Meet our Stephen Ministers
Alan AlbarranI became a Stephen Minister in 1999 while a member of FUMC Richardson. I had been involved with adult ministries for several years as a teacher, leading Sunday School classes and also teaching Disciple I and II multiple times. I was looking for a new opportunity, and FUMC had a very active Stephen program. My goal for becoming a Stephen Minister-and later getting the Stephen Ministry program off the ground at Argyle UMC-is to help others in need to feel the love of Christ. When my wife and I joined Argyle UMC, we realized that there was a need for more ministry in congregational care. God kept calling, and finally convinced me we needed a Stephen program at AUMC.
Like anyone who has reached "middle" age, I've had my own unique experiences in life and all of these has shaped who I am today. I was raised in a broken home without the presence of a father, and we had a pretty poor lifetyle. The adolescent years were very tough on me, and I became involved with drugs and alcohol. I was clearly on a path towards addiction when I met my wife-to-be, who was instrumental in changing my lifestyle. I'm convinced God put Beverly in my life. We raised two amazing daughters who are both involved in their own church activities, and now have a grandson. I consider myself a student of the Bible, and continue to gain insight and knowledge from the Scriptures. It is a tremendous blessing to be able to minister to those who are hurting, and I am very pleased we have the Stephen program at Argyle UMC.
Beverly AlbarranI became a Stephen Minister because I want to help others who may need someone to talk to, and also want to give back to the church.
Having been married for 35 years, raising two children and working full time, I can relate to the problems, struggles and stresses that can come about in daily life. Also, having recently lost my mother, brother and mother-in-law, I understand better the ups and downs of the emotions and the sense of emptiness one can go through for months afterward.
I would feel most comfortable caring for someone who has suffered a loss, marital issues, family issues, aging parents, or daily stresses.
Janice BarnettWhen Pastor Kory first spoke of starting Stephen Minister at AUMC I just knew I had to be part of it. My many life experiences: a difficult first marriage, a wonderful second one, the loss of my father at a young age and the care of my mother for a long and difficult period while raising my own children, the pain of going through many surgical procedures, thirteen years spent working in a welfare office helping people of all ethnicities.
The joy of having such pride in my children and grandchildren for the great people they have become, the love of family and friends that has always sustained me and most importantly my love of God - these experiences have always brought me through the darkest of times.
It would be my pleasure to serve anyone who suffers from a heavy heart.
Shelli DyerBy the faith God offered me through His grace, I am confident that He is my Redeemer for all eternity. I believe that He is the Creator of all life. I know He is my Comforter, and praise God! I know that through the life and death and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that one day I will be able to spend eternity in glory with Him and all those gone before me.
However, in the meantime, here we are—left on this fallen earth, where we experience joys, struggles, disappointments, and sorrows. There have been times in my adult life as a wife, a mother, a daughter, sister, or friend where I’ve had the strength and the privilege to care for and walk with others as they have faced physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual struggles. And thankfully, during those times when I was the one in need others have come alongside me with prayers and words of encouragement and with additional practical means of help, such as a meal for my family or simply by offering a much needed quiet visit during a low spell. We’ve all walked on hilltops and through valleys. We’re instructed in the Bible to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. There’s also plenty of territory in between these two extremes—times when we need the Lord to reveal Himself to us in the tangible form of a caring Christian; someone who will listen and encourage and wait with us during the difficult days.
Through the ongoing training and fellowship of Stephen Ministry and by the reliable presence of God’s Holy Spirit, I would be pleased to serve by representing the loving kindness of Christ to one who is in need. The responsibility of this calling motivates me to grow and to give as a Stephen Minister.
Dave GrandeHistorically, my career and church activities have focused on business-related things. And, this has been beneficial to others, but indirectly.
I’ve also experienced a wide variety of challenging situations during my life, and I have made many mistakes. But, with the help of the Lord and other people, I’ve also learned a few things and have survived. I thank God for the gift of His grace and the people He has brought into my life.
Now that I have retired, I hope my Stephen Minister training will help me focus more directly by being a good listener, a sensitive and honest friend, and a frequent encourager.
Celia HawkI have been so blessed to be able to stay home and raise my children. I feel this has been my ministry for the last 20 years and now I find myself almost an "empty nester". I had been praying about where to best serve God for this next phase of my life, then I heard about Stephen Ministry. After researching this ministry and praying about it, it seemed to be a perfect fit for me.
My walk with God really began to grow when I was in my "pit". I had panic attacks that at one point had me close to being housebound. There were times when the attacks started that I didn't think I could ever live a normal life and felt sorry for myself quite often. I just wanted to be "normal", whatever that means. As time passed with God's unconditional love, support, wisdom and promises along with the faithful people He placed all around me, I grew strong. My relationship with God was flourishing and through my experiences he was equipping me to accomplish things I could never do before or even dream I could do. It wasn't an easy trip out of the "pit" but I would not be the person I am today or have the relationship with God that I have, had it not been for this experience.
One of my life verses that describes what I went through is James 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I am confident in what Gods love, encouragement and prayer can do in a life, and pray He will use me in Stephen Ministry to bless others as I have been blessed.
I am very thankful to be a part of this ministry.
Denise JenkinsI was looking for a way to help in our community and church. Being a Stephen Minister enables me to give back to both.
My most important life experience is being a Christian mother to my daughters. I am also a Registered Nurse and have worked with patients and families going through stressful events in their lives. This taught me to have the empathy needed to help them cope. Also and very importantly the training that we receive in the Stephen Ministry program; prepares us to do God’s work. I feel I can help wherever I am needed.
