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In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe and guest Rebecca Bailey dive into the importance of strategic planning in care ministry. They discuss the evolving role of care in the church, emphasizing how intentional planning can help churches better support both congregants and the broader community without overwhelming resources. The conversation covers topics like balancing in-reach and outreach, developing volunteer capacity, and creating sustainable support structures. Rebecca also shares insights from leading a care ministry cohort, underscoring the need for clear priorities and collaboration to meet the real needs of people in crisis.
Quotes
"Care is more than casseroles. It's about showing up consistently and meaningfully for people, sometimes even just sitting with them.""We often forget that care ministry is not just about Sunday; it's about becoming a community hub of support and connection throughout the week.""People come to churches hoping for more than a service—they seek a family, someone to walk with them in their struggles.""A strategic care ministry knows its strengths and limitations, recognizing that no church can be a one-stop shop for every need.""If we’re truly committed to caring, we need to plan for it. Otherwise, we’ll end up putting out fires rather than offering meaningful support."Resources
Hope Made Strong CommunityCare Ministry CohortCommunities of Practice GuidebookConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Whether it’s a new team, a church transition, or some other circumstance, care teams are often left to piece together how to create a sustainable and helpful system for creating cultures of care. Today, Janelle and Katie share their experience entering into the Care Ministry Cohort, where the community, helpful resources, and coaching made all the difference. You can apply for the 2025 Care Ministry Cohort, beginning in January, and begin a guided journey toward cultivating a culture of care at your church!
Quotes
The cohort came at the perfect time.It is ok to be patient and wait.We’re not trying to start from the ground up. But we’re trying to renovate.The cohort did a great job of starting at the basics. We don’t want cookie-cutter care ministries. We want care ministries that look and feel like your congregation.Resources
CareMinistryCohort.comConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In this episode, Pastor Trent Kirkland, from Zion Church in Clarion, Pennsylvania, shares his experience hosting the first local Church Mental Health Summit in North America. Pastor Trent discusses his personal journey with mental health, how his daughter's eating disorder and his experience as a mobile crisis worker shaped his understanding of the mental health crisis, and the steps his church took to address it in their community. He highlights the importance of building collaborative relationships between the faith community and human services, and how hosting the summit fostered these connections. The conversation also covers how local churches can become safe spaces for mental health support through awareness, training, and partnerships.
Quotes
"I was a pastor for a number of years who didn’t think about mental health issues because it wasn’t staring me in the face.""As a parent, an eating disorder gets your attention.""One of the things that made the event a success was the balance between local and national speakers, adding so much credibility to the whole event.""The ultimate solution for human flourishing is Jesus, but we also need to address mental health practically.""I wanted human service agencies to know that the faith community values what they do."Resources
https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/hosthttps://www.zionlife.com/Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In this episode, Laura and Rebecca discuss how to maximize the benefits of the upcoming Church Mental Health Summit, offering practical tips for attendees, including registering early to avoid last-minute technical issues and organizing watch parties for community engagement.
They also highlight the advantages of the all-access and ultimate passes, which provide ongoing value through access to summit content for volunteer and staff development. Rebecca shares ideas for involving church communities and sponsors in making the most of the summit, while Laura emphasizes the importance of intentional participation to fully absorb the content.
Quotes
“I love our summit. You get the packet that you can download, and you can go through and highlight all the things you want and get super excited about." - Rebecca Bailey“If you have the capacity to get the all-access pass, please know it’s our heart’s desire that you use that over and over in your church—for volunteer training, staff discussions, and watch parties.” - Laura Howe“We don’t want people to feel left hanging. This could be a great opportunity to kick off a think tank in your community or start a cohort for ongoing discussions.” - Rebecca Bailey“Set your intention, be present, schedule your time, and engage with the online community to fully participate.” - Laura HoweResources
Church Mental Health SummitAll-access PassUltimate PassCare Ministry CohortsConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, for an insightful conversation. Daniel shares his journey from leading a church in England to facing emotional burnout, which led him to pursue studies in theology and mental health. Together, they talk about the pressures of leadership, the power of vulnerability, and how meaningful friendships can make a difference in mental health. Don’t miss Daniel at our upcoming Church Mental Health Summit, and tune in for a special course his organization offers! It’s all in today’s episode!
