Do You Need Someone to Listen?

Stephen Ministry

At St. Paul Ann Arbor, we are called to GATHER, GROW, and GO. Part of this mission is to create a welcoming, caring space in our faith community in which people can find healing for body and soul. St. Paul has equipped and empowered a team of Stephen Ministers—laypeople who provide one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people experiencing grief, unemployment, hospitalization, loneliness, divorce, financial stress, a terminal illness, addiction, or other life difficulties. Stephen Ministers are available to partner with people in our congregation during difficult times, and they can walk alongside you through the challenging seasons of life.

One way to think of Stephen Ministry Care Givers is that they are the “After People.”

• …after the phone call you hoped you would never get.
• …after the divorce papers are served and the bottom falls out of your life.
• …after the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.
• …after the doctor say, “I’m sorry there’s nothing more we can do.”
• …after the nursing home director shakes you hand and says, “Welcome to your new home.”
• …after the last child honks the horn, waves and drives away—and the house suddenly seems empty.
• …after the baby arrives, demanding more of you than you ever dreamed possible.
• …after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck.
• …after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.
• …after…(you fill in the blank).

Stephen Ministers are ready to come alongside you and provide comfort and support for as long after as needed. Men are always paired with men and women with women in a confidential caring relationship. Please complete a request form if you would like to find out how a Stephen Minister could be helpful to you.

REQUEST A STEPHEN MINISTER

Support for homeless families through service at Alpha House allows volunteers to spend time playing with the children, serving meals, or staying overnight as a back-up for the regular staff person there. To volunteer: Contact Alpha House directly, or volunteer during St. Paul’s annual week of service in October.

These organizations offer support for pregnant mothers & their children. All life is precious to God, including the life of those waiting to be born. A response of grace to pregnant mothers helps to meet the needs of those who are struggling with a difficult or unplanned pregnancy. Family Life Services and Sienna Women’s Health are great places to volunteer to help, or they can provide material assistance needed to young moms.

Short-Term mission opportunities have sent people to Panama, Russia, Latvia, China, Siberia, Germany, as well as communities in need here in the US. Watch our worship anouncements and eNews for upcoming opportunities to be a part of a mission team!

Supporting global organizations shows loving care and shares God’s Word with people around the world. St. Paul regularly supports missionaires James & Christel Neuendorf in Puerto Rico and also Britt Odemba with Project 24 in Kenya.

Collections are gathered for LCMS World Relief during global crises, and we also have a partnership with People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO) that shares the gospel with Muslims in the United States and in the Middle East.