Stephen Ministry

First Congregational Church's desire to form a caring ministry grew out of the congregation's expressed desire to becoming a more caring faith community. FCC researched potential avenues to achieve the goal of becoming a more caring community and entered into a covenant with Stephen Ministry St. Louis. This large organization has provided training and resources to FCC in the creation of Stephen Ministry at FCC.

Stephen Ministry St. Louis began in 1975 when the Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a pastor and clinical psychologist, trained laypeople at his congregation in St. Louis to be Stephen Ministers. They assisted him in providing Christian care to members of the congregation and community.

This spurred Dr. Haugk to offer Stephen Ministry to more congregations. Over the next few years, Dr. Haugk traveled to congregations and trained Stephen Ministers. This proved to be inefficient, so in 1978 Dr. Haugk held the first Stephen Series Leader's Training Course and trained the first Stephen Leaders?representatives of various churches who then returned home to train and supervise their congregation's Stephen Ministry. Since that time Stephen Ministries St. Louis has specialized in training leaders through the Stephen Series ministry system.

Stephen Ministries St. Louis is a not-for-profit, transdenominational, religious and education organization founded in 1975. The St. Louis-based organization provides support for the ministry in more than 10,000 congregations worldwide. Dr. Haugk serves as executive director.

More than 10,000 congregations are enrolled in the Stephen Series. These congregations represent more than 150 different Christian denominations and come from all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and 23 other countries.

The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was a lay person commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need (Acts 6).

Christ Caring for People through People

Bear one another's burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2