This spring, two Midwest congregations will be hosting regional, cross-denominational celebration and learning events by Stephen Ministries, the international Christian educational nonprofit best known for the Stephen Ministry system of lay caregiving. The first, hosted by Anderson Hills Church in Cincinnati, will be held on March 7. The second, hosted by Avon United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, will be held on April 11.
These events, part of Stephen Ministries’ 50th anniversary tour, are open to the general public and feature presentations on topics such as grief, what Jesus teaches us about empathy, caring for full-time caregivers, expanding congregational care through Stephen Ministry, and how churches can help combat the mental health crisis. Stephen Ministries’ founder, Dr. Kenneth C. Haugk, and other members of the organization’s teaching faculty will be speaking at the events.
Stephen Ministries was founded in 1975 by Haugk, a pastor and clinical psychologist. Over the half-century since, the organization’s resources have been used by tens of thousands of congregations worldwide, representing over 190 Christian denominations. Through Stephen Ministry in particular, more than 600,000 people have been trained as lay caregivers, and they in turn have provided care to millions of hurting people.
To mark fifty years of ministry, Stephen Ministries is conducting a nationwide tour of celebration and learning events. The tour began in St. Louis in August 2025 and will continue throughout 2026, with additional stops planned in Kansas City, Washington D.C., Dallas, and more. The theme of the tour is “Building a More Caring World,” which reflects Stephen Ministries’ vision to help all people care and relate with greater compassion and excellence. In addition, Stephen Ministries is introducing a new initiative for helping congregations combat the mental health crisis.
“We’re so excited to welcome Dr. Haugk and the Stephen Ministries team,” says Danny Walker, lead pastor at Avon United Methodist Church. “Our congregation has used and benefited from their resources for years, and we can’t wait for others in our community and region to learn from their staff’s decades of research and experience.”
The Stephen Ministries 50th Anniversary Celebration and Learning Event hosted by Anderson Hills Church in Cincinnati will be held on Saturday, March 7. The event hosted by Avon United Methodist Church in Indianapolis will be held on Saturday, April 11. Both events will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with on-site check-in beginning at 8:00 a.m.
The cost is $15 per person, and a box lunch can be purchased for an additional $12. To learn more and register yourself or a group, visit stephenministries.org/celebrateCIN for the Cincinnati event or stephenministries.org/celebrateIND for the Indianapolis event. Spots are limited. For additional details or questions, call the Stephen Ministries office at (314) 428-2600.