Quotes
"Mental health is something we all have, and there are seasons of flourishing and languishing for all people. We're just going to help churches begin conversations." – Daniel Whitehead"God isn't scared of us bringing our stories into His story. That's actually what we're meant to do." – Daniel Whitehead"The church should be famous as the safest place for someone to recover, wherever Christ is Lord." – Daniel Whitehead"The pain of isolation is more than the pain of the diagnosis itself. If only there was a community in every town that just knew how to love people really well." – Daniel Whitehead"You can turn up on a Sunday, you can preach, you can do the things, but actually be really languishing and struggling internally." – Daniel Whitehead"It's hard to admit that you're fallible... but it's the only way to stay healthy." – Laura HoweResources
Sanctuary Mental Health MinistriesKey MinistryChurch Mental Health SummitConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In this episode, Laura Howe speaks with Pastor Chris and Samantha from Grace Family Church in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the unique dynamics of their multi-campus church, the challenges of growing a culture of care, and their plans to utilize the Church Mental Health Summit as a tool for staff training.
Pastor Chris shares his 13 years of experience in care ministry and how Grace Family Church has expanded from one to eight campuses. The conversation dives into the importance of resourcing their care teams and the exciting potential of integrating mental health training for their staff.
Samantha, a care ministry coordinator, highlights the significance of building a culture of care that resonates with their diverse congregation. Together, they reflect on the church’s mission to grow disciples and equip leaders, emphasizing that care is a central part of their strategy.
Quotes
“Care is one of those foxholes... when the real difficult stuff shows up, people can’t wait to find the care pastor.”“Care is not just one size fits all... we really want to create strong and healthy disciples to carry out the mission of care.”“The local church becoming a safe space for people to feel like they belong is the hope of our community.”“We're not building roads anymore; we're building signs to help people find the care they need.”Resources
Grace Family Church Care pageGrace Family Church (CPR)Church Mental Health Summit GuideConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In a new segment of this podcast with guest, Rebecca Bailey, we’re exploring the benefits of creating a Community of Practice within your church. Listen in for tips on how shared experiences, knowledge, and support lead to stronger, more effective care ministries. Laura and Rebecca also share about the best way to put the new Hope Made Strong Online Community into practice–during the Church Mental Health Summit!
Plus, learn about the new Coaching with Care segment and how you can get involved!
Quotes
People are craving community.When we’re in harmony, we’re actually noticing what’s happening in our body–that’s in the body of Christ too.Resources
Hope Made Strong Online CommunityCare Ministry CohortCommunity of Practice GuidebookConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Melinda Moore shares her personal journey from aspiring to be a medical doctor to finding her passion in suicidology and suicide prevention. Her experience with loss and her work in clinical psychology have driven her to integrate lived experience with clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of empathy and personal insight in mental health support. Melinda highlights the role faith communities can play in suicide prevention by providing spiritual and peer support, advocating for open conversations about mental health, and addressing stigma. She also discusses her upcoming conference, "Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations," which aims to educate clergy and faith leaders on these issues, with the goal of bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and faith-based support.
Quotes
As I grew stronger, I was then able to make choices that were based upon not just my own personal preferences, but also what I thought God had in mind for me. This experience of loss…got me curious about why we weren’t talking about suicide.Churches are full of people who have gone through suffering and have wisdom to share.Suicidal people are ambivalent. It’s not that they want to die. It’s that they don’t want to live in the pain that they’re in.Resources
Conference: Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations: A Faith-based Approach[email protected]EKU Psychology ClinicAfter the Suicide Funeral, by Melinda Moore988 Suicide and Crisis LifelineConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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This is our first live coaching call on the podcast! Pastor Andy and Roxann join us for a helpful conversation on proactively taking steps toward a sustainable intake of care needs. How do we make sure people’s needs don’t fall through the cracks? What systems will be sustainable? What specific programs and forms are the best way to triage incoming requests? Listen in for this free coaching advice!
