Midland Evangelical Church

Care Staff

Care Pastor
Gib Giblin
989-631-4411, Ext. 1016
ggiblin@mefchurch.org

Care Ministries Assistant
Jan Walton
989-631-4411, Ext. 1001
janwalton@mefchurch.org

I was lost, broken and grief stricken. My spirit was on the deathbed. Poverty and uncertainty were the demons ready to engulf me. My soul was bleeding with the whiplashes I gave to it by regretting the wrong choices I had made in my life that had thrown me into hell.

My regret and grief were relentless and were killing me. One of my compassionate friends took pity on me and arranged for a Stephen Minister to visit with me. As I filled out the forms, I was not aware of the magic that was about to happen – the magic of having a kind, caring lady enter into my broken life and heal me through her service as a Stephen Minister.

At first it was hard to believe that anyone as nice as her would not mind associating with a shattered person like me. My Stephen Minister became a lifeboat to my drowning soul. She visited me, spent time with me, listened to every disgusting story I told her always with a friendly smile and compassionate heart. She even went out of her way to help me get some of my needs met.

The list of her kind acts is too long. If anyone calls me, I can go over that list. She also gave me the nicest treat – the treat of hearing about her wonderful family, great kids and sweet grandkids that I thoroughly enjoy.

Being with a Stephen Minister is worlds apart from being with a professional counselor. A Stephen Minister helps people like me to look at life from a spiritual perspective; we feel the warmth of being covered by the blanket, the blanket of love from Jesus.

After completing sessions with a professional counselor, I would come out drained because I felt that I carried on a monologue. I would talk relentlessly with the counselor offering the sympathetic ear and saying few kind words. Always my problems were solved with time or with my effort.

With a Stephen Minister, I felt that I interacted with a caring soul and not just a professional whose purpose is to dissect my psychology. With a Stephen Minister I felt like a human being, her words and deeds of kindness heal my wounded mind.

I have written this testimony with Jesus in my heart and for Jesus in my heart. This is my way of saying “Thank You, Jesus” for bringing a Stephen Minister into my life to speak to me through her.