Stonecroft Ministries
About Us

EARLY 1930s -

Mrs. Helen D. Baugh, homemaker in San Jose, California, initiated an extensive prayer ministry focused on the spiritual needs of America. From this foundation, Stonecroft Ministries was born.

1938 -

The Christian Business Women’s Council of America (later known as Christian Business & Professional Women) was established by Mrs. Baugh in San Jose as a dinner program that provided an opportunity to present the Gospel to career women. The group adopted a project of Youth Home Missions to send and support young women as itinerant missionaries to rural America. Youth Home Missions later became Rural Missions.

1948 -

Miss Mary E. Clark, former businesswoman and missionary in Maine, was called by God to join Mrs. Baugh to assist in leading the rapidly growing organization.

Village Missions was established in response to the need for more permanent leadership in rural churches. Rev. Walter Duff, brother of Mrs. Baugh, became the National Director and served until 1991. Although Village Missions is a separate corporation and operates independently under its own board of directors, it has been supported financially and through prayer by Stonecroft Ministries since it began.

1949 -

Christian Women’s Clubs were introduced as an outreach to homemakers. The first groups were established in Hartford, Connecticut, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

1952 -

Kansas City, Missouri, became the location of the national headquarters when property known as Stonecroft was purchased.

1958 -

The Stonecroft Book and Supply Center (now known as Stonecroft Resource Center) was incorporated as a distributor of carefully selected Christian books for all ages.

1964 -

The first Business and Professional Couples’ Club (now known as Stonecroft Couples) was established in St. Louis, Missouri.

1966 -

The first Stonecroft outreach groups outside the United States were begun in Canada and South Korea.

1967 -

After 5s, evening outreach groups for women, were introduced.

1968 -

Stonecroft Bible Studies, written by Lucille F. Sollenberger, were introduced as an outreach program of small group Bible studies.

1984 -

Christian Business & Professional Women introduced a condensed one-hour luncheon format as an outreach to women in the marketplace.

1996 -

On February 7, 1996, Mrs. Helen Duff Baugh, founder of Stonecroft Ministries, went home to be with the Lord.

1997 -

Miss Joyce Courtney was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Stonecroft Ministries.

2002 -

On March 9, 2002, Miss Mary E. Clark, first National Chairman of Christian Women's Clubs of America, went home to be with the Lord.

2004 -

Geneva Vollrath was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Stonecroft Ministries following Joyce Courtney’s retirement.