Plymouth Magazine-Spring24-FINAL - Flipbook - Page 6
Kathleen Dewald
Mary Gillaspey
Plymouth member: 36 years
Plymouth member: 38 years
Stephen Minister: 10 years
Stephen Minister: 15 years
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
My parents were experiencing health
and end of life issues. I wanted better
understanding and capability to help
those in our congregation and community
facing life challenges of all kinds. I realized
the impact that a one-on-one caring
conversation could have for support and healing.
What Scripture, quote, or saying do you
personally refer to when faced with a challenging or difficult situation?
“Hold on to what is good.”
What Scripture, quote, or saying do you personally refer to when
faced with a challenging or difficult situation?
Jeremiah 29:11 — “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the
Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future
with hope.”
What would you like Plymouth to know about Stephen Ministers?
Getting a Stephen Minister is easy. If you’re thinking about it, follow
through and contact us. It can be for as long as you need us. It could be
a month or two, or it could be a year or more. You and your Stephen
Minister will walk the road together.
Psalm 46:1-3 — “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble.”
What would you like Plymouth to know about Stephen Ministers?
We are trained and ready to listen and give support in any type of life
situation. We will meet you where you are.
Robin Fortney
Plymouth member: 34 years
Stephen Minister: 10 years
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
Within four months, I experienced the
death of my husband from lung disease and
mother from breast/bone cancer. Between
them my dad fell twenty feet from a ladder
while sawing limbs from a tree on their
property. He survived but crushed his lower
back, losing feeling beneath both knees (he eventually he learned to
walk again). I sought and found support during the grieving process
for those losses. Years later my youngest sister died by suicide. By then
I was a member of Plymouth Church and knew about the Stephen
Ministry program. When I was asked to become a Stephen Minister, I
said yes, hoping I might be useful.
What Scripture, quote, or saying do you personally refer to when
faced with a challenging or difficult situation?
The things that saved me after my husband and mother died and my
dad was broken, at my lowest point when I thought I would dry up
and blow away, were a wingback chair and a hymnbook. That chair
offered an embrace and the hymnbook opened to ‘Be Still My Soul.’
Those words and that melody held and comforted me until I feel
solid again. The other thing I began doing in those days was walking
outdoors and talking to the Universe. The walking and talking process
continues to help clarify feelings and thoughts on good days and
challenging days.
What would you like Plymouth to know about Stephen Ministers?
Stephen Ministers provide a caring and confidential relationship to
help Plymouth members navigate life transitions and other challenging
life experiences.
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
People need to share their stories. Friends
and family can be great listeners, but
sometimes we need an unbiased ear. That’s
what Stephen Ministers offer.
Lisa Kamphuis
Plymouth member: 24 years
Stephen Minister: 1.5 years
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
I wanted to be of service in a way that would
help connect me to God and our community
and believed I was called to do this service.
What Scripture, quote, or saying do you
personally refer to when faced with a
challenging or difficult situation?
We don’t know anything about anything, in other words we don’t
know why or how people get to their station in life or make the
decisions they do. Therefore, we can’t make assumptions about others’
actions or circumstances.
What would you like Plymouth to know about Stephen Ministers?
This group is full of amazing people who are so loving and thoughtful
and skilled at being present to others in a non-judgmental way.
We enjoy being a body of Christ and holding each other and our
community and our care receivers in prayer. We trust each other to be
completely confidential about our care receivers and especially trust
God to do the work of healing and guiding us and our care receivers.
Mary Nelson
Plymouth member: 7 years
Stephen Minister: 1.5 years
Why did you become a Stephen Minister?
I’ve gone through some difficult times
myself; and after learning more about
Stephen Ministry, I felt like it would be an
opportunity both to help others who are
hurting and to grow spiritually.
What Scripture, quote, or saying do you personally refer to when
faced with a challenging or difficult situation?
Psalm 121
What would you like Plymouth to know about Stephen Ministers?
That we are there to walk with them through whatever challenging
situation they are facing.
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