One of the most important Care Giving Ministries in the Damascus / Friendship Parish is Stephen Ministry. This ministry serves the need for one-on-one lay care for those inside and outside the church. In conjunction with the pastoral leadership, there is a special group of people who oversee and run this ministry – our Stephen Leaders. They have gone through a seven-day training course and are fully equipped with the tools to ensure that this ministry runs smoothly.
Jan Mullinix - Jan serves as the Supervision Coordinator for the DUMC/Friendship Stephen Ministry. Her responsibilities include: providing support to the Supervision Groups, training, recruiting, monitoring and maintaining the overall effectiveness of Small Group Peer Supervision, which is vital to the Stephen Ministry program. Also, Jan, along with Pam Colborn, serves as Co-Leader of the Stephen Leader Team, which oversees the entire Stephen Ministry program. Jan has a background in counseling, training, planning, and administrative tasks. She feels that serving as a Stephen Leader is a real blessing in her life. Jan was commissioned as one of first Stephen Leaders in 2005.
Pam Colborn - Pam is our Referrals Coordinator and is responsible for connecting those with a need for care with a Stephen Minister. Pam works hand-in-hand with Jan as the Stephen Leader Coordinator, overseeing the entire Stephen Ministry program. Pam has great energy and enthusiasm when it comes to Stephen Ministry. It is one of her greatest joys in life, along with raising her two children, singing in the church, and pursuing her masters in Pastoral Counseling. She can think of no better way to serve God than to care for those around her that need Christ’s loving presence during times of difficulty and trial. Along with Jan, Pam was commissioned as one of first Stephen Leaders in 2005.
Rev. Frances Stewart – Frances was commissioned as a Stephen Leader in August of 2007. She is a full-time local pastor who serves Friendship United Methodist Church. She is deeply committed to the work of Stephen Ministry and believes that it serves a valuable need in the community. As each one helps one, the love of Christ is shared and His transforming power is experienced in the day-to-day lives of individuals. Frances will work with Bonnie Custer on the Continuing Education of our Stephen Ministers. She is honored to be a member of our Stephen Leadership team.
Bonnie Custer – Bonnie serves as Continuing Education Coordinator to provide ongoing training for the Stephen Ministers at DUMC and FUMC. As Continuing Education coordinator, she works with the Stephen Ministers, the Supervision Coordinator, as well as others on the Leadership Team, to identify specific training needs, and desires, and interests. She researches and arranges for guest speakers, panels, and audio-visual presentations to enhance the skills of the Stephen Minister. Bonnie was in the first Stephen Minister class, commissioned in May 2006. She felt called to pursue a deeper understanding of the global and ecumenical nature of the SM program by becoming a Stephen Leader. A mom, church leader, former classroom teacher, and current school system administrative specialist, Bonnie brings skills that are natural to the role of Continuing Education Coordinator.
Rev. Janet Cornelius – Janet recently retired from appointed ministry and has become a member of DUMC. She was trained as a Stephen Leader in 1988 and functioned as head of the Stephen Ministry at her church for several years. She serves along with Pam as a referrals coordinator. She has an MA in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in Maryland, and is a trained and experienced Spiritual Director from Shalem Institute in Bethesda. She looks forward to answering the call to the Stephen Ministry at DUMC and FUMC. A heart for those who are suffering and/or in crises motivates her to respond to the healing ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Hazel Strahorn - Hazel lived in Cecil County for 37 years, and moved to Montgomery County in 2005. Currently she works for Montgomery College as an adjunct professor in the Education Department at Germantown and Rockville. To perform her duties as adjunct professor she draws on her experiences from a long career in public education as a teacher and administrator. She holds a BA in English from the University of Kentucky and a MA in Educational Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland. She has served at Damascus Church as Pastor- Parish Relations chair since 2006, and she trained to become a Stephen Leader in 2008. She serves as our Awareness-Building Coordinator to keep the congregation informed about Stephen Ministry; and also works with Continuing Education team. These positions keep her busy at DUMC, where she also is a member of the WWJD Circle and volunteers occasionally at the Thrift Shop. None of these positions is as important as her family, Scott and Cora Horst, Sarah Strahorn and two grandchildren, Cameron and Megan. Hazel enjoys cycling and participates in the MS 150 ride every year.
