Building a More Caring World: Stephen Ministries’ 50th Anniversary Event Comes to All Saints Lutheran in Phoenix
On Saturday, February 21, All Saints Lutheran Church in Phoenix (15649 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85022) will host a regional, cross-denominational Stephen Ministries 50th Anniversary Celebration and Learning Event, part of a nationwide tour marking five decades of ministry dedicated to building a more caring world.
Hosted by Stephen Ministries, this one-day event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with on-site check-in beginning at 8:00 a.m. The gathering is open to the public and invites clergy, lay leaders, caregivers, and anyone interested in deepening congregational care and compassion.
Participants will engage with presentations on grief, what Jesus teaches about empathy, supporting full-time caregivers, expanding congregational care through Stephen Ministry, and how churches can respond faithfully to the growing mental health crisis. Speakers include Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, founder of Stephen Ministries, along with members of the organization’s teaching faculty.
Founded in 1975 by Haugk—a pastor and clinical psychologist—Stephen Ministries has equipped congregations across more than 190 Christian denominations. Over the past fifty years, more than 600,000 people have been trained as Stephen Ministers, providing confidential, one-to-one Christian care to millions experiencing loss, illness, and life transitions.
The anniversary tour began in St. Louis in August 2025 and continues through 2026 with stops in cities including Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Kansas City. The tour’s theme, “Building a More Caring World,” reflects a core Christian calling: to accompany one another with compassion, presence, and hope—especially in times of suffering.
“I love Stephen Ministry,” says Dan Hoeger, senior pastor at All Saints Lutheran Church. “There’s been a Stephen Ministry program at every congregation I’ve served over the last 36 years. It is amazing how effective it is with different people, cultures, and settings. I don’t know any other ministry program that is as consistently life-giving. I’ve seen it brighten the lives of hundreds.”
The registration cost is $15 per person, with an optional boxed lunch available for $12. Space is limited. To learn more or register as an individual or group, visit stephenministries.org/celebratePHX. For additional questions, contact the Stephen Ministries office at (314) 428-2600.