Caring Ministries
Zionsville UMC offers several support ministries to provide care and encouragement during difficult times:
Stephen Ministry: Trained lay caregivers offer confidential, one-on-one Christian support for those facing challenges like grief, illness, or job loss.
NAMI Support Group: A monthly meeting for parents and guardians of children with behavioral and mental health challenges.
GriefShare: A 13-week faith-based grief support program that helps individuals navigate the loss of a loved one.
Stephen Ministry
What Is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministers are there to care as you are going through a difficult time—physically, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. Stephen Ministers are trained caregivers, ready to listen and encourage you, pray with and for you, and provide confidential one-to-one Christian care. Stephen Ministers provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, job loss, loneliness, disability, relocation, and other difficult life circumstances.
ZUMC is one of more than 13,000 congregations from more than 180 Christian denominations that now have Stephen Ministry. Over 600,000 people have been trained as Stephen Ministers, a number that grows by tens of thousands each year. More than one-and-a-half million people across the United States, Canada, and the world have been touched by God’s love through a Stephen Minister. Through all these people—including our own 22 Stephen Ministers and their care receivers—the story of Stephen Ministry continues.
Important Notes
Stephen Ministers are not counselors. They are trained to be lay Christian caregivers. Their role is to listen and care, not to counsel or advise.
Stephen Ministry is a supervised ministry. Stephen Ministers engage in twice-monthly supervision, led by their Stephen Leaders, to ensure that they are providing the best Christian care they can.
Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry. What a care receiver tells a Stephen Minister stays between the two of them. Even in supervision, the names of care receivers and specific details are never discussed.
If you think you might be interested in becoming a Stephen Minister, or feel you would benefit from having a Stephen Minister, please contact Peggy Reiff at preiff@zumc.org.
Additional information about Stephen Ministry is available at stephenministries.org
Are You Called to Care?
Every day, people in our congregation and community go through difficult seasons—facing grief, loneliness, illness, or job loss. God never meant for us to carry these burdens alone.
As a Stephen Minister, you are God's hands and feet, providing a listening ear and a steady, confidential presence for those who are hurting. You don’t need to have it all together, and you don’t need to be a counselor. We provide the in-depth training and ongoing support you need to make a profound, life-changing difference.
We are currently recruiting for our next Stephen Minister training class to start early 2027. To learn more or apply, please contact ZUMC Stephen Ministry Director, Peggy Reiff at preiff@zumc.org.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Nami Family Support Group meets at St Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, 1525 Mulberry Street. This is a free, confidential, and peer-led support group for family members, friends, and significant others of people living with a mental health condition. Led by trained facilitators with personal lived experience, these groups offer a safe, non-judgmental space for participants to share experiences, gain hope, find empathy, and build supportive relationships by learning from each other's challenges and successes. This group meets on the Third Wednesday of every month from 6:30-8:00pm.
GriefShare
What is GriefShare?
GriefShare is a support group program that offers a safe and confidential environment for individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The program is based on a 13-week video series featuring grief recovery experts and real-life stories of people who have experienced loss. Each session includes a video presentation, group discussion, and personal study and reflection.
Who can attend GriefShare?
GriefShare is open to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, regardless of their religious beliefs or affiliations. The program is designed for individuals who are grieving the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, or other close relative or friend.
How does GriefShare help with grief recovery?
GriefShare provides a structured program that helps individuals understand the grief process and move through it in a healthy way. The program focuses on providing emotional support, education, and spiritual guidance to help individuals cope with their loss. Participants learn practical strategies for dealing with grief, such as journaling, prayer, and meditation, and have the opportunity to share their experiences and feelings with others who are going through similar struggles.
How is GriefShare different from other grief support groups?
GriefShare is unique in its faith-based approach to grief recovery. The program is grounded in Christian principles and teaches that God can provide comfort and healing during times of grief. However, the program is open to people of all faiths, and participants are encouraged to share their own beliefs and experiences.
Griefshare “Spousal Loss” Workshop
The loss of a spouse is one of the most stressful and traumatic events of a person’s life. Your husband or wife is the person with which you have a home and family. Your best friend in life. Grief is exhausting, overwhelming, and very lonely.
Join us for the Griefshare “Spousal Loss” workshop on Saturday, October 17th from 10:00-11:30. We will watch a short video followed by discussion.
Register at Griefshare.org. The cost is $10 for the workbook.
Come in Door2 and find room C113 down the hallway, on your left.
You are not alone. We will offer you a cup of coffee, a listening ear, and hope. If you have questions, please call or text Mary Katherine at 317-523-7328
Surviving the Holidays
After the death of your loved one, the holidays just aren’t the same. It is hard to be jolly when your heart is grieving. ZUMC is offering a “Surviving the Holidays” workshop to give you helpful ideas to make it through those difficult days. The workshop will be Sunday, November 1st, 2:00-3:30. The cost is $10. Scholarships available upon request. Please register at Griefshare.org. Park on the east side of the building and join us in room 113. If you have questions, please call or text Mary Katherine at 317-523-7328
Zionsville UMC Next Griefshare Class
Zionsville UMC is again offering the 13-week Griefshare series. The sessions begin Saturday, February 27th, 2027, 10:00-11:30. The series ends May 22nd. We will meet in room 113 inside the east entrance. The cost of the 13 week series is $25. Scholarships available upon request. Register at Griefshare.org.
You don’t have to grieve alone. Call or text Mary Katherine at 317-523-7328 with any questions.
Other GriefShare Groups
You can find a GriefShare group near you by visiting the organization's website (www.griefshare.org) and entering your zip code in the Find a Group search bar. The website will provide a list of nearby groups, including the meeting times, locations, and contact information.
Questions? Please email griefshare@zumc.org.