STEPHEN MINISTRY: EQUIPPING CHRISTIANS WITH THE TOOLS OF COMPASSION

The Stephen Ministry group works with residents of the Missouri Veterans' Home in Cape Girardeau.

Charlotte Hecht just couldn't get the words to the song out of her head. The chorus, "I've heard you calling and I will go where you lead. I will hold your people in my heart," didn't escape her memory for nearly a week.

After reading about the Stephen Ministry in her church bulletin, Hecht knew God was "tapping on my shoulder."

"We all have our own story of how we got here," she said. "But it's because of I John 4:19 that we are here. We love because he first loved us. You can't give love until you've received it."

As a Stephen minister at the Missouri Veterans' Home, Hecht's job is to give love, support and encouragement to residents at the home. About 17 people serve as ministers.

But their job doesn't just include visits and weekly conversations. It requires plenty of training and preparation. Stephen ministers are not ordained ministers but church members and Christians who want to help others in need.

"The strength is that it equips people to be caring," said the Rev. Lou Laundhart, chaplain coordinator at the Veterans' Home.

"The ministry focuses on showing love and Christian caring," he said. It doesn't require any theology degree or college training. All you must do is complete a 50-hour training course.

Centenary and Grace United Methodist churches are still very new to the Stephen ministry program. Both recently began programs in their congregation.

"We're just trying to feel our way," said the Rev. Jerry Statler, associate pastor at Grace. "But I think that even at this point, even with the freshness, there is an awareness that the program is there. We are anticipating the good ministry that can come."

There is plenty of good that can come from the ministry, Laundhart said. He has been working with Stephen ministries for 15 years.

He helped begin the program at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, where he served as pastor until retiring.

"It equips God's people for ministry," Laundhart said. "He calls the church to be equippers, and this is more than an effective tool."

As part of the training, the program discusses listening to feelings, prayer, forgiveness, confidentiality and Bible study.

The strength of the program is in its honesty, Laundhart said. "It shows there is truth in love. It really helps to face up to being honest about your feelings."

"People live in a lonely crowd," he said. "We try to give advice and be helpful."

But often what people need most is just someone to listen. Stephen Ministry provides just that.

Because the Stephen ministry training is so intense, classes are typically offered each January at the Missouri Veterans' Home. For information, call Laundhart at 290-5437.