With the blessing of Church Council and our Pastors, Union Church is in the process of creating a new lay ministry program called Stephen Ministry. A Leader Team of Jeff From, Betty Hibler, and Mary Lou Wiese, along with Rev. Kent, attended a week-long training course in St. Louis last month and are currently meeting to lay the groundwork for Stephen Ministry here in Berea. Meet our Leader Team:
Betty Hibler
Betty is the Stephen Leader Team Coordinator. She has been a Union Church member since moving to Berea in 1999 as the Associate Director of CELTS, the then newly established community service and service learning center at Berea College. During her years of membership at Union Church, she has served on the Mission Board, where she especially enjoyed helping to organize various service trips; as Vice-Moderator during the Capital Campaign; and on the Community Life and Growth Board, plus being an enthusiastic choir member. Now retired, Betty will be responsible for oversight of the program and for raising awareness of Stephen Ministry within our church and community. betty_hibler@berea.edu
Jeff From
Jeff is the Stephen Leader who coordinates the training and continuing education for Stephen Ministers. He does conflict transformation and restorative justice work with the Horizon Prison Initiative with prisons in Ohio. Jeff is an active member of the Berea Community Elementary School Council and a trainer for the Green Dot bystander sexual assault and bullying prevention program at the high school. He has been a part of several “care giving” initiatives in the Berea community and believes that Stephen Ministry offers a more sustainable approach to care giving in our church. Jeff currently serves as the Vice-Moderator and Chair of Church Council for Union Church. jeff.from@gmail.com
Mary Louise Wiese
Mary Lou will oversee the referral and supervision aspects of Stephen Ministry. She was a teacher and school administrator for thirty years; then after retiring, Mary Lou worked with intellectually delayed adults for seven years. Along the way she also held various other jobs beginning when she was thirteen — in fields, offices, restaurants, factories, and a cotton mill. These experiences reinforced her belief that all of us are more alike than different. Mary Lou believes that all people need respect and love. It is her hope that Stephen Ministry will enable care givers to offer love in the tangible form of a listening and caring presence. mlwiese1@yahoo.com
Two information meetings will be held in June for those wanting to learn more about becoming well-trained and dedicated Stephen Ministers. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Betty and watch for announcements in the Sunday bulletins.
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