The Episcopal Church of St. Stephen’s and the Vine is pleased to welcome three new part-time staff members to our parish family:
Laura Owens is our new Parish Administrator. Laura is a lifelong Ferguson resident who brings a deep connection to the community she calls home. With a background spanning emergency dispatch, business operations, and project management, she offers a broad skill set for the administrative needs of parish life. Outside of her professional work, Laura is a dedicated rare cancer peer navigator and advocate, walking alongside families on a very challenging path.
Arthur Zhou is our new Bookkeeper.
“My name is Arthur Zhou, and I recently joined St. Stephen’s and The Vine Church as the church’s Bookkeeper. I am originally from Zimbabwe, and over the years I have had the opportunity to live, study, and work in Russia, Estonia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and now the United States. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for different cultures, communities, and perspectives. I am currently pursuing a Master of Accounting at WashU and just recently became a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Throughout my career, I have worked in nonprofit, educational, healthcare, and faith-based organizations, gaining experience in accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and community engagement.
“Beyond my professional experience, I am a family man. I am married and blessed with an 18-month-old daughter who brings so much joy to our lives. I am passionate about faith, service, and building meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds. I am excited to become part of the St. Stephen’s and The Vine Church family and look forward to serving the congregation with integrity, care, and dedication.”
Becky Kern-Ryan is our new Food Pantry Coordinator.
“I’d like to introduce myself, for those who I have not yet met, as the new food pantry coordinator at St. Stephen’s. In this role I’ll be coordinating with volunteers and managing the inventory among other responsibilities.
“A bit about myself – My husband and I bought our house in Ferguson in 1999 as a fixer-upper and, as I like to say, we’ve been fixing it up ever since. We have 4 kids, ages 14-24, who grew up in the homeschool co-op that met at St. Stephen’s until 2023. While my older kids have graduated, I’m still homeschooling my youngest, Cosette. I work part time (evenings and weekends) for the St. Louis County Library. I also co-lead the Girl Scout troop that meets on Fridays at St. Stephen’s.”
We do not currently have a 5th week shopper for the few months that have a 5th shopping week. If you would be interested in helping, please contact Becky at foodpantry@ststephensandthevine.org.