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Christ caring for people through people
The Stephen Ministry is a truly inspiring story of God’s compassionate love. The story started over 40 years ago. Here is how Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, founder and Executive Director of Stephen Ministries, describes how it all started and has evolved:
“It was 1974. Fresh out of seminary and graduate school in clinical psychology, I had high hopes for providing pastoral care to people in my congregation and community. That’s where my gifts were. That’s why I felt called to the pastoral ministry – to bring Christ’s love to hurting people.
But reality quickly set in. There were so many needs and only one of me. And only so many available hours in a day. I had a church full of needs, but also a church full of people. So the solution was obvious: “Equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12) Stephen Ministry was born.
Here are current facts and stats about Stephen Ministries:-
Present in more than 12,000 congregations from more than 170 Christian denominations, in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces, and 29 other countries.
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More than 70,000 pastors, church staff and laypeople have trained as Stephen Leaders (those who oversee and direct Stephen Ministry in the congregation.)
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More than 600,000 people have trained as Stephen Ministers (laypeople who provide care to those who are hurting) in their congregations.
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More than one-and-a-half million people have received care from a Stephen Minister in a formal one-to-one Stephen Ministry caring relationship, and millions more have been touched by Stephen Ministry in informal ways.
Stephen Ministers work together with pastors to reach more hurting people than any pastor can ever reach alone. Stephen Ministry never replaces pastoral care; it simply multiplies it! As a result, fewer people slip through the cracks.
If you are interested in receiving Stephen Ministry care,
please call the Parish Office at 512-255-1389. -