Ministries

STEPHEN MINISTRY

“Never Alone”

On occasion, there is a way that my wife and I compliment each other in a humorous manner.  One of us will say to the other, “Is it all right with you if we go to a certain place or meet with specific individuals at a particular time?”  We often respond to each other with the question,” Will you be there?”  The message is that as long as the other will be present, then what is proposed is fine.  One of the gracious blessings God gives us in marriage is the peace that comes in just being in the presence of a loved one, regardless of the circumstances.

A good friend of mine once asked me a question that solicited a valuable response.  He said, “If you lose much of what you have, such as spouse, children, siblings, parents, job, health, or the physical ability for performing your personal activities of daily living, would there be “anything left for you”?  In my experience, especially in my current vocation, I’ve encountered individuals that appear to have “lost a lot”, regarding the above, and it seems to me that they still have “a lot left”.

Ultimately, for believers, our true personal identity is based in an important spiritual truth that Jesus expresses in John 17:11, “Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me that they may be one as we are.”  Consequently, as believers, we are one with each other and with God.  In Matthew 22:37 and 39, Jesus commands, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind.  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  If we are one with each other and one with God, then shared love follows accordingly.  Further, the Apostle Paul provides guidance to us for living a consistent reality, in confidence, as we travel our earthly journey in Hebrews 13:5, ”let your manner of life be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have; for He has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

Unfortunately, the experience of regret and fear, common to our human nature, presents us with a daily challenge.  Based on God’s perfect and Holy Word, our spiritual being knows who we are in Christ, but our fleshly being struggles with despair.

Thanks be to God for His faithfulness, expressed through His Word in I Thessalonians 5:9-11, “For God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him, wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do.”

The mission of Stephen Ministry at First Lutheran Church is simply to provide comfort and edification to anyone experiencing circumstances that threaten the peace and joy God desires for them.  Please contact Pastor Brophy at 249-3310, or Hope or Taylor Miller at 241-6424 if you are interested in the opportunity to give or receive personal care to others in the name of Christ and for His glory.

Our God is an awesome God!  In Matthew 28:19 and 20, Jesus communicates the great commission, “Go you, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”  As He delegates this tremendous responsibility, He faithfully assures us, “and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age, Amen.”  Through faith in God’s grace, and His continual presence with us, our lives cannot fail to fulfill His purpose for us.  Hallelujah!