Stonecroft Ministries
Stonecroft Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian organization providing global leadership in women's ministry. Its mission is to "equip and encourage women to impact their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."[1] Founded by Helen Duff Baugh in 1938 and now headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, Stonecroft provides training and contemporary tools both domestically and abroad to develop and sharpen volunteers’ leadership skills. Regional offices headed by field directors operate throughout the U.S. and more than 40,000 volunteers presently serve in 64 countries (2009).[2]
Leadership development
Stonecroft provides global leadership through internships, mentoring, and training events at the international, regional, and local levels.
Training Events
Stonecroft plans and hosts evangelistic leadership training events at the international, regional, and local levels. International Impact events are held on even years. Regional events are held annually. Local topical events are held throughout the year.
Mentoring
Mentors play a vital role as leaders in Stonecroft. At the local level, mentors lead small group or individual Bible studies. At the regional level, mentors cover large areas, organizing and training volunteers to guide Stonecroft Bible Studies. No matter where or how they share their knowledge—whether addressing a convention crowd or teaching one-on-one—the goal of these mentors is to equip and encourage Christian women to become leaders in their own unique communities.
Internships
In the spring, summer, and fall, Stonecroft invites female college juniors and seniors, post-graduate students, and recent college graduates to apply for specialized 10-week internships. Successful applicants serve at the Home Office in Kansas City. Home Office interns are given the opportunity to live on the grounds during their internship. (Field interns serve with their respective field director at various locations around the U.S.) Interns receive training and acquire new skills while being mentored in the inner workings of specific departments of ministry, including Communications, Outreach, and Special Events.[3]
Connections
Stonecroft Bible Studies
Eighteen Stonecroft Bible Studies are currently in use (2009). Each one focuses on a specific topic or book of the Bible, and is intended for use with the Good News New Testament. Scripture references in the studies are linked to a specific page number in the Good News New Testament making locating verses easier for study participants who are unfamiliar with the Bible. The first Stonecroft Bible Studies were published in 1968.
Life Publications
Since event attendees and people interacting with Stonecroft volunteers on a one-to-one basis may have limited or no previous exposure to religious teaching, Stonecroft Bible Studies and Stonecroft Life Publications are designed to present basic Christian principles in a simple, easily understood format.
Connection groups
More than 1.5 million people attended Stonecroft outreach events in the U.S. and Canada during 2007 and 2008. Stonecroft staff and volunteers are determined to minister to women and couples through modern avenues that best serve their unique communities. These methods range from traditional luncheons with inspirational speakers to community projects, from prison ministry to parenting workshops, from beach Bible studies to arctic outreach—whatever works best for a particular people in a particular location. A couple of examples:
Moms on the Run
Moms on the Run is a Stonecroft outreach event for mothers of young children. Mothers are given the opportunity to interact in a fun, casual atmosphere featuring refreshments, an inspirational speaker, and complementary childcare.[4]
Vital Network
Vital Network is a group of women, usually connected through an existing Stonecroft outreach group, who desire to leave an impact on future generations. Vital Network functions as a Stonecroft Ministries group, through women connecting in community, prayer, and giving.
Facilities
The Home Office campus of Stonecroft, located in Kansas City, Missouri, provides newly renovated facilities that can accommodate overnight guests with catered dining services.
Baugh Center for Evangelism Training
Fully renovated in 2007, the Baugh Center includes 33 overnight guest rooms. Each room features a private bath, two twin beds, and a queen-size hide-a-bed. The dining room located in the Baugh Center seats 128, with an overflow capacity for up to 40 more. Meal service is contracted separately through approved caterers. Meeting areas in the Baugh Center include the chapel, which seats up to 175. An additional meeting room can be used as one large space, with seating up to 80, or divided into two smaller rooms, with up to 40 persons per room.
The Manor
In 2007, the Manor was completely renovated. It has seven bedrooms, each with its own private bath. The Manor's common areas, including a living room, solarium, and weatherproofed sun porch, offer meeting space for small groups. Built in the 1920s, the stone Manor served as the office and living quarters for Stonecroft staff when the property was purchased in 1952.
History
Much of the history of Stonecroft is recorded the book written by Helen Duff Baugh, The Story Goes On (Stonecroft Publications, 1984), and her biography by Steve and Annie Wamberg, One Woman, One Faith, One Vision (Bethany Press, 2008).
The idea for Stonecroft started in 1938 when a young woman who had recently lost her mother sought spiritual counseling from banker Elwood Baugh at his office. Elwood and his wife, future Stonecroft leader Helen Duff Baugh, invited the young woman and nine coworkers to meet a restaurant and talk about how Christians get to heaven.[5]
Several attendees at this meeting requested that the group meet again so they could invite their friends to attend. This original dinner with Elwood and Baugh led to the creation of 24 prayer groups in San Jose, California. These groups formed the basis of Stonecroft.
In 1948, Mary E. Clark, a former businesswoman and missionary, joined Baugh in leading Stonecroft. Clark was instrumental in establishing Christian Women's Clubs. These clubs provided lunchtime meetings with catered meals and special speakers.[6]
In 1952, Baugh and Clark moved the ministry headquarters to Stonecroft, a tract of land in South Kansas City, Missouri. The prayer groups, Bible studies, and outreach events were soon referred to as Stonecroft Ministries.
The first Life Publications booklet, Life Eternally Yours, was published in 1962. In 1968, Stonecroft started publishing its Stonecroft Bible Studies books. Friendship Bible Coffees (now called Stonecroft Bible Studies) also launched in 1968.[7]
Stonecroft went international in 1966, as the first outreach groups outside the U.S. began in Canada and South Korea. In 1973, for the first time, Stonecroft councils and clubs were active in all 50 states.
Stonecroft's first regional field directors were appointed in 2006, and in 2007, college-aged women began arriving at the Home Office in Kansas City for 10-week internships.
Accountability
Stonecroft is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).[8] As a member, Stonecroft must meet rigorous standards of accountability in such areas as fundraising, financial disclosure, confidentiality of donor information, and the use of resources. The ministry submits to an annual independent audit. Local small groups are limited to $1,000 in their holdings and the rest of the funds go to Stonecroft. Local accounts must have the board manager's name on the checks.
Stonecroft is governed by an independent board of directors which oversees the ministry's mission, finances, management, conduct, and ethical decisions.
References
- Missouri Attorney General - http://ago.mo.gov/cgi-bin/charity/orgDetail.cgi?ID=3701
- Outcomes Magazine, June/July ’08, page 25.
- http://www.oakhills.edu/alumni/careercenter/internships.htm
- Outcomes Magazine, June/July ’08, page 27.
- "Helen Kooiman Hosier, "100 Christian Women who Changed the Twentieth Century" (Revell Publishers, 2001).
- University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa Women's Archives, Iowa City, Iowa - http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa/findingaids/html/IowaCityAreaCWClub.htm
- Steve and Annie Wamberg, One Woman, One Faith, One Vision (Bethany Press, 2008)
- Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability - http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=12663