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In our busy world today, it sometimes seems as though we don't have time for one more thing. I have found Stephen Ministry to be not just another time commitment, but an exciting challenge for the heart and spirit and a wonderful walk of faith. I had been involved with various boards for a number of years, but always felt I could do more. Then I began the 50 hours of Stephen Minister training. We met each week for two and a half hours and continually pushed our spiritual envelope.
Each training session was filled with helpful information about caregiving. With the help of our Stephen Leaders, we all felt supported, loved, and educated. By the end of our training I felt more at ease and much more confident in my abilities as a Stephen Minister. I learned a lot about what it takes to care for and support someone and to share my faith on a weekly basis. After our commissioning, I was immediately assigned a care receiver. As a spiritual caregiver, I used my training to prepare for whatever lay ahead. At first it was difficult, but through daily prayer and twice-a-month peer group supervision, I made progress. I was amazed to see God at work in and through us. God is the one who brings hope, love, and forgiveness to hurting people. | 
