Caring for Our Community
Stephen Ministry and Red Cross Blood Drive Updates
STEPHEN MINISTRY
Nationwide Learning Events for Stephen Ministry
For 15 months in 2025 and 2026, Stephen Ministries, St. Louis has planned to commemorate “all that God has done over the past 50 years” by conducting a celebratory tour of one-day events across the United States. Each session features the Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Haugk, and other key teaching faculty from the St. Louis headquarters.
In 1975 Kenneth Haugk, a Lutheran minister and clinical psychologist, and his wife, Joan, a social worker, founded Stephen Ministry in St. Louis, Missouri. Earlier the couple had trained nine members of their congregation to expand the caregiving within the church and soon were asked by other community churches to train their members, as well. Since then, the Stephen Ministries organization has been equipping Christians in the lay-ministry for many denominations, initially from within the United States and Canada, and now from throughout the world.
Nine of our church’s Stephen Ministry Team will be attending a day-long session in Haddonfield on Saturday, September 26th. I’m certain we’ll come back inspired, strengthened, and energized to foster caregiving in our church and with members of the community. Everyone deserves emotional and spiritual support when living through difficult times in life. Pray for us all as we seek to grow in our abilities to bring God’s love to you and people outside our church. If you or someone you know could benefit from having a well-trained, caring listener, please contact Sue Kuhn.
Submitted by Sue Kuhn, Stephen Leader.
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
We had our second successful Blood Drive of 2026 on May 15, even with major road construction and detours in front of our Chester Avenue property. Thank you to all the volunteers, coordinators, donors and staff who made this campaign run smoothly. Our goal was to collect 25 successful units of blood. We collected 26 pints, including three power red donations and one donation for Sickle Cell Initiative. During a Power Red donation, according to the Red Cros, you give a concentrated dose of red cells, the part of your blood used every day for those needing transfusions as part of their care. This type of donation uses an automated process that separates your red blood cells from the other blood components, and then safely and comfortably returns your plasma and platelets to you. Red cells from a Power Red donation are typically given to trauma patients, newborns and emergency transfusions during birth, people with sickle cell anemia, and anyone suffering blood loss.