Quotes
How do you find volunteers? You ask them. We want to be an incarnational church, not an attractional church.Care and discipleship run parallel to each other. When you realize you’re in a community of people who are there to walk alongside you…it gives you a sense of safety.Resources
Sample Care Protocol TrelloPlanning Center OnlineCornerstoneConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe sits down with Sgt. Roy to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of leading from the middle. Sgt. Roy shares his insights on the importance of making decisions with confidence, even when the outcome is uncertain. He emphasizes that it's better to make a strong mistake than to hesitate for fear of getting it wrong.
With his straightforward approach, Sgt. Roy encourages leaders to show up confidently in every situation, offering practical advice for those who find themselves navigating the complexities of leadership from a middle position. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on bold decision-making and the power of confidence in leadership.
Quotes
One of the responsibilities of leaders is to coach, train, and mentor.Don’t be afraid to make decisions.If you’re going to make a mistake, make a good one.Resources
Sgt Roy’s websiteBroken Things, by Sgt RoyConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Turns out “flipping your lid” happens to the best of us! In today’s episode, you’ll learn about the science behind what is happening in your brain as you react to various, high-tension scenarios (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn). Knowing how to detect what your brain is doing can help you “HALT” conversations as needed when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Check out today’s episode for actionable ways to not only use this in your own life but also to empower your team with healthy communication responses.
Quotes
It can be tough to break through the noise and get people’s attention during [the fall] season.It’s interesting to see how Scripture reflects God’s wisdom on how to deal with anger and flipping our lids.Research has shown that to slow the amygdala response or to re-engage our logic center, we need to tell our bodies we are not in danger.When someone has flipped their lid, it’s not a good time to have a logical discussion on why they are being inappropriate. Essentially, you shouldn’t have any meaningful or potentially conflict-inducing conversations at the end of a workday, before you eat dinner after sitting alone in your home office after a sleepless night.Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Data can feel overwhelming and cumbersome in a church context…until you realize: “Every number has a name. Every name has a story. And every story is for God’s glory.” Today we hear from Ronee De Leon, Director of Innovative Ministries at Grace Fellowship in Ohio and President of Path, a program that transforms your church data into discipleship.
This conversation will help you discover the many benefits of using data to equip your staff to shepherd your church. Help prevent people from falling through the cracks. Don’t be satisfied when someone is walking alone. Offer care that is intentional and strategic. You can find tools and context for how to do this in today’s episode!
Quotes
You can’t change what you don’t measure.If you truly believe that discipleship is happening in the activities and programs of your church, then it absolutely is worth understanding who is taking steps to engage in those activities and also understand as they disengage in those activities.Every data point that the church gathers is a soul. Every number has a name. Every name has a story. And every story is for God’s glory.People don’t accidentally drift back into church.Resources
Pathengagement.com/hopemadestrongConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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If you were to list the ways your care ministry might benefit from improvements, it could get overwhelming quickly. There is always room to get better! Today, we’re encouraging you to focus on one of three main care ministry protocols. Laura sets up a systematic approach to improving how you receive, respond, or record. Learn how to minimize feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and stress as you create systems around what matters most! Then watch your impact multiply (without multiplying burnout)!
Quotes
There is less clutter and chaos when we create systems.A good system hides in the background and supports the team.You need to document what care took place so that the church, caregiver, and congregant are protected.Resources
Model of Care downloadConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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“God made us in community for community.” As a society, we don’t always experience the kind of community God intended. This is why we need to be aware of the ways in which we can cultivate a safe and deep community with others! Today, David Kim, discipleship and formation pastor at WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, California, and author of Made To Belong gives us five practices to build this kind of community we crave.
