Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Trumpet Call: Our Vision
The Trumpet Call: Our Vision
Our Vision
To challenge and encourage everyone in our
congregation to know and follow Christ by:
Growing as disciples through Christs
teachings
Connecting with one another in Christian
community
Serving Christ by serving others
Praising God as we worship Christ
this month!
Stephen Ministry was started in 1975 by Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist who was called
by God to become a Lutheran pastor. When serving in his first church, he quickly realized that he did not
have enough hours in the day to provide all the caring ministry that was needed in his church. He drew
upon his psychology background and began training lay volunteers from his church in the skills of being
good listeners, the importance of maintaining confidentiality in relationships, the need to refrain from giving
advice to hurting people, and how to utilize Christian resources. This lay system of caring was so effective
in his church, that soon other pastors were asking Dr. Haugk to train folks from their congregations
Stephen Ministries St. Louis was born! Stephen Ministry is a trans-denominational organization that is
distinctively Christian. Stephen Ministry is active in Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox churches in every
state and many foreign countries. We were the first church in the Poconos to become a Stephen Ministry
congregation. Several years ago Christ Hamilton United Lutheran Church also became a Stephen Ministry
congregation.
Over the last 10 years, our leadership team has trained 45 people from our congregation to become
Stephen Ministers. These Stephen Ministers have provided one-on-one caring ministry to 124 people in
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our church and community who have benefitted from their Christ-centered
care. Stephen Ministers are not therapists or counsellors. They are
Christian people who have experienced Gods curative love in their own
lives during times of suffering and desire to share that love with
others. Stephen Ministers are caregivers. God is the curegiver!
In September, the Stephen Ministry leaders will begin training a new class
of Stephen Ministers to join the team. We invite you to celebrate 10 years
of Stephen Ministry at ESUMC this Sunday as many Stephen Ministers
participate in leading worship!
Blessings,
Peggy Strack
Stephen Ministry
Celebrating 10 Years!
My care receiver and I have
developed a deep spiritually-based
friendship with each other. I have
seen God at work in our caring
relationship as my care receiver
works through her concerns. I
know my care receiver has grown
spiritually during our time together,
and I have grown as well. I have
trouble putting into words how
absolutely fulfilling this ministry has
been to me.
Are you going through a difficult
time? Would you benefit from the
care of a Stephen Minister? Is
God calling you to begin training in
September to become a Stephen
Minister?
Contact Peggy Strack, 570-4213280, ext. 1023.
Members of ESUMC who are no
Events
Contact Us
If you are pursing or "think" God is leading you into Ministry a.k.a. pastoral,
missions, ESUMC has a scholarship fund that might be able to assist you
in your financial situation. It is called the Oberholtzer Scholarship Fund.
For further information on this Scholarship, please contact the church
office for an application and further details.
Rummage SaleDrop off and set-up on August 3rd & 4th 9-4
Sale Friday, August 5th 9-4 and Saturday August 6th 9-12.
Secretary
Maria Ragonese
mragonese@esumc.net
Ext. 1010
Congregational Care
Peggy Strack
pstrack@esumc.net
Ext. 1023
Youth Ministries
Scott Kuhnle
skuhnle@esumc.net
Ext. 1013
Childrens Ministries
Erica Dorsch
edorsch@esumc.net
Ext. 1017
Finances
Sue Mertz
smertz@esumc.net
Ext. 1015
UMW
July Dollar Challenge is clothing items for the
Ingathering. Place in UMW Donation Bin in
Oberholtzer Hall.
Church Office
(570) 421-3280
church@esumc.net
Hours: 9 am to 3 pm
Mon thru Fri
Pastor
Jim Todd
jtodd@esumc.net
Ext. 1014
Financial Secretary
Cyndie Faunce
cfaunce@esumc.net
Ext. 1025
Maintenance
William Mack
wmack@esumc.net
Ext. 1018
SextonJude Porter
jporter@esumc.net
Organist/Traditional Music
Pauline Fox
foxes@esumc.net
Contemporary Music
Doug Malefyt
dmalefyt@esumc.net
Audio/Visual
Joe Dorsch
josephdorsch@gmail.com
Technology Support
Michael Corey
mcorey@esumc.net