Well Done, Good and Faithful Servants!

In the fall of 2021, three members of our staff marked their 20th year of service with Stephen Ministries St. Louis. Sometimes referred to as our “Class of 2001,” they have each played key roles in carrying out Stephen Ministries’ mission over the past two decades.

We asked each of them to share a few reflections about their time with Stephen Ministries and their vision for the future.

Janine Ushe | Director of Operations

I first learned about Stephen Ministries from the admissions assistant at seminary while I was working on my Master of Divinity degree. She told me it was a great place to work while in seminary. It turned out to be a great place to stay after graduation, too!

I knew from the start that the mission of Stephen Ministries connected with my educational background, but I didn’t foresee how much I’d develop personally and professionally. Whether it’s helping new churches start Stephen Ministry, serving on the team that develops new training resources, or teaching at training courses, each role has taught me something new and helped shape me into the person I am today.

One thing I’m really looking forward to over the next 20 years is training and developing a new generation of leaders to carry on Stephen Ministries’ good work. Everything we do here is rooted in the Gospel, so while the when, where, how, and who may change, the why remains constant. Equipping the saints to bring Christ’s love to hurting people will always be what we’re about.

David Bode | Director of Information Technology

I’d moved to Saint Louis to be close to my family after earning my Master of Music in trombone performance at Indiana University. One day I heard an advertisement about employment opportunities at Stephen Ministries on a Christian radio station. I was looking for meaningful work that would make a real difference, so I applied and started as an administrative assistant with the Human Resources Team.

Over the years, I learned new skills and took on new responsibilities—everything from managing our computer system and website to directing our Stephen Leader training courses to leading our publicity team. I’ve recently begun serving as one of the coaches for the online Bridge Leader’s Training Course, and that’s been another exciting experience.

I’ve grown a lot since I started working at Stephen Ministries. I’m a better listener, a better caregiver, and a better leader. And although many things have changed over the last 20 years—we didn’t even have an online store back when I started!—our core mission of helping suffering people experience the love of Jesus hasn’t. I think we’re going to see Stephen Ministry grow even faster in the next 20 years, and I can’t wait to see how God will use the organization.

Becky Bogar | Human Resources Coordinator

I grew up in a church that had a strong Stephen Ministry, so it’s really neat that I’ve been able to have such a great career with this organization. Looking back on the past 20 years, what I’ve liked most about working here is my fantastic coworkers. We’ve accomplished a lot together—conducted hundreds of training events, developed many new resources, and helped thousands of congregations start Stephen Ministry—while making lots of great memories together.

Through all that, I’ve found that supporting our customers, who come from all over the world, has helped me more clearly see the body of Christ at work. I think all of us here recognize what a privilege it is to serve them and support their ministry. That was true back when I first started working at Stephen Ministries, and it’s still true today.

What do I look forward to in the coming years at Stephen Ministries? Honestly, I’m hoping for a lot more of the same—working with people I care about toward a mission I believe in. It’s incredible how God uses people’s gifts, and it’s exciting to think about who will join our team in the future!