Quotes
We are tired of shallow conversations and relationships.God made us in community for community.Humans are known for hiding ourselves.If we continue to hide, how can we be known?Resources
David Kim on Instagramhttps://www.westgatechurch.org/Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Today, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Jackie Perry to the podcast! Dr. Perry is a seasoned Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Supervisor, a Counseling Professor, and the Founder and President of The SoulWell Center, a non-profit organization in Western North Carolina. She shares valuable insights into honing the essential skill of listening. Discover how lay leaders can provide supportive and even preventative care through effective listening in today's episode!
Quotes
Good clinicians are integrating the “why” into the work they do.We don’t know how to do connection very well globally.The brain is good at anticipating…It’s not very good at sitting and waiting. It takes some work to get to what’s underneath.We don’t need to be afraid of the science.Learn how to engage a story so people can feel seen and known.Resources
The Attuned ListenerConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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The show today is a flashback to one of the amazing sessions at our 2023 Church Mental Health Summit with Kristen Humiston. Kristen and her family know what it’s like to be blindsided by an elder board and congregation’s decision to end their ministry as pastor. She knows firsthand the feeling of pouring your heart and soul into a community only to be met with abuse and malice. Church hurt isn’t only something she has studied, but it’s something that she has lived.
Quotes
It was a death that no one wanted to acknowledge and we couldn’t talk about…God sees you, and He is already acting on your behalf to bring in healing.As a body of Christ, we have the opportunity to be healers of the broken, even when they are our shepherds among us.No one can define what is traumatic for another person, nor can anyone dictate when it’s time to move on.Resources
https://theministrywifecoach.com/The Ministry Wife Coach Facebook pageThe Ministry Wife Coach Instagram pageConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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In one of our most-viewed sessions from the 2023 Church Mental Health Summit, Debra Fileta, a Licensed Professional Counselor, relationship expert, national speaker, and founder of the Debra Fileta Counselor’s Network, talks about the progression from thoughts to feelings to behaviors. As we take inventory of our thoughts, understand our emotions, and then trust what is true about God, we can experience the ways in which God desires to heal us.
Quotes
Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean you have to be “okay.”It’s ok not to be ok, but it’s not ok to stay there.We’ve got to put in the work for emotional and mental health.We need to remind our body that Jesus wins in the end.Our feelings are a signal cluing us into what’s happening below.Feelings are real, but they aren’t always true.Resources
Are You Really Ok?, by Debra FiletaConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Today, you’re getting access to one of our most-viewed sessions from the 2023 Church Mental Health Summit. Dr. David Anderson is the Founder and President of Gracism Global, host of "Real Talk with Dr. David Anderson," and Founder/Lead Pastor of Bridgeway Community Church in Maryland. He is also an author and speaker. His session, called “I Will Heal With You,” gives us helpful ways to practice empathy with those who are hurting.
Quotes
“I will heal with you.”If I can feel with you, then I can heal with you.You are helping people with their mental “fender benders.”Resources
Gracism: The Art of Inclusion, by Dr. David AndersonGracism GlobalInstagram - @andersonspeaksConnect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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As we do our best to navigate the ups and downs of those dealing with mental health struggles, it’s always good to be reminded that your church is already the best place to offer three core needs: belonging, purpose, and hope. Today, we’re specifically hearing how the local church can offer hope in three ways. We’re discovering why the ministry of your church cannot be replaced by any other organization to meet this need.
Quotes
[Hope] is central to one’s well-being, and yet, no system or community organization has the capacity to help people find it. As ministry caregivers, we can both be the holders of hope AND invite people to look to God as the giver of hope. God designed us to need what is offered organically in our local church. Belonging, Purpose, and Hope.Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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Belonging, purpose, and hope. These are the three core needs every person brings with them when they enter the doors of your church. Are we meeting these needs? Today, Laura encourages us to ask the question, How does my church help people feel valuable? Listen in for three ways your church can practically support people and intentionally help them feel purpose.
Quotes
We are hardwired to have this sense of accomplishment–to crave being a part of something bigger than ourselves.We are to offer dignity and strengthen the purpose of every person who engages in their church.Every person is created with value and intention.Our care ministries need to be as unique as the people we serve.Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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