If you have stopped in at the station through the years, you may have already met Mary Beth Stinehelfer. She has been a volunteer for many of the years that NewVision has existed. In the spring of 1993, along with her best friend Janis Wickham, she got a call to help with mailing and some paperwork. Both of them, having a day off from their nursing careers, said YES. That started almost 36 years of involvement with this ministry. It’s that easy to let the Lord lead you. Just say YES!!
That has been a pattern in her life. As the oldest of 8, raised in a Catholic home, she was used to “helping”. She had the privilege and blessing to be influenced by giving parents and truly Godly grandparents. Their examples of giving time, energy and volunteerism, despite hardships, family health issues, and age, were outstanding and greatly influenced her life.
The gift of having a handicapped brother led her family to a unique experience. Her brother Daniel needed physical therapy four times a day, along with special exercises to develop the unused cells in the brain. The physical therapy involved five people at a time to perform, and obviously her parents could not do it themselves. Home therapies and out-patient services were not available in those days.
Their Catholic newspaper wrote an article on a new life-changing therapy. From that article, they got more than 400 volunteers and college students who rotated through their house each month to assist in his recovery from meningitis brain injury.
Their stories and efforts made an impact on all of them. As a result, her walk with the Lord, along with her complete and unshakable belief in Jesus Christ, was deepened.
She knew in her heart that God had a reason for their family trauma. All six of her siblings and she have been involved in the medical fields at some time. Part of God’s plan, she believes. Following His plans can be life altering. Mary Beth is a city girl and she came here in 1989. That is a whole other story and testimony in how she came to live here. She has never regretted the choice she made to move, as her life was enhanced greatly – despite moving away from her family. Here is where she met her husband of 24 years, Michael. Their union came with his daughter Kayla and her family, which has blessed her life. She and her three children have brought joy to both of them.
For Mary Beth, doing anything for the Lord brings satisfaction and joy. She has found that He provides the opportunity and she simply has to follow. This has led her to be involved with the Wyandot County Board of Health, Wyandot County American Cancer Society, the Red Cross and many years of VBS and Sunday school classes.
Serving God’s people is never without challenge and always brings the knowledge and hope that we can make a difference in someone’s life for Christ. She feels she has been honored to be asked to serve this ministry and looks forward to further sharing Christ and spreading His word as a board member at NewVision FM.