April 3, 2019 – Eleven residents of The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant were commissioned on April 2 as the first Stephen Ministers to serve the senior living community. Stephen Ministry trains lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to those experiencing grief, illness, hospitalization, life transitions, or another life challenge.
Jim Gaidis, Suzanne James, Ralph Moore, Jan Nelson, Corita Oduyoye, Joy Piersall, Margaret Pratila, and George Walgrove were the first class to complete the 50-hour training to become Stephen Ministers since the Village was approved as a Stephen Ministry in May of 2018. Suzanne James and Jan Nelson received an additional 40-hours of training to become Stephen Leaders. Joan Clinch and Sue Pumplin were already commissioned as Stephen Leaders elsewhere and have joined the Stephen Ministry at Miller’s Grant.
“These Stephen Ministers will share gifts beyond casual care and concern,” said Rev. Stacey Brady, Chaplain at Miller’s Grant. “These relationships will be characterized by compassionate listening, regular visits, full confidentiality, and dependability.”
More than 13,000 congregations and organizations from more than 170 denominations in the United States, Canada, and 30 other countries utilize Stephen Ministers. More than 600,000 laypeople have received Stephen Minister training and have provided support to more than 1.5 million people.
About The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant
The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant is a faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Ellicott City with 205 apartments, 36 homes, 20 assisted living suites and 12 skilled care beds along Frederick Road next to the Charles E. Miller Library. The community opened in February 2016 and is currently home to over 300 residents.
About Stephen Ministries
Stephen Ministries is a not-for-profit Christian educational organization based in St Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1975, Stephen Ministries provides training and resources to thousands of congregations and organizations worldwide. For details visit www.stephenministries.org.
