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Our Mission and Ministry

What Is Stephen Ministries St. Louis

The Stephen Ministries Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Stephen Ministries St. Louis is an independent, not-for-profit Christian educational organization, founded in 1975 and based in St. Louis, Missouri. (Learn more about our history.)

Our dedicated staff—which includes pastors and laity from a variety of denominational backgrounds—are committed to serving God and equipping God’s people for ministry. (Learn more about our staff.)

Our organization draws its name from the book of Acts. In chapter 6, Stephen was chosen to provide caring ministry to those in need. Throughout history, caring ministry has been a hallmark of the Christian faith community—and is at the heart of all we do at Stephen Ministries St. Louis.

Resources We Offer

The heart of our ministry is Stephen Ministry, the lay caring ministry system used in thousands of congregations and other organizations worldwide.

    In addition, Stephen Ministries St. Louis also offers many other adult education courses, books, and videos. These include:

    Our Mission

    Stephen Ministries Center Lobby Mural by Timothy Botts.

    The mission of Stephen Ministries St. Louis is summed up in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

    “To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12–13).

    These words describe why our organization exists, what we do for people and congregations, and the difference we hope to make in the world. They’re written on the wall in the entryway of the Stephen Ministries Center in St. Louis, an encouraging reminder that always keeps us focused on our mission.

    Our Core Values

    The core values of Stephen Ministries St. Louis are:

    • Incarnational theology (God in Christ, and Christ caring for people through people)

    • Ministry as the privilege and responsibility of all God’s people

    • Empowering those we serve to get excellent results

    • Personal humility

    • Organizational stability

    • Positive work environment

    These core values are the unifying beliefs, principles, and ideals that drive the way we think, talk, and act at Stephen Ministries St. Louis.

    Check out the Stephen Ministry by the Numbers booklet for a brief overview of Stephen Ministry.

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