2001 Winter
Babington Awarded Presidential
Community builder Alfred Babington-Johnson, a 1984 seminary graduate, was chosen in spring 2001 as the first recipient of the Bethel College & Seminary Presidential Medal of Honor. Babington, as he prefers to be called, is an entrepreneur, stockbroker, actor, minister, and community leader who serves as president and CEO of The Stairstep Initiative Companies. For more than 30 years, Babington has touched lives across many sectors, including business, church, politics, education, nonprofit organizations, and youth outreaches. As Stairstep’s founder, he has encouraged African Americans in the Twin Cities to work together to articulate community values and to operate businesses consistent with those values. He earned a master of divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in 1984 and was named the Bethel Seminary Alumnus of the Year in 2000. “This good man exemplifies the very best of servant leadership,” said Bethel President George Brushaber. “He has demonstrated bold vision, creativity, and imagination in ways that have translated hope into action. He is a bridge-builder and pioneer but gentle and humble in spirit.”
Babington became a Christian in 1973 when he realized that his life was “virtually meaningless. There was no core, no centering on anything.” After being introduced to Dr. Willa Grant Battle, pastor of Grace Temple Deliverance Center, Babington peppered her with questions, “trying to find out if the God of my fathers was yet to be my God. In that process, I came to know Christ as my Savior.” That decision ultimately led to his enrollment at Bethel Seminary. “I chose Bethel,” he said, “because it seemed to be the most fundamental religious training opportunity there was in the metropolitan area. I really had a great experience at Bethel…I came with a seriousness and purpose. I cameto learn.” At Bethel,Babington found godly faculty members who were top-notch scholars, he noted. “My time there was a good time. I could just go on and on about all the great folks there.”
Babington’s theological training, coupled with many years of experience in business, finance, and communications, culminated in the development of The Stairstep Companies in the early ’90s. He believes that the breakdown of community among African Americans is the issue of the day, requiring an “intentionality to create a model that rebuilds the spirit of community.” Stairstep provides such a model. Launched under Babington’s leadership with a small grant from the Wilder Foundation, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, Stairstep puts community at the heart of everything it does.
Among the organization’s goals are to create partnerships among African-American business people and to foster increased opportunities for economic investment. Its largest operation is FAYECA, a frozen food packaging plant in North Minneapolis with employee ownership as a core value. Stairstep also initiates community celebrations, addresses housing and employee needs, oversees contracts for urban renewal efforts, and facilitates strategic planning and research initiatives on issues of importance to African Americans.
Babington is humbled by the recognition he has received and is quick to give any credit for his accomplishments to Christ. “I want to be useful for the kingdom’s sake,” he explained, “and I don’t want to be detrimental, but I’m not confused about the fact that it’s not on my shoulders. If anything has been accomplished—and some things have been accomplished—it’s been by virtue of God’s favor, not by merit.”
 Humble
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