Care and Nurture

The Care and Nurture Ministry surrounds the congregation and community with love, support and care as Jesus did in his ministry work.  All the ministries work together in caring in all ways - from walking with you during a time of crisis to yard care while recouperating from surgery. The lay caring ministries listed below are part of this comprehensive ministry, plus many more external resources such as therapuetic care, are available by calling the church office for recommendations.

Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a care ministry in our congregation and community in which trained and supervised lay persons, called Stephen Ministers, provide one-to-one Christian care to an individual facing a major life challenge such as divorce, hospitalization or bereavement. The caring relationship can last a year or more with the Stephen Minister meeting with their care receiver on a consistent basis, usually once a week.

People who receive care from a Stephen Minister...
  • receive quality Christian care in a confidential setting
  • work through their pain and grief with the help of a Christian friend
  • learn that Stephen Ministers provide the care, God provides the cure
  • come to value ministry from another lay person as well as with the pastor
If you are in need of crisis care, please contact us at stephenministry@powellumc.org to get in touch with the Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator. The Referrals Coordinator will meet with you to explain how Stephen Ministers provide care and to learn more about your needs. All information shared with the Referrals Coordinator will be held in strict confidence.

Prayer Ministry

Powell United Methodist Church is a community bound together by faith based in part on active prayer life in our community.  The mission of the Prayer Ministry is "to develop and support programs that provide a deep-rooted realization and actualization of the power of prayer in the lives of individuals and the body of the church through connectional prayer." Prayer connects us as children of God and changes us.

Prayer Ministry Programs include weekly email prayer connections, phone prayer chain for immediate requests, and prayer resources in the library.  We also offer leadership development opportunities for individual growth and for community growth such as:
  • Prayer Ministry Support Group-recruits, encourages, mentors and delegates leaders for various prayer activities at Powell UMC
  • Spiritual Retreats-offered throughout the year.
  • Prayer Training-a Sunday School Class
  • Prayer support for Pastors and Church Staff
  • "Kids Praying for Kids" Initiative
  • Prayers for Administrative Council
  • Prayer Vigil opportunities
  • Prayer Servants during Worship services
  • Daily Prayer Emphasis
  • Prayer outreach to the community at large
To be inlcuded in the Prayer Ministry, please e-mail Terri Goldring.

Shepherd Ministry

The Shepherd Ministry was created to increase the sense of fellowship and outreach among members. We divide the  membership (sheep) of our church into groups (flocks) of 15-20 families. The Shepherd's commitment to the ministry and church is best described by the acronym PACE.

P-Pray for yourflock daily.
A-be Available in times of need.
C-make regular Contact with your flock, and
E-set an Example in your commitment to Jesus Christ and his church.

The Shepherds receive weekly prayer concerns from the church office and are equipped to "Comfort my People" Isaiah 40:1. Here are some ways Shepherds offer care to the congregation:
  • Make and deliver meals to new parents, someone recovering from illness/surgery or other emergency crisis
  • Make hospital visits
  • Deliver donated flowers that have been blessed during Sunday worship
  • Send cards for birthdays, anniversaries, joys, and sorrows, etc.
  • Build friendships with their flock by prayer
  • Lend a caring ear
When a congregation is nurtured, strengthened and encouraged, the people are better equipped to go out and offer Christ to others. If you are interested in learning more about this rewarding ministry, please contact Kathy Schweinfurth in the church office. 

Helping Hands Ministry

Helping Hands reaches out to our church family and community in a time of crisis by sharing our gifts and talents on projects such as:
  • Lawn care
  • Transportation for those with illness or physical handicaps
  • Home sit during funerals or other times when the home may be vacant
  • Small home repairs
  • Homebound visitation
  • Food for funerals
  • Clean house during times of crisis
If you are in need of assistance or want to volunteer your time with the Helping Hands Ministry feel free to call the church office at 847-3703 or send Kathy Schweinfurth an e-mail. "Caring for the needs of others is another way to bring God into your life."

Health & Wellness Ministry

The Health and Wellness Ministry works to provide the congregation and the community ways to heal and transform lives through programs that emphasize health and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

The Health Ministry addresses our health concerns and resourcing educational and nutritional outreach and finding solutions to guide people through difficult circumstances.

The Wellness Ministry helps those struggling with hurts, habits, and addictions by awakening the loving and healing power of Jesus Christ, which resides in each and every one of us. By following a process of renewal we can unlearn old ways of behaving, and through each other in support, and guided by specific coursework we can be delivered by God as we learn together how to handle 'the rush of mighty waters.'