A Story of Faith, Hope and Love...from our Stephen Ministry.

For those of you familiar with the work of our Stephen Ministry, this article may come as a surprise. Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of our Ministry, and is a binding and sacred trust between Caregiver and Care receiver. Occasionally however, with the generous permission of our Care receivers, we are able to share a story, or special victory.

This is a story of two people and their struggle to reclaim their lives after devastating losses. It is also a story of God's love and work among us through our Stephen Ministry.

Ten years ago "Jim" (not his real name), a vibrant man in the prime of his life, and an accomplished equestrian, was in a fatal car accident that killed his fiancé, and left him partially paralyzed. A few years later, due to totally unrelated circumstances, Jim lost his sight. Now more or less incapacitated, Jim moved from his home in Southern California to Napa to be near his two sisters, who are his only surviving relatives. He lives in an assisted living facility with few amenities: just the bare essentials. He had no friends, few visitors, and no life to speak of. Jim's days were spent lying in bed in total darkness.

A few months ago "Keri" (not her real name) also moved to Napa Valley. Keri is an exceptionally gifted woman, but has suffered a life of unimaginable hardships, which would likely have destroyed a less determined person. Her marriage, which came later in life, was, for nine wonderful years, the focal point of her existence, and gave her the kind of joy, and love she had never before experienced. Her husband's death, just over a year ago, was a profound blow, and left her with a sense that she no longer had any purpose in life . With great courage, Keri gradually gathered up the broken pieces and started to rebuild. She decided to move from Chico, where she and her husband had lived, to Napa Valley. As a life- long lover of horses, and someone who herself had overcome physical handicaps, and re-learned to ride, she was drawn by a place called Cornerstone Equestrian Center.

Cornerstone is a non-profit organization located in American Canyon. It is run by mostly young volunteers, and funded by donations and grants. The work of the Center is to give people, young and old, with mental or physical handicaps, the tools, techniques and confidence to become equestrians - even to the competitive level. At Cornerstone, Keri was able to find part-time employment as an instructor.

It is hard to talk about what happened next without reference to our Faith. I know that for all of the Stephen Ministers who have been involved with Jim and Keri, God's hand is quite clear.

A few months ago, Jim was referred to us. His Stephen Minister found him in a state of almost total despair, unable to do anything except lie on his bed all day. Jim's Stephen Minister is a deeply spiritual, but also practical man, who knew that somehow he had to find a way to get Jim off that bed, and "walking" again - a daunting and seemingly impossible task. What could possibly give Jim the desire and will to live again, his Caregiver wondered, as he considered Jim's circumstances and surroundings? As a Stephen Minister, he knew he could not "fix" Jim's problems, or do it for him. For a while the only thing he could do was pray for him.

Then one day about a month ago, our Stephen Ministry leader, Cathy Smith, got a call from a woman who had somehow heard about us...she just needed someone to talk to, to help her cope with her on-going grief at the loss of her beloved husband. She was a playwright, and oh yes, she also taught handicapped people to ride in her spare time at a special Equestrian Center just outside Napa. Blind people as well? Yes, of course.

It wasn't easy persuading Jim to give it a try. He had been on a horse only once since his accident, and it had been a humiliating experience, being lead around in circles on a leading rein..."just like a kid in a fairground." In his former life he had been an expert, a competitive horseman, and he would rather never go near a horse again if that's all he was capable of. His Stephen Minister, however, had won his trust in the intervening months, and persuaded Jim to go..."just this once."

Keri too was nervous: she knew that a lot, literally, was riding on this. She knew Jim's story and she was convinced that if he would just give it a try, he almost certainly would be able to ride again - really ride, no leading reins. She and her Stephen Minister prayed that it would go well, and on the appointed day, Keri went personally to pick up Jim and take him to his first lesson.

That evening, both Jim and Keri called their Stephen Ministers.

"It was like a light bulb had gone on," Jim's Stephen Minister said. Jim was overflowing with excitement, and the possibilities his experience of the day had opened up for him. Keri had told him that not only could he ride again, but if he wanted to, he could even become good enough to compete in equestrian events. As she confided to her Stephen Minister: "Jim has a wonderful seat: you can tell he has the talent to go on to whatever level he wants...and what a great mentor he could be to our young people with all of his experience!"

Inspired by what happened to him that day, Jim decided to reclaim his life. He is going for it with all the energy and enthusiasm of a man ...reborn. In addition to his weekly riding lessons, Jim is taking classes at the Community College to learn Braille, and particularly to learn how to use a Braille computer so that he can communicate with other people who share his passions in the equestrian world: he is swimming to rebuild his muscular strength, meeting with a support group for the blind, and he has started attending Church again.

As for Keri, her work with Jim and the other students at Cornerstone has been a turning point for her too. It has been an affirmation that her life does indeed have meaning and purpose, and that she has the great gift of making a difference to others. She too is excited about the many possibilities her new life holds, and especially looks forward to continuing her work with Jim.

Grief is a long and painful process, and this miracle by no means heals all wounds, neither Jim's nor Keri's, but, in the words we all know so well " it is a work well begun"... and for those of us who were privileged to play a small part in this story - it is an answer to prayer and a reaffirmation of faith.

Note: Grace Church's Adopt a Family Program has started a fund which will help Jim continue his riding lessons, and support Keri in her commitment to obtain the certification necessary in order to qualify as fully licensed instructor for handicapped equestrians. If you would like to help these courageous people, please send your donation to

Grace Church, Adopt a Family (FBO Cornerstone Equestrian Center)
14 Spring Street
St Helena, California, 94574
we will make sure the donation go to "Jim" and "Keri"