Care & Support
“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
Many members of Buford First are deeply involved in caring for others both within the church and through community outreach programs. Buford First seeks to provide Christ-centered help through our Stephen Ministry, Church Care Groups, and other tools of compassion and assistance to anyone that is experiencing life’s difficult and trying times.
If you believe you have the spiritual gift of caring for others or if you are hurting and would like some guidance or help, you can find information below or contact our church office at 770-945-7438 or clbfumc@bellsouth.net for more information. For pastoral care concerns, you can contact our Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Sondra R. Jones, at sondra.jones@ngumc.net.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a confidential, one-to-one, pastoral care ministry for anyone going through a crisis. We provide a trained layperson to walk beside you through grief, separation and divorce, job transition, childbirth, family issues, empty nest, retirement, and any number of challenges life throws at you. These trained laypersons are members of Buford First and will listen, care, encourage, pray with and for you, and provide weekly support for you as long as your need persists.
If you have any questions, including how to request help from a Stephen Minister, please access our Stephen Ministry page for more information.
Homebound Ministry
Many homebound members have been lifelong members at Buford First and served our church faithfully for years. The Homebound Ministry provides an opportunity to minister to these, love them, and give back to them as they have given to others throughout their lives.
Members of our Homebound Visitation Team usually have one to three homebound members they visit or talk to over the phone at least once a month. During our visits, we can inquire if they need any small home maintenance repairs and if so we pass along this information to volunteers in our church. We also provide a copy of the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide and, if they so desire, communion can be served by one of our Stephen Ministers.
The Homebound Visitation Team visits homebound members who have been referred to us. Referrals can be made to a church staff member, Pastor Sondra, or by contacting our Homebound Ministry coordinator Sandra Burgess at 770-271-0136 or slburg48@gmail.com.
This ministry is a blessing to the homebound members, but God also continues to use these people to bless the volunteer caregivers.
Church Care Groups
Our church membership is divided into small Care Groups, each with a designated leader. The leader contacts group members for various reasons (for example, if a member of the group is ill or has had a death in the family) so the group can pray and perhaps arrange to provide food for the family. Births are also celebrated with meals.
Care Groups are designed so that as BFUMC grows we will continue to care for one another in a personal and intentional way. Follow this link (password required) to a page with lists of members in each Care Group, or you can also contact staff member Suzanne Clegg at suzbfumc@bellsouth.net if you have any questions about this ministry.