ministry vs stepping-stone

ministry

noun
  • Government department, at the administrative level normally headed by a minister (or equivalent rank, e.g. secretary of state), who holds it as portfolio, especially in a constitutional monarchy, but also as a polity 

  • The clergy of nonapostolic Protestant churches. 

  • The complete body of government ministers (whether or not they are in cabinet) under the leadership of a head of government (such as a prime minister) 

  • Work of a spiritual or charitable nature. 

  • A ministration 

  • The active practice and education of the minister of a particular religion or faith. 

stepping-stone

How often have the words ministry and stepping-stone occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )