When our musicians offer us their beautiful music in worship, our attention may be on the soloist, instrumentalist or choir. But what makes those moments possible is another relationship: while musicians are facing us, they are listening to their accompanist, and the accompanist is listening intently to them, taking direction, sensing cues, anticipating but not leading, always supporting. We are all beneficiaries of the result!
That’s an apt picture of what a Stephen Minister is: an accompanist behind the scenes who makes it possible for us to rise to the occasion with courage and strength, wisdom and peace, because we are not alone.
Every one of us at some time goes through one of life’s difficult or unwanted transitions. Often it is the kind of journey even our family members and friends cannot or should not make with us. Stephen Ministers are members of the church who have undergone fifty hours of special training to become confidential “accompanists” who commit to meet privately on a regular basis for a prescribed period of time. They exist to ensure that each of us has someone who will listen without judgment, pray with us, and offer perspective and support. Women are matched with women, men with men, and only the care-receiver can tell anyone about the relationship.
As Christians committed to the shared life of the church and its reciprocal ministries of care, the question is not “whether” we need a Stephen Minister, but “when.” It is a beautiful example of member-to-member care and one I commend to you. It is how the music gets made, and we are all beneficiaries of the result!
If you’d like to explore either having a Stephen Minister or becoming one, call me at 864-233-2527, ext. 138; write to me at kyle.matthews@firstbaptistgreenville.com; or come by my office!
—Kyle Matthews, Minister of Pastoral Care
