidore parishioners began training with St. Joe’s Stephen Ministry program in Jasper.
In June, 2021 Carla and I completed the Stephen Ministry Leaders’ Training in order to bring the program to St. Isidore. The first class of training (five women and the Deacon) began weekly intensive training in January, completing and being commissioned in June, 2022. Several received Care Receivers almost immediately, beginning their journeys in providing one-on-one, confidential, caregiving to parishioners and residents of our communities. By January, 2023 the word was out and we needed to begin our second class of training, especially focusing on getting more men trained. An additional five women and three men began their own life-changing course in helping to make a difference in the lives of individuals who needed care.
To this day, many parishioners and members of our communities have put their trust in Stephen Ministers. They privately share grateful testimonies of the relief and support they received from our ministers as they navigated through heartache, loss, loneliness and brokenness. Other care receivers are actively in the “receiving” mode of this ministry and are beginning the healing process. They trust our ministers as they open up and release what’s on their hearts.
Are you struggling? Ready for healing? Would you appreciate weekly, one-on-one, confidential, emotional and spiritual support? Please contact one of the Stephen Leaders listed in our parish’s weekly bulletin and let them connect you with a Stephen Minister. You can also call the St. Isidore Parish office at 812-634-1875 and the staff will connect you with one of our leaders. All, so that one day, you too, will be able to the answer the question to “NOW WHAT?”
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
