Stephen Ministries Marks 50 Years of Lay Caregiving, Brings Anniversary Tour to Phoenix

Stephen Ministries—an international nonprofit Christian educational organization best known for its system of lay caregiving—is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a nationwide tour that will include a future stop in Phoenix, making it especially relevant for congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod.

Founded in 1975 by Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist, Stephen Ministries began when nine members of a St. Louis congregation were trained to provide emotional and spiritual care alongside their pastor. Fifty years later, that vision has grown into a global movement. Today, Stephen Ministries’ resources are used in tens of thousands of congregations across more than 190 Christian denominations in 31 countries, as well as in hospitals, correctional facilities, retirement communities, and campus ministries.

At the heart of this work is the Stephen Ministry system, which equips congregations to extend Christ-centered care through trained laypeople. More than 80,000 Stephen Leaders have been trained, who in turn have prepared more than 600,000 Stephen Ministers—caregivers who have walked alongside millions of people facing grief, illness, loss, and life transitions.

“Stephen Ministry has become an integral part of our church,” says Rev. Roderick Hines of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in West Hills, California. “A lot of times, pastors bear the whole weight of providing care. Thanks to our Stephen Ministry, though, I have people walking alongside me, helping meet those needs.”

In addition to Stephen Ministry, congregations and individuals have long relied on Stephen Ministries resources such as Journeying through Grief, Cancer—Now What?, and Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart, which are widely used in pastoral, congregational, and professional settings.

Theologically, Stephen Ministries grounds its work in what Haugk describes as incarnational theology—the belief that God meets people through human presence and care. “Our purpose has been and continues to be to equip people for ministry—and to help people encounter Jesus,” Haugk says.

Looking ahead, Stephen Ministries is expanding its vision beyond congregational settings. Recent publications include the award-winning The Gift of Empathy (2023) and Caring Assertiveness (2024), with group discussion guides planned for 2026. Additional books addressing caregiving, emotional resilience, and cultural pressures are also in development.

The Stephen Ministries 50th Anniversary Tour launched in St. Louis in August and has already visited four cities. Additional locations—including Phoenix, Houston, Tampa, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Kansas City—are planned for 2026, with more to be announced. These Saturday events feature teaching on grief, empathy, mental health, and caregiving, along with reflections on the organization’s past and a preview of what lies ahead. Events are led by key Stephen Ministries staff, including Haugk and members of the national leadership team.

For congregations and leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod, Stephen Ministries’ 50th anniversary is both a celebration and an invitation—to reflect on how we share Christ’s care, and to consider how lay caregiving strengthens both pastors and congregations in a time of growing need.

Stephen Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Learn more at stephenministries.org or call (314) 428-2600.