S.T.E.P.'s His-Story

History of S.T.E.P.

“How can we reach the children of the inner-city?  How do we even get in that neighborhood?  Will we be safe?”   Yet, God seemed to be pointing us that direction.  Our hearts broke for those lost and suffering souls who did not even know their plight.  Representatives from eight metropolitan churches met regularly to discuss this leading of the Lord.  After studying demographics, crime rates, and poverty levels, all present were asked to pray for two weeks and not talk to each other.  They did.  Two weeks later, as they met, all believed the Lord had pointed His finger specifically at Eastgate Terrace in North Little Rock.  Some of them knew that would remove them from the ministry, but felt strongly that was the correct place.  After a year of prayer and planning, 1986 found three of the original churches working to make a playground at a school in the Eastgate neighborhood.  This led us into Pine Elementary, where all the Eastgate kids attended.  After a small reading readiness program for those children entering kindergarten in the Fall, STEP began the Encourager program the following year.  It is still exists today, sixteen years later. What began with 15 students in one school now contains over 270 students in ten schools.  
 
The following year, 1987, saw the beginning of Friendship Clubs, where eight children were paired up with an adult volunteer from one of the participating churches.  This program also exists today.  What began with eight children now has eighty!
 
As these children have grown up, we have seen the immense struggle to pull away from the shackles of poverty…both financial and spiritual.  Always the Lord, Jesus Christ, is the priority subject when gathering times happen.  It is only through the truth of the Word of God that there is hope for children who have very little in affluent America.
 
The focus of STEP is not to particularly enlarge the middle class, but to bring Christ and His love into the lives of those who so desperately need Him.  However, the education levels of many of these children who have had caring adults relating with them intentionally have increased.  From a population that rarely graduates from high school, today STEP is directly or indirectly with 18 young adults who are seeking post-secondary education!
 
Another benefit of STEP is the blessings for those who step out of their comfort zones to minister to a child.  The Lord uses this sacrificial experience to minister to the volunteers.  They understand that it is only God who is in control; that changing lives is in His hands, not theirs; that their only job is to love that child and speak truth to him. This blessing comes to them as they serve to equip people.