One-on-one Mentoring and Tutoring of Youth in Central Arkansas

“Therefore go and make disciples…teaching them everything I have commanded you…”
Matthew 28:18-19

Step In, Step Up, Step Out!

With a vibrant team of volunteers, STEP Ministries mentors, tutors, and encourages under-resourced youth in the Little Rock and North Little Rock communities.

Changing, healing, and empowering

Changing the Heart of the City through the Hope of the Gospel

The mid-’80s was a deeply troubling time for Little Rock and North Little Rock. Crime erupted throughout these communities as escalating gang violence dominated the news.

The murder rate—particularly among young men—skyrocketed while fear kept a paralyzing grip on the soul of the cities.

Our Story

An older man in a red shirt helps a young boy with homework at a table in a gymnasium. The table has books, papers, and hand sanitizer. Other people are working at tables in the background.

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Two young women are smiling in a room. One is seated at a table with papers, wearing a green shirt and braided hair. The other stands beside her in a red and black plaid shirt, resting her hand on the chair.

Making a Difference

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real legacy

Since its inception in 1986, STEP Ministries has invested in thousands of under-resourced youth through mentoring and tutoring. Now there is a third generation of children in the STEP program.

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real healing

The crime rate has decreased dramatically in the neighborhood surrounding the STEP Outreach Center since STEP’s inception.

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real success

While North Little Rock High School has an overall graduation rate of 77 percent, 93 percent of young people involved in STEP graduate from high school.

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real commitment

Our partner churches have been focusing and mobilizing their congregations to serve the children and families through the in-school Encourager program and neighborhood mentoring center model consistently for decades.

God is making an undeniable difference in this community through STEP Ministries!

Get Involved

God is still writing our story…

Here’s how you can be a part of it!

A man is sitting next to a child at a table, helping him with a book. There are art supplies and snacks on the table. Other people are seated in the background, engaged in similar activities.

Mentoring

Mentors meet weekly at the STEP Outreach Center and provide a one-on-one, loving and consistent presence for under-resourced youth and serve as a positive spiritual influence through Bible study and activities facilitated by staff.

A woman and a young boy smile while sitting at a table. The woman hugs the boy warmly. On the table are snacks, a drink pouch, and some papers with puzzles. The background is a plain wall with a dark-colored curtain.

Encouraging

Encouragers represent church-school partnerships. They meet weekly and read and provide social and emotional support one-on-one with a student in the school during the school year.

A woman helps a child with homework at a table in a gymnasium. The child, wearing a red plaid jacket, focuses on the paper. A juice box and snacks are on the table. Blue dividers are in the background.

Tutoring

Tutors meet once of twice a week at the STEP NLR Outreach Center and provide a one-on-one, loving and consistent presence for academically-struggling youth, helping students with reading and math facilitated by staff.

Get Involved

you can change the heart of the city

Please Donate Now

Your generous donation will support God’s work through STEP Ministries as we provide love and resources to children who need them.

Donate

A group of six children smiling and posing together indoors. One child wears a red shirt, another a black jacket with a hood, while others wear casual clothing. They appear to be in a gymnasium or similar setting.

one-on-one relationships

Meet Our Mentors

Anthony Valley

STEP Mentor since 2014

Anthony has connected deeply with his mentee and his mentee’s family as they have navigated life’s ups and downs together.

Melissa Smith

STEP Mentor since 2019

Melissa loves mentoring because of how rewarding it is to serve and love one another.

Heath Land

STEP Mentor since 2017

Heath believes mentoring is an important part of following Christ’s example to make disciples.

Jeff Rooker

STEP Mentor since 2008

Jeff has a vision for instilling Christ into the next generation, and mentoring through STEP is the perfect way to do it through one-on-one discipleship.

See what we do

STEP In Action

Throughout the school year and during the summer, STEP staff and volunteers are busy mentoring, tutoring, and encouraging young people in our local communities.

Events Calendar