The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first lay person commissioned by the apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need (as recorded in Acts 6).

Pat Russell and Becky Tilton-Orem are St. Paul's Stephen Leaders and have attended a Stephen Series Leader's Training Course in St. Louis, Missouri. They oversee and direct the Stephen Ministry.

Stephen Ministers are caregivers not counselors. Their role is to listen and care. They will have been through 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving.