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LAFAYETTE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION
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“What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right
occasion.”
Proverbs 15:23
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Deacon Kevin learned from Pastor
Paul that Phil, a active-retired parishioner, was home from the
hospital. Kevin was shepherd to Phil and Phil’s wife, Julie.
When Kevin phoned, Phil answered. He welcomed Kevin’s call. He
told Kevin that he was glad to be out of the hospital. Phil said
he felt hopeful but uncertain about his recovery. Phil paused a
moment, then told Kevin that he’d recently lost his older
brother, Jim, Phil’s best friend and confidante since childhood.
Phil recalled to Kevin that Jim stayed nearby and told Phil
“everything will be okay” when the doctor reset Phil’s broken
arm after Phil fell off his bike. Phil told Kevin that Jim
encouraged Phil through a period of unemployment when Phil’s
children were still dependent.
As Phil talked, Kevin asked himself what he, as Phil’s Christian
brother, could offer that would provide comfort and
encouragement. Kevin wondered if Phil, an independent private
man of faith who had weathered many storms, would consider what
Kevin was going to propose.
“Phil,” Kevin ventured, “may I talk to Pastor Paul about
providing you with a Stephen Minister?” Phil was silent for a
moment, then said, “I am feeling a void in my life. Maybe it
would help if I had another man to talk to.”
Deacon Kevin talked to Pastor Paul. Pastor Paul visited and
talked with Phil. Within a week a Stephen Minister contacted
Phil.
To receive care from a Stephen Minister, contact Stephen Leader
Pastor John Lown (877.4428); David Wiszneauckas (559.4422);
Sandra Wiszneauckas (894.1833) or Louise Sadler (878.8410.)
Stephen Ministry Bio Brief
Pastor John Lown, Stephen Leader Referrals and Supervision
Coordinator, was born in Charlotte, NC and raised in the
Presbyterian Church (US) - [“Southern Presbyterian”]. Prior to
John’s call to serve the Lafayette Presbyterian Church, May 1,
2003, John’s pastoral service included two Installed Pastorates
and two Interim Pastorate terms in Virginia, between 1973-2003.
John was the Program Coordinator for the Virginia Council of
Churches Refugee Resettlement Program (Northern Virginia/DC)
from 1995-1998. John has served on the Board of Thornwell Home
for Children since 2005 and as Chairman of the Board since 2009.
John had decided, by age fourteen, to become a Pastoral Minister
and became an official candidate for the ministry at age
seventeen. Raised in the Presbyterian Church from infant baptism
as a Child of the Covenant, there has never been a time when
Jesus Christ has not been real and personal to John as Lord and
Savior. Biblical passages key to John’s faith are Proverbs
3:5-6, I John 3:1a, Micah 6:8.
The greatest intervention of God in John’s life was meeting Toya.
The LPC Stephen Ministry Leader Team invites your involvement.
Talk with David Wiszneauckas about registering for the Stephen
Leader Series Training in Orlando June 13-19, 2010
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Thank you, Janet Cox, for creating a Stephen
Ministry section in the LPC library and for preparing the books for all
to use as resources.
A sample of the books which may currently be found there are: Good to
Great, Jim Collins; The Wounded Healer, Henri J. M. Nouwen;
Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart, Kenneth C. Haugk; The Good
Listener, James E. Sullivan; Good Grief, Granger E. Westburg;
Caring Criticism, William J. Diehm.
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