Second Presbyterian Church

Serve Stephen Ministry

2nd Pres

LR AR

Giving Comfort, Lifting Spirits

Faith Compassion Heritage Fellowship

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  • two people holding hands to comfort each other

About Stephen Ministry

There are times when each of us needs the care of another person. Stephen Ministry is a program that equips lay persons to provide confidential, Christian, one-to-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and circumstances, both in our congregation, and in our community.

Upon completion of the training program, our Stephen Ministers work together with our pastors to reach more people with Christian care than the pastors can reach by themselves.

What is a Stephen Minister?

  • A child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting;
  • A congregation member with gifts for care giving, who was carefully selected to serve in this role;
  • A lay person who received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care;
  • A caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports, and encourages;
  • Someone who will “be there” for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully and dependably on a regular basis for as long as there is a need;

What does a Stephen Minister do?

Stephen Ministers care for people facing tough times. They are ready to provide the emotional and spiritual care needed when we are faced with one of life’s crises or difficulties, such as:

  • Loss of a loved one
  • Loneliness or discouragement
  • Birth, adoption, miscarriage, or infertility
  • Accident or accident recovery
  • Chronic or terminal illness
  • Unemployment or job crisis
  • Divorce or separation
  • Spiritual crises
  • Aging
  • Hospitalization
  • Relocation

Upon completion of the training program, our Stephen Ministers work together with our pastors to reach more people with Christian care than the pastors can reach by themselves.

Get Connected

If you think you might need a Stephen Minister, please, (501) 227-0000.

If you are interested in being trained and serving as a Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader, please contact Rev. Alisa Secrest, (501) 227-0000.

Contact Alisa

Meet our Staff

“Bear one Another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

Stephen Ministry Team

“Bear one Another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2

Leaders

  • Kay Combs

    Kay Combs is a Little Rock native and has been a member of Second Presbyterian since 1995. She is married to Ben and they have three grown children, Melissa, and twins Christopher and Kathleen, four grandchildren, and a wonderful golden retriever! Kay has a BS in Education and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She taught in the public schools for fourteen years. She served two terms as an elder, was moderator of Children’s Ministry, served on the Outreach ministry, chaired VBS and co-chaired the planning and implementation of Bible Village. Interests include tennis, reading, spending time at the lake and her craft company, Lulu Ann’s.

  • Cathy Crass

    Cathy Cravens Crass has been a member of Second Presbyterian since she was three which makes it over 50 years! In the church she has attended or led Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, served on the Diaconate and Session, chaired the Stewardship campaign and the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration, more committee/ministries than she can remember and currently cooks for Stewpot. Cathy is a Stephen Minister and now leader. Outside of Church she enjoys volunteering in the community. Hobbies include pottery, gardening and spending time with her family and friends. She is married to Kevin and they have two grown sons, Will and Ted.

  • Steve Dunnagan

    Steve Dunnagan has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 1999. He is married to Kim, and has grown daughters Anne and Laura. In 2001 he joined church members in a medical mission to Haiti, and has served on the diaconate. Steve works as a physician with Radiology Associates in Little Rock, specializing in Neuroradiology. Outside interests include hunting, gardening, and travel. He was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in 2018.

  • Jo Ann McQuade

    Jo Ann McQuade joined Second Presbyterian Church in 1981. Jo Ann has been very active in Second Presbyterian activities and served on the Diaconate and Outreach Ministries. Presently she serves on the Pastoral Care Ministry in several Committees as: A Stephen Ministry Leader for 16 years; Sunday Transportation coordinator; Team member for the Faith and Grief Luncheon Committee; Facilitator for Grief Book distribution; Member of Pray Knots; Serves as member of the Over 80 Card Ministry; and, is the Co-chair of Alzheimer’s Arkansas Support group.

  • Laurie Stueart joined Second Presbyterian Church in February 2004. She currently works for HealthScope Benefits as a claims analyst. She was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in 2006 and as a Stephen Leader in 2014.

  • Jana Villemez

    Jana Villemez works with families and their children with multiple disabilities in an educational setting. She is married to Chris and has two grown sons that live in Austin, Texas and Cincinnati, Ohio. They have lived in Arizona, Idaho, Vermont, Southern California, and Little Rock. During these moves, she has been involved in Stephen Ministry in some form and is grateful to Second Presbyterian for allowing her to continue her path in caring for others in a Christ-centered way!

Ministers

  • Jon Davies

    Jon Davies joined Second Presbyterian Church in 1987, and has been a choir member ever since. He is a deacon and an elder, and has served on Property, Stewardship, Worship, and Belonging Ministries. He has served on several search committees, taught Sunday School, and been a confirmation mentor. Jon is a licensed architect, and works for Campus Operations at UAMS. He is married to Sharyn, and they have two grown children, Sam (Olivia) and Emily.

  • Cheryl Denson

    Cheryl Denson has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church since 1990. She was married to Richard for 47 years before losing him to cancer in 2019. She has served as a deacon and as a volunteer on the worship committee for many years, preparing communion at 8:30 service and has also served with pastoral care. She works as an interior designer, and was commissioned in March 2020.

  • Kim Dunnagan

    Kim Dunnagan joined Second Presbyterian in 1999 after moving to Little Rock from San Angelo, Texas. She is married to Steve and has two grown daughters, Annie and Laura. Kim graduated from the University of Texas Austin with a B.S. in Pharmacy. She is currently serving as an elder. Kim has also been involved in VBS, Youth Musical, Stewardship, Fellowship, and LifeQuest, where she learned to play Mahjong, one of her favorite hobbies.

