GPBC Blog

Is summer over? Heck no!! Sure, Labor Day weekend is here and some of you will have your kids back in school, and some of you will be back in school yourself, but that doesn’t mean your summer has to end. Remember, the sun is still out and there are weekends. Yes, this is the time of the year when we do see lots of change and things get busy. It is also the time that we are back in our church community and ask ourselves about what ministry God may be calling us to.
 
One of the things we do here at GPBC is that we take care of those of us who are struggling. I would like to talk with you about Stephen Ministry and what a Stephen Minister is. Stephen Ministers are specially trained and empowered to engage with people who are going through a difficult time.
 
In Stephen Ministry, we provide training in which you’ll learn practical skills necessary to provide effective care for people who are hurting. You will learn about being compassionate, full of faith, skilled, and trustworthy. In addition, you’ll learn about being a Christ-centered caregiver and how to remain connected to Christ as he brings His care, compassion, and healing to care receivers through you. In John 15:4-5, Jesus describes the importance of remaining connected to Him while doing ministry. When Stephen Ministers come alongside and listen to their care receivers in a unique way, our Heavenly Father comes in and He does the healing. We are all broken people and it is only through the cross of Jesus that we can be made whole. We say that Stephen Ministers are the Caregivers and God is the Curegiver! 
 
We have the privilege of walking alongside those in difficult times!!
 
Stephen Ministry is looking to add more caring Stephen Ministers to our team, with training beginning this coming January, 2023. If you feel God might be calling you to care for people one-on-one and to be Jesus to them, or if you feel a pull to at least take the training and then decide, please contact Steve or Mary Muir ( ), Mitch Lea ( ), Jane Lewis ( ), Paula Peterson ( ), the church office at (503) 452-9375, or email us at . We would love to discuss this further with you.
 
Mitch