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.
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Cancer—Now What? Taking Action, Finding Hope, and Navigating the Journey Ahead
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Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to Relate to Those Who Are Suffering
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Discovering God’s Vision for Your Life: You and Your Spiritual Gifts
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Other resources for individuals and congregations
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Incarnational theology (God in Christ, and Christ caring for people through people)
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Ministry as the privilege and responsibility of all God’s people
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Empowering those we serve to get excellent results
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Personal humility
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Organizational stability
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Positive work environment
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Stephen Ministry, the lay caring ministry we offer that is being used in more than 13,000 congregations
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:
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.
Learn More About . . .
2045 Innerbelt Business Center Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63114
Phone: (314) 428-2600
Fax: (314) 428-7888
Stephen Ministries is a not-for-profit Christian education organization founded in 1975 that produces training and resources known for their excellence, practicality, psychological integrity, and theological depth. These resources cover topics such as caring ministry, assertive relating, spiritual gifts discovery, grief support, spiritual growth, and more.
Congregations and other organizations use these resources to strengthen and expand ministry. Individuals use them to improve their ability to relate to and care for others, grow in faith, and journey through life crises. Our 30-person staff is based in St. Louis, Missouri.