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	First United Methodist Church 60 State Street Glassboro, New Jersey 08028	Telephone: 856-881-3295 Fax: 856-881-3239 Email: glassboromethodist1@comcast.net
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1. The Gift of Faith Paul says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all …to another faith by the same Spirit.” (1Corinthians 12:4a, 7, 9a) The first in our series of valuable spiritual gifts for Stephen Ministers is faith. This spiritual gift is an unshakable trust and a deep conviction that God faithfully and reliably keeps promises. Christians with this gift have a profound belief and confidence in their relationship with Jesus that becomes an example for others. These individuals are endowed with the spiritual gift of faith in addition to the saving faith that all Christians have. Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to serve in this distinctively-Christian caregiving ministry.
2. The Gift of Mercy Paul writes, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is...showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6, 8d NIV) Our second highlighted spiritual gift valuable for a Stephen Minister is mercy. Christians blessed with the spiritual gift of mercy have an exceptional ability to perform acts of kindness and compassion. Their deeds of unmerited love are modeled after God’s redemptive sacrifice of Jesus, a gift of loving mercy we did not deserve. There are those among us with this gift. And we’re looking for you as we prayerfully recruit and prepare to select those who will serve our congregation as Stephen Ministers.
3. The Gift of Teaching the Faith “We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us….Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach.” [Romans 12:6, 7b New Century Version] In looking at the spiritual gifts that will benefit a Stephen Minister, the third in our series of five is teaching the faith. This spiritual gift described by Paul in his Epistle to the Romans is the ability to clearly explain the Christian faith and equip individuals to apply it in their daily lives. Those so blessed communicate with both words and actions – they live what they teach. The life of someone who teaches the faith is often his or her best lesson, following the example of Jesus, the master teacher. It is important to realize that this valuable gift is often different from the ability to teach other subjects. Therefore, professional teachers may not have this gift and, conversely, those with this the gift may never have taught in any classroom.
4. The Gift of Encouragement “Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you….Anyone who has the gift of encouraging others should encourage.” [Romans 12:3a, 8 NCV] The following is a description of the fourth desirable spiritual gift for potential Stephen Ministers - encouragement. The gift of encouragement includes the ability to inspire, comfort, motivate, strengthen, affirm, and be present with others so that they can meet life’s challenges with confidence. It points to the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence and the hope that is ours in Christ. Those with the gift of encouragement instill this hope in others, offering consolation and inspiration to them in their joys and trials. It is being a “little Christ” and a “little Holy Spirit,” assuring others that they are not alone.
5. The Gift of Knowing The final spiritual gift identified by the Stephen Series as valuable for Stephen Ministers is knowing. This gift is having a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing the insights gained from it with others. Christians with the gift of knowing communicate much more than facts when they talk with people about Jesus. They share Jesus Christ in ways that make Him personal and real to others. Over the past six weeks you have been urged to consider your gifts package. Faith, mercy, teaching the faith, encouragement, or knowing. Does one or more of these gifts describe you? If so, check out Stephen Ministry, our congregations’ one-on-one, distinctively-Christian caregiving program.

1. The Gift of Faith
Paul says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all …to another faith by the same Spirit.” (1Corinthians 12:4a, 7, 9a)

The first in our series of valuable spiritual gifts for Stephen Ministers is faith.

This spiritual gift is an unshakable trust and a deep conviction that God faithfully and reliably keeps promises. Christians with this gift have a profound belief and confidence in their relationship with Jesus that becomes an example for others. These individuals are endowed with the spiritual gift of faith in addition to the saving faith that all Christians have.

Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to serve in this distinctively-Christian caregiving ministry.

2. The Gift of Mercy
Paul writes, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is...showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6, 8d NIV)

Our second highlighted spiritual gift valuable for a Stephen Minister is mercy.

Christians blessed with the spiritual gift of mercy have an exceptional ability to perform acts of kindness and compassion. Their deeds of unmerited love are modeled after God’s redemptive sacrifice of Jesus, a gift of loving mercy we did not deserve.

There are those among us with this gift. And we’re looking for you as we prayerfully recruit and prepare to select those who will serve our congregation as Stephen Ministers.

3. The Gift of Teaching the Faith
“We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us….Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach.” [Romans 12:6, 7b New Century Version]
In looking at the spiritual gifts that will benefit a Stephen Minister, the third in our series of five is teaching the faith.

This spiritual gift described by Paul in his Epistle to the Romans is the ability to clearly explain the Christian faith and equip individuals to apply it in their daily lives. Those so blessed communicate with both words and actions – they live what they teach. The life of someone who teaches the faith is often his or her best lesson, following the example of Jesus, the master teacher. It is important to realize that this valuable gift is often different from the ability to teach other subjects. Therefore, professional teachers may not have this gift and, conversely, those with this the gift may never have taught in any classroom.

4. The Gift of Encouragement
“Because God has given me a special gift, I have something to say to everyone among you….Anyone who has the gift of encouraging others should encourage.” [Romans 12:3a, 8 NCV]
The following is a description of the fourth desirable spiritual gift for potential Stephen Ministers - encouragement.

The gift of encouragement includes the ability to inspire, comfort, motivate, strengthen, affirm, and be present with others so that they can meet life’s challenges with confidence. It points to the promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence and the hope that is ours in Christ. Those with the gift of encouragement instill this hope in others, offering consolation and inspiration to them in their joys and trials. It is being a “little Christ” and a “little Holy Spirit,” assuring others that they are not alone.

5. The Gift of Knowing
The final spiritual gift identified by the Stephen Series as valuable for Stephen Ministers is knowing.

This gift is having a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing the insights gained from it with others. Christians with the gift of knowing communicate much more than facts when they talk with people about Jesus. They share Jesus Christ in ways that make Him personal and real to others.

Over the past six weeks you have been urged to consider your gifts package. Faith, mercy, teaching the faith, encouragement, or knowing. Does one or more of these gifts describe you? If so, check out Stephen Ministry, our congregations’ one-on-one, distinctively-Christian caregiving program.

First United Methodist Church

First United
Methodist Church