Amy and Jeff Baumann, Warsaw, work together providing marriage mentoring. The Baumanns discuss with the couple how important communication is both before and after marriage. InkFreeNews photo provided by Amy Baumann.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

“As we follow Jesus, I believe we should try to live as He lived,” stated Amy Eberly Baumann, Warsaw. “God’s world view is different than our culture’s world view. We serve Him out of our own giftings. I see myself as an empathetic person. I’m also organized and detail oriented. I have some leadership ability thrown in there and love hosting people in our home when we have the time. To me, following Jesus is using our gifts and abilities to serve Him by serving others.

“My dad is a retired Church of the Brethren pastor, so I am a ‘PK’ (preacher’s kid). He and my mom live at Timbercrest in North Manchester. Even though they are retired, they are both still actively involved in ministry.”

When she was a sophomore in high school, Baumann committed her life to Jesus. “I was baptized in Waubee Lake, just two miles southeast of Milford.”

She attended Manchester College, where she majored in accounting and minored in psychology. “I worked in the accounting department at Bowen Center for 20 years. I now work part time in accounting at Joe’s Kids in Warsaw.”

After she and her husband, Jeff, were married, they began attending Warsaw Community Church. “I love volunteering at our church and am involved in various areas.”

Baumann has been a Stephen Minister for the past five years. “We are not professional counselors but have had 50+ hours of training. We’re paired with a care receiver who is going through a crisis period, whether that be a divorce, loss of a significant someone, grief or trauma. We’re not there to fix anyone. We simply walk alongside them, listening, supporting and helping direct them. We are the caregivers. Only Jesus is the cure-giver.”

She’s also part of a couple pit crews that serve the church’s mission partners. “We’re there to support and encourage the missionaries on and off the field so they can reach people for Christ better.”

“I also disciple women at the homeless shelter in Warsaw,” she remarked. “Right now I’m working with a woman who has some health issues. We are studying ‘Vertical Marriage’ by Ann and Dave Wilson together.”

Baumann and her husband work together at marriage mentoring using FOCCUS materials. “The program provides premarital sessions for couples to participate in. They answer a battery of questions individually. Then we help them talk about areas where they disagree or are uncertain about with one another. There are different categories such as friends and interest, finances, problem solving and sexuality. We stress how important communication is in a marriage and they learn it firsthand as they talk things through in our sessions. We love being a part of helping people develop a strong marriage.”

Through volunteering, Baumann is able to reach out to others. “I enjoy being able to pour myself into people and letting them know how much Jesus loves them.”

While pouring herself into others, Baumann continues to learn how to set boundaries and keep herself balanced. “Currently the verses of Matthew 11:28-29 have been speaking to me, where Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls…For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’”