Stephen Ministry

Chestnut Memorial UMC is a Stephen Ministry church. A Stephen Minister is a member of our congregation who is trained to listen, care, encourage, pray, and walk alongside you during difficult times. It's confidential, free, and very helpful.

We all face challenges in our lives. Some we cope with more easily than others. Are you facing one of life's difficult challenges? A death in the family, divorce or separation, loss of a job, a difficult pregnancy, chronic illness, terminal illness, hospitalization, loneliness, aging, relocation, or some other life crisis? Please feel free to request a Stephen Minister if you think you'd benefit from having someone visit you once a week. They'll listen to you, encourage you, and pray for you. Everything you say to a Stephen Minister is strictly confidential; no one else will know your "business." Having a Stephen Minister means you won't have to bear your burden alone.

For more information or to request a Stephen Minister, talk to or call our Stephen Leader, Nell Twiggs at the number listed in the church directory. You can also tell Pastor Ken or talk to any of the Stephen Ministers you see around church. Once you have made your request, one of our Stephen Leaders will contact you to provide more information and assign you a Stephen Minister.

Devotional: The Woman at the Well-A Lesson in Empathy

Empathy is at the heart of meaningful caregiving.  It allows us to truly see people, to listen deeply, and to respond with love and understanding. One of the most powerful examples of empathy in Scripture is Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In a single conversation, He demonstrated what it means to truly see someone, to listen without judgment and to offer hope.

Jesus Sees Her
Jesus was traveling through Samaria when He stopped at Jacob's well to rest. It was midday, and a Samaritan woman arrived alone to draw water. This is significant. Most women collected water in the morning or evening, when it was cooler and when they could socialize with others. The fact that she came alone suggests she was an outcast, possibly avoiding the judgment of her community.

Yet James saw her. He didn't turn away, ignore her, or treat her as society did. He saw beyond her circumstances and recognized her as a person of worth. He initiated a conversation by asking for a drink, breaking two major social barriers—first, speaking to a woman in public, and second engaging with a Samaritan when Jews traditionally avoided them.  

This simple act of seeing and acknowledging her was the beginning of transformation. So often people in p ani feel unseen and unheard.  They may feel unworthy of love or help. But when someone truly sees them—without judgment-they begin to experience healing.

Jesus Listens Without Judgment
When Jesus asked her for water, the woman was taken aback. "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (John 4:9). She was used to being dismissed, but Jesus responded not with condemnation, but with an invitation: "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would given you living water" (John 4:10).

Rather than immediately accepting His words, she questioned Him. She challenged His offer, pointing out that He had no bucket and that the well was deep. She even asked, somewhat sarcastically, if He was greater than Jacob, who had given them the well.

Jesus didn't shut down the conversation. He didn't tell her to stop questioning or dismiss her
hesitations. Instead, He patiently engaged with her, allowing her to express her doubts, her
confusion, and even her resistance. He listened to her and met her where she was.

This is an essential part of empathy. So often, when people share their struggles, they expect to
be met with advice, correction, or even dismissal. But true empathy creates space for people to
be honest be honest about their pain, doubts, and fears. It listens deeply, without rushing to provide answers.

Jesus Offers Hope, Not Condemnation
As the conversation continued, Jesus revealed that He knew her story: "You have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband" (John 4:18). This was a defining moment. He knew everything about her—the reasons she was likely ostracized, the pain she carried, the choices she had made. But He didn't shame her. He didn't lecture her on morality or tell her to change her ways before she could receive His grace.  Instead, He continued to offer her living water—the hope of a new beginning, of spiritual renewal, of God's love that goes beyond human
failures.  

This is the heart of empathy. It doesn't minimize pain or gloss over struggles, but it also doesn't leave people stuck in their brokenness. Jesus met this woman exactly where she was, but He didn't leave her there. He invited her into something greater.

The Woman's Transformation
Something remarkable happened next. The woman, who had been isolated and burdened by her past, ran back to her village and told everyone about Jesus. "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Could this be the Messiah?" (John 4:29).

The very people she had avoided—the community that may have rejected her—became the ones she eagerly sought out to share her encounter with Jesus. Because Jesus saw her, listened to her,
and offered her hope, she was transformed. She was no longer defined by her past, but by her
encounter with grace.

Applying Jesus' Example in Our Ministry
As caring people, we meet people in their own "well moments"—times of deep pain, grief, loneliness, and uncertainty. Many of them, like the Samaritan woman, feel isolated or unseen. They may carry regrets, losses, or struggles they are hesitant to share.

Jesus' example gives us a model for how we should respond:
1. See people as they truly are – not defined by their struggles, but as beloved by God.
2. Listen with patience and compassion – creating a safe space for them to share their pain, doubts, and fears.
3. Offer presence and hope – not by trying to fix their problems, but by walking alongside them in love.

Empathy doesn't mean having all the answers. It doesn't mean solving someone's struggles overnight. It means sitting with them, hearing their story, and reminding them—through our presence and care—that they are not alone.

Reflection Questions:
When have you felt truly seen and heard by someone? How did it impact you?  How can we follow Jesus' example of listening and responding with love?  What does it mean to offer "living water" in the context of care giving?

Closing Thought
Just as Jesus met the woman at the well with love and understanding, we are called to meet those we serve with the same compassion. When we truly see, listen, and offer hope, we become reflections of Christ's love in a hurting world. If you feel you would benefit from someone coming alongside you in your time of remembering and grief, you can reach out to our Stephen Ministers here at Chestnut. Or you can contact one of our Stephen Leaders, Nell Twiggs or Connie Thompson or reach out to Pastor Waclo.