  • Rebecca “Becky” Farrow is a life long member of 2nd Presbyterian Church. She and husband, Jackson, were married in this Church in 1976 and raised their two adult sons, Jackson and Keith here.

    Becky has served on the Diaconate, in the Session, on the Personnel Committee, chaired a Pastor Search Committee and with Jackson, co-chaired Stewardship Drives and a Capital Campaign. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from UALR and is retired from a career in Real Estate.

  • Emily Hall

    Emily Hall grew up in Morrilton, Arkansas. She moved to Little Rock in junior high, and graduated high school from Lausanne School for Girls in Memphis. Emily received her BA in History from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. She has two grown sons, four grandchildren, and 4 great-grandsons. Emily is proud to say, “I’m a cradled Presbyterian.” She has served Presbyterian Women at the local, presbytery and synod levels. Emily enjoys fellowship, needlework (having completed 100+ Christmas stockings), loves a good game of Mahjong, and reading a good book (and sometimes not so good!).

  • Diane grew up in Benton, Arkansas. She attended the The University of Arkansas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and later a Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Nursing. She is the mother of Candace Chappell, David, Carson and Holt Chappell, Kelley Holt, Andrew and Avery England. She has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church for seven years. Diane is a Deacon, along with being a Stephen Minister, Faith and Grief facilitator and a member of the Pastoral Care Ministry. She loves her church all the fellow Christians who belong to SPC.

  • Malinda Kirchner is the director of Planned Giving

    Malinda has been a member of Second Presbyterian for over 40 years. She began her work on the church staff in the newly-created position, director of planned giving in 2007. She is a board member of the Arkansas Charitable Gift Council and a member of the PCUSA Larger Presbyterian Church Stewardship Group. She enjoys working with church members to plan a gift to continue the ministries of the Church after their lifetimes. In her years at Second Church, she is an ordained deacon, has served on two search committees, held leadership roles on the youth network team, has been a confirmation mentor for four confirmands, taught Sunday school, chaperoned many youth trips and worked on stewardship teams. She is a member of Presbyterian Women and Bible study groups at the church.  She became a Stephen Minister in 2023.

    Malinda is married to Larry, an architect, and they are the parents to two adult sons. Malinda earned a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Arkansas, College of Business Administration. Prior to joining the church staff, she worked at Wright, Lindsey & Jennings, Attorneys at Law as a paralegal in securities law. She enjoys swimming, yoga and biking for fitness and playing bridge, cooking, and traveling for fun. She is also a dog lover.

  • Bob McCarley

    Bob McCarley grew up in West Memphis, Arkansas. After graduating from the University of Arkansas in 1965 he joined his father and brother in the real estate and insurance business. He met and married Anne Hyatt in 1971. They have twin boys and another son, now grown. They moved to Little Rock in 1985 and joined Second Presbyterian. He has served as a Deacon and was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in March 2020.

  • Jennifer joined the Second Presbyterian Church family in 2019 along with her husband, Jeremy, and sons, Alex and Fisher. She has had the opportunity to serve as a deacon and in the Children and Families Ministry. Jennifer is an audiologist at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She enjoys making memories with her family, reading, walking and hiking, nature, discovering what’s off the beaten path, and savoring the little things.

  • Barbara Vaught

    Barbara Vaught was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She moved to Arkansas in 1972, becoming an Arkansan enjoying nature in Little Rock and around Arkansas. Barbara worked for various employers including Arkansas State government, Arkansas Bankers Association, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and American Home Life/North Little Rock Funeral Home. She retired in 2011 to become a housewife to her dear husband of 20 plus years, Jerry Vaught, and was widowed in 2013. Since then, she has become more involved with church. She’s part of the Faith & Grief ministry and Stephen ministry. Barbara enjoys feeling part of the community of Second Presbyterian Church.

How to Help

  • Pray for our Stephen Leaders, Stephen Ministers, and their care receivers.
  • Affirm and show our appreciation.
  • Suggest a Stephen Minister’s care when you notice people in need.
  • Suggest persons who might become a Stephen Minister through a training class.

FAQ

  • If life is challenging, please talk with a pastor or Stephen Leader. There is a possibility that a ready Stephen Minister is awaiting this very opportunity. And if your challenge is resolved quickly, then you and your Stephen Minister will determine when to close the relationship. Stephen Ministry can benefit a wide variety of challenges.

  • No, Stephen Ministers do not share identifying information about their care receiver. They protect confidentiality. In peer supervision, they might share a piece of dialogue which does not identify you and a question to peers such as “How could I have answered this differently?” Peers do not try to identify you but rather encourage the Stephen Minister in their relationship with you.

  • Yes, you can. Just let a Stephen Leader know and we’ll work up a “re-activate-you” mini training to sharpen your skills and bring you back into the Stephen Ministry community.

  • You have a few options. You can talk with your friend about seeking a Stephen Minister. You could refer to a pastor. Or you can refer to a Stephen Leader who can evaluate with your friend if Stephen Ministry is a match.

  • Absolutely. God created human beings for relationship, and one of the ways we experience divine care is through relationships. Having the skills for Stephen Ministry does not prevent difficulty from entering your life. Yet a Stephen Minister can partner with you in your care, listening to your story and accompanying you on your journey.