Meeting the 13,000th Stephen Ministry Congregation
Rev. Barbie Harrison (standing) at the Pittsburgh 2018 Leader’s Training Course.
During the Stephen Series Leader’s Training Course in Pittsburgh in 2018, we recognized the 13,000th congregation to enroll in Stephen Ministry: Third Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio.
Rev. Barbie Harrison was presented with a letter from Dr. Kenneth Haugk, the founder and Executive Director of Stephen Ministries, which commemorated the milestone and congratulated Third Baptist on its 150th anniversary.
August 10, 2018,
Dear Rev. Harrison and Members of Third Baptist Church,
All of us at Stephen Ministries in St. Louis would like to commend you for being the 13,000th congregation to begin Stephen Ministry. Your involvement demonstrates how much you value lay ministry and caring for those going through difficult times in life. We’re excited to have you join the thousands of congregations in the U.S., Canada, and 30 other countries that have started Stephen Ministry so far and seen the fruits of this caring ministry.
As you begin this ministry, you can expect great things:
Third Baptist Church will have an even greater impact as a community of care.
Rev. Harrison and your team of Stephen Leaders will put your leadership skills to great use for the Kingdom, as have the more than 75,000 Stephen Leaders trained so far.
Your future Stephen Ministers will join over 600,000 other lay caregivers in using their spiritual gifts to serve Jesus by caring for hurting people.
Most importantly, people in need of care will experience God’s love in a powerful way.
I also congratulate you as Third Baptist celebrates its 150th anniversary. It’s great to see that even after 150 years, your congregation is still looking for new ways to increase your capacity to care. You are truly living out your call “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12)—a key part of both your mission and our own.
We are blessed to partner with you and your congregation. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “God is faithful. By him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). I pray God in his faithfulness will strengthen you for many decades of service.
In Christ,
Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Stephen Ministries St. Louis
Since 1975, more than 13,000 congregations representing over 180 denominations worldwide have been using Stephen Ministry to train laypeople to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care for those going through difficult times in life. Together, they’ve helped millions of hurting people receive care when they needed it most.
To learn more about Stephen Ministry and the difference Stephen Ministers are making in people’s lives, visit these pages:
For a free packet of information about Stephen Ministry, including how to get it started in your congregation, call (314) 428-2600.
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.