Stephen Ministry

Experiencing a life-changing event without support? Allow Stephen Ministry to support you in your journey.


SM logoStephen Ministry is a trans-denominational Christian education organization that trains individuals to provide prayer, support, and a listening ear to people struggling with some of the transitions and challenges of life.

Hillcrest currently has trained lay caregivers called Stephen Ministers who provide quality care to members and others in our community.  Following approximately 50 hours of training, each minister makes a two-year commitment to serve in the church family.  They assist people dealing with some of the following life situations:

  • Bereaved, elderly, lonely or discouraged people
  • The terminally ill and their families
  • Home-bound, institutionalized or disabled people and their families
  • Those in job crisis or affected by a job loss
  • People experiencing a spiritual crisis or facing life transitions, such as separation, divorce or an unplanned pregnancy
  • Those affected by an accident or natural disaster
  • New members in the congregation or community
  • The imprisoned and their families
  • Parents with children leaving home, experiencing the birth or adoption of a child, and single parents
  • Those experiencing the stress of moving

Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist, and his wife Joan founded Stephen Ministry in St. Louis in 1975.  The ministry is named after St. Stephen, the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need as recorded in Acts 6.  Today more than 300,000 Stephen Ministers serve in 9,000 congregations across 100 denominations.  Stephen Ministry began at Hillcrest in 2001.

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