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Stories about Stephen Ministry in Action

Stephen Ministry Finds a Role in Show Business

Stephen Ministers come from all walks of life, and their caregiving skills are put to work in a wide variety of formal and informal situations. As stage actress Jeanne Lehman-French shared during a recent visit to the Stephen Ministries Center, show business is no exception.

Jeanne, who is a trained Stephen Minister at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, New York, was in St. Louis in mid-August to portray the Mother Abbess in the St. Louis Muny's production of The Sound of Music. "I'm the only Presbyterian nun you'll ever meet," jokes Jeanne, who has played the Mother Abbess in seven other productions, including the 1998–1999 Broadway revival, of what she calls her favorite show. She has also appeared on Broadway in Irene, Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood, and A Musical Jubilee and off Broadway in countless other shows, often in the leading role.

While Jeanne was in town, she took time from her busy rehearsal and performance schedule to visit the Stephen Ministries Center.

For Jeanne, a lifelong performer who has also sung with the New York Pops and who with her husband has trained theatre professionals in Japan and South Korea, serving as a Stephen Minister is an exciting new adventure. "I've been a caregiver all my life, and with all the adventures and experiences I've had, I thought it was time to help others through their difficult journeys," says Jeanne. "I wanted training to give back to my church and to people in show business."

Jeanne frequently uses her Stephen Minister skills not only in her formal caring relationships, but also in her often-challenging line of work. "I have the tools to face challenges differently," says Jeanne. "Listening is the first thing we learn! You listen with a different heart. Playing the Mother Abbess, I read the Rule of Benedict, and the first word in that is 'Listen.' We must listen, not just hear what we want to hear. It's not our job to make everything right for others."

Ultimately, just as Jeanne felt called to the stage years ago, she has felt called to her newest role as a Stephen Minister.

"I've been led to give care in so many situations," says Jeanne. "In everything, I have believed that God is present, and that we are to grow and learn from difficult situations and to be more committed in our faith."

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