Judy McAlisterI liked the concept of "Jesus caring for people through people." I have gone through a divorce, death of many family members, started C.A.S.A. in Sulphur Springs, Texas, church member all my life, CPS board member for 8 years; serving as president for 3 years, lived through an illness that only two people have survived (I was one of them). Having been through all the above traumas and joys, I would feel comfortable helping in any area.
Paul NathanStephen Ministry changed my life. I became a Stephen Minister because in the past I had been fortunate enough to encounter Stephen Ministries, although for a very short amount of time, from the care receiving side. Not only did it help me in a time of need, but it also, over time, got me more involved in church and the church family. I now want to be able to be there for others who are in need and could benefit from the ministry. I feel it is a chance for me to give back, just in a small way, some of my blessing.
My work as a police officer over the last 20 years has put me in contact with and given me the opportunity to interact with a great variety of people and problems. I have been involved with multiple local and governmental agencies who are in place to help those in need. Along the way, I have personally experienced a divorce and all the emotions and problems that come with it. I believe that I would be the most comfortable serving areas of marital or family issues. I have been involved with both of these issues numerous times at work and also on a personal level.
Kelly PerrittI truly love to help others by listening and offering emotional support as they work through life’s inevitable ups and downs. Stephen Ministry offers a way for a caregiver and a care receiver to walk through these ups and downs together. The whole process reflects the love of Jesus Christ. My life has been filled with blessings. The most meaningful of those blessings have often come though some of my most difficult times from challenging to life-changing - going through my parents’ divorce when I was 7 years old, subsequently seeing my dad only about once a year, being very shy, moving to new schools, diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 18, being successfully treated for it, developing a life-threatening blood clot right before delivering my first child, coping with the anxiety and physical manifestations that came with it, watching my second child in NICU as we waited for his lungs to “clear,” experiencing sever anxiety for the first months of my son’s life, being married to the same man for over 17 years, raising two children—5 years old and 13 years old, and finally dealing with the challenges of extended families.
Relationship issues, marital issues, divorce, and family issues are the areas where I feel most comfortable serving. With the training that I have already received, and will continue to receive, as well as the support of Stephen Ministry leaders and other Stephen Ministers, I feel that I would be so blessed to be able to offer support in many different situations.
John SandelAverage, every day Christians get so few chances (that they notice) to act as representatives of God’s love, and I thought Stephen Minister might provide more opportunities to feel that I am doing that.
I’ve lost both parents, many kinfolk and friends, and experienced with my wife Lorrie the loss of her son. I’ve also made enough mistakes and had enough problems that I feel I can empathize with anybody about any negative experience known to man, and help them work through their pain, no matter what their loss. I just want to help people reduce the pain of whatever kind of loss or trauma they’re experiencing, and help them work their way through to the other side.
Jeannette ScruggsWhile living in Florida in the 1990's, I was a counselor in a children’s program which addressed the needs of “at risk” families (abuse and neglect). A local Methodist church often helped these families and I became aware that most of the support came from a group known as the Stephen Ministry. My heart was filled with gratitude for what they did for our needy families. Years later, when the opportunity presented itself at AUMC to become a Stephen Minister, I applied with great faith and enthusiasm as I felt this was what God wanted me to do.
I try to live my life according to Galatians 5:22 and hopefully to use God’s “gifts of the spirit” to help the hurting people in our church and community. Working and/or volunteering as a teacher or counselor for about 40 years has given me many opportunities to learn about children’s needs, family structure, and educational issues. I think that being a Christian and living by the Christ-centered values I learned from my parents and all of the wonderful churches I have attended are the most important experiences in my life. My own unique family situation revolved around my younger sister who's serious health issues placed her in a daily “high risk” category until she was 12 years old when she went to live and be treated at the National Jewish Hospital in Denver for a year. This experience helped me to know what it is like for family-life to daily revolve around the health issues of one beloved member.
I do feel comfortable serving the needs of families with adjustment issues to deal with—especially those involving the aging process. I was very blessed to grow up in a family where there were 15 great aunts and uncles who were active and loving. They really functioned as surrogate grandparents! Because of the positive experiences that I had growing up in my extended, vibrant French family in Louisiana, I feel comfortable dealing with these issues involving long-term care, hospitalizations, and nursing home placement.
Elaine ShadyI wanted to support people going through tough times. Help when I can, and be there when I can. I’ve been there for people through many times and kinds of issues in the past and I have also been through many tough issues myself.
With the Stephen Minister training and the continuing support I feel comfortable with any issue.
Kim ThomasI became a Stephen Minister after going through the Stephen Leader training in Dallas. This training allowed me to see and hear personal testimonies of how this ministry helped those who are hurting and suffering. When I heard the founder of Stephen Ministry, Dr. Kenneth Haugk, speak about his own personal need for a Stephen Minister after his wife passed away, I knew this ministry was the real deal. He had founded the ministry several years before and had many success stories. However, his personal testimony helped me to realize that everyone at some point in life needs someone who is Christ-centered to listen and care and that’s exactly what a Stephen Minister does.
Like most of us, I’ve had many life experiences with some being good and some being bad. The bad experiences were divorce, miscarriages, bankruptcy and the death of family and friends. One of the most difficult experiences was losing my mom in 2002. It was a very difficult time in my life as well as my family. I still miss her and understand how loss can change your life. I also know that God’s grace is sufficient and He provides all that we need to get through these difficulties. One year after my divorce, I remarried and have been married for over 20 years now. Following those miscarriages, God blessed us with our son. God doesn’t always give us what we want but He hears the cry of His children and is near to the broken hearted. God uses Stephen Ministers to bring comfort and healing to those who need it.
Also included but not listed above is Marge Bonner.
