Tales of grace
Women’s Bible Study takes a break during the summer but that doesn’t mean God takes a break too. His grace continues to meet us right where we are. As the Pastor of Congregational Care, this season gives me time to visit with people one-on-one, whether in hospitals, homes, or other places where grief, loneliness, crisis, or isolation are present. And in each visit, I’m reminded of the words of Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I am also blessed to serve alongside an incredible team who stands in the gap: Our Stephen Ministers. These faithful caregivers embody grace as they walk with those in need of emotional and spiritual support. It is my privilege to work with our dedicated and compassionate Stephen Ministry Leaders. Together, we help match caregivers with those who are in difficult seasons of life.
If you’re not familiar, Stephen Ministers are church members who have completed over 50 hours of training to provide one-on-one support. They meet weekly with their care receivers to listen, encourage, and walk alongside them. In many ways, they become living reminders of God’s grace, showing that none of us has to carry our burdens alone.
Here’s how one care receiver described his experience:
“I didn’t think I would ever need a Stephen Minister, but when confronted with unexpected emotional challenges, I was thankful for the referral. I felt very comfortable with my assigned Stephen Minister, and my faith was strengthened through the process. My Stephen Minister came alongside me and showed great empathy and compassion for my circumstances. It was easy to meet and share with my Stephen Minister, knowing that our conversations were confidential and my story would not be shared beyond our private discussions. It has been a pleasure meeting and sharing with my Stephen Minister.”
Stories like this remind us that grace flows in both directions, through the one who gives care and the one who receives it. Our church grows healthier and stronger when we allow God’s grace to move through community.
Our Stephen Ministers serve in many other ways: helping with Communion, greeting at the doors, lifting prayer requests through our Prayer Chain, and even leading tables at Women’s Bible Study. They embody what it means to live out God’s grace in everyday service.
Speaking of our Women’s Bible Study, we meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Teen Center and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Inn. Each gathering includes time for women to share testimonies of God’s work in their lives. One testimony that touched me deeply during our summer break came from a woman whose husband faced a serious health scare. Our prayer chain and her Women’s Bible Study group immediately surrounded the family in prayer.
Here is his story of God’s sustaining grace:
“I was having chest pains and tingling in my left arm, which prompted us to go to the ER. I had felt tightness in my chest before, but I had ignored it, thinking it was just sore muscles. Thankfully, my wife encouraged me to seek help. I was referred to the hospital for a stress test and was admitted to Kadlec that evening. The following morning, I was wheeled down to the Nuclear Medicine Lab for the stress test. The test revealed some abnormalities, so I was referred to a Cardiologist for an optical catheter exam. Later that morning I was taken to the Cath Lab where the doctor inserted a camera into my wrist and followed the artery into my heart. After viewing the inside of my heart, he said, “Oh my!!” Two of the three major arteries going into my heart were completely blocked! I was shocked and asked how I might be still alive, and he said my body, over time, had generated new vessels and created its own bypasses. They’re not as large or strong as an artery, but they work. His last remark was, “GOD has done my work for me.” He also said he couldn’t do bypass surgery due to the size of the blockages. I was taken back to my room to rest before being discharged. As I waited, the doctor came in to tell me of a Cardiologist at Sacred Heart in Spokane who had the expertise and technology available to perform a procedure whereby the blockage is removed without the need for “open heart” surgery. GOD has seen fit to save me on more than one occasion. I am living proof that his grace is real.”
What a powerful reminder that even in moments of weakness, God’s grace is at work, sustaining, protecting, and giving life.
Whether you’re in need of care or feeling called to care for others, Stephen Ministry is a beautiful way to experience this exchange of grace. Our next training session begins this fall. Please reach out to Renee Matson.
As we look ahead, may we remember that God’s grace never takes a break. It sustains us in weakness, strengthens us in trials, and overflows through the care we extend to one another. My prayer is that each of us would lean into His sufficient grace and allow His power to shine through our lives.
Blessings,
Pastor Grimelda Sanchez