Six recently completed Stephen Ministry training

Six new Stephen Ministers at First United Methodist Church recently completed training and will be commissioned and dedicated June 13.

They have become the eighth group to be trained at the church since the Stephen Ministry was introduced in 1990. Each underwent 50 hours of intensive training where they learned how to become caregivers to persons who are hurting and to help others work through their problems, while focusing continually on God as the curegiver.

Among the new ministers are: Bob Priest, Gladys Dalen, Louise Roberts, Paul Payne, Charlotte Adams and Linda Getschman. The trainers were: Wendell Newman and Marleba McCord.

Stephen Ministry is a Christ-centered, confidential ministry that supports the pastoral team of the Revs. Robert Jennings-Teats and Dixie Jennings-Teats, plus a team of five Stephen Leaders, by giving one-on-one care to persons who are experiencing life crises such as illness, death and grief, job loss or change, spiritual issues, separation or divorce, aging or parenting.

Stephen Ministry, founded in 1975 in St. Louis, Mo., has made possible the training of more than 300,000 lay persons in more than 8,000 congregations from more than 100 Christian denominations in more than 30 countries.

The First United Methodist Church program is the only Stephen Ministry in Carson City. Since 1990 the church has trained more than 60 Stephen ministers, 12 of which are active.

During the past 14 years, these caregivers have ministered to more than 100 in more than 1,200 contacts.

For information, call the church office at 882-1436.