The Care Ministry Podcast

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey explore one of the most overlooked yet powerful parts of care ministry: follow-up. Churches often do a meaningful job receiving needs and responding in the moment. A meal train is organized. A hospital visit happens. An outreach event is planned with excellence. But what happens after that? Laura and Rebecca walk through the Hope Made Strong Care Protocol: receive, respond, report, and follow-up, and then zoom in on the step where many churches struggle most. Follow-up is where trust is either strengthened or quietly weakened. It is where people learn whether they are a task that was completed or a person who is truly known. In this conversation, they introduce a simple framework to clarify responsibility so that care becomes shared, sustainable, and rooted in belonging rather than burnout. Quotes “When you follow up, it says, you’re trustworthy, and I’m important.” –Rebecca Bailey “We don’t want our events to begin and end at the building. We want them to lead to belonging and real community.” –Laura Howe “Follow-up is often where we shift from programs that care to cultures of care.” –Laura Howe “Clarity helps us spread out and share the load without missing people at the same time.” –Laura Howe Resources Care Protocol Care Ministry Cohort Online Community HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube  

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe sits down with Dave Eckert and Mark to explore how churches and communities can work better together to care for people on the margins. Drawing from decades of experience in mental health, social services, and church leadership, Dave and Mark share why community itself is often the missing piece in care and how churches can move beyond good intentions toward meaningful, collaborative impact.  The conversation unpacks the difference between services and help, the power of belonging, and why churches are uniquely positioned to fill gaps rather than duplicate efforts already happening in their neighborhoods. This episode is both deeply practical and deeply human, offering a hopeful vision for churches seeking to love their communities well.   Quotes “The only disability is loneliness.” –Mark “There’s a big difference between a service and help. They’re not always the same thing.” –Mark “Sometimes churches start with what’s exciting for them to do instead of asking what the community actually needs.” –Dave Eckert “What people need most is not professionalism—it’s relationship.” –Mark “When churches fill gaps instead of overlapping, they develop a reputation as a necessary partner in the community.” –Dave Eckert   Resources Intersect Webpage Intersect Trainings Intersect Newsletter Access Services Strengthening Communities Podcast Access Services Facebook Page   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by pastor and care ministry leader Chad Clements for a coaching-style conversation about grief, leadership, and the pressure many ministry leaders feel to move faster than they should. Chad shares openly about stepping into a newly created care role without a clear roadmap and how his own journey through grief and lament has shaped the way he thinks about care. Together, Laura and Chad talk about why care ministry does not begin with programs or systems, but with listening, trust, and taking time to understand what is already happening in a church. This episode names a tension many leaders feel but rarely say out loud. The internal pressure to produce results, build structure, and make sure no one falls through the cracks, even when leadership has not placed those expectations on them. Along the way, Laura introduces simple care frameworks, shares practical tools for grief support, and reflects on why going slow is not a setback but a faithful and wise approach to care. This conversation is especially helpful for leaders who are building care ministries from the ground up, navigating transition, or trying to care well without burning out. Quotes “It’s more my own personal journey of going through grief and lament. Just doing too many funerals, seeing too many tragedies, and seeing how powerful it was to meet God in the midst of it.” Chad Clements “The leaders haven’t pressured me, but I feel that internal pressure to produce and to develop what they’ve called me to develop.” Chad Clements “Care doesn’t start with systems. It starts with listening and slowing down enough to see what’s already happening.” Laura Howe Resources CareNote Notebird Planning Center GriefShare The Loss Foundation Stephen Ministry New Life Ministries Edmund Ng Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link Coaching and Support At Hope Made Strong, we walk alongside church leaders as they listen well, discern next steps, and build care ministries that are sustainable and relational. Coaching is not about rushing to solutions. It is about creating space to notice, reflect, and respond wisely.Apply to receive coaching on the podcast Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe is joined by Rebecca Bailey for a rich conversation on how spiritual formation functions as preventative care within church care ministries. Together, they explore why care and formation cannot be separated, how spiritual formation shows up across Hope Made Strong’s five-part Model of Care (self, community, peer, pastoral, and professional), and why care is less about fixing problems and more about being present and becoming formed alongside one another. This episode invites leaders to move beyond reactive care toward cultivating cultures that sustain people before crisis hits.   Quotes “If in our care ministries we’re focused on the doing and the fixing, then we will miss the being and the becoming.” –Rebecca Bailey “Spiritual formation is happening on the inside and the outside—it’s circular. What happens between us forms us.” –Rebecca Bailey “Care has historically been reactive in the church. Spiritual formation helps us think about care as preventative.” –Laura Howe “Spiritual formation isn’t about adding more programs. It’s about becoming more intentional with what’s already happening.” –Rebecca Bailey “Good spiritual formation in care ministries keeps teams from absorbing what they were never meant to carry.” –Rebecca Bailey Resources Hope Made Strong Book Club HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link Download the Model of Care Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by psychologists, spiritual directors, and Soul Shepherding founders Bill Gaultiere and Kristi Gaultiere for a deeply honest conversation about empathy, burnout, and spiritual formation. Drawing from decades of counseling, ministry leadership, and personal experience, the Gaultieres unpack why empathy is “oxygen for the soul” and how self-judgment, emotional disconnection, and over-functioning can quietly lead caregivers toward compassion fatigue. They explore what empathy truly is (and what it is not), how Jesus models empathy throughout the Gospels, and why receiving God’s empathy is essential for sustainable care, healthy boundaries, and long-term ministry fruitfulness. Quotes “Empathy is oxygen for the soul. Without it, we may survive—but we won’t thrive.” –Kristi Gaultiere “The instrument we bring to others isn’t our skills or our training—it’s who we are with God.” –Bill Gaultiere “We often don’t care what someone knows until we know that they care.” –Kristi Gaultiere “True growth happens when empathy is joined with truth and responsibility.” –Bill Gaultiere “If we try to empathize with everyone, everywhere, all the time, we will drain our soul. Empathy must be stewarded.” –Kristi Gaultiere Resources Soul Shepherding Get your Book Club book! Care Ministry Collective Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe sits down with Jennifer Bowen, Executive Director of Shalem Mental Health Ministries, to reflect on hosting a Local Church Mental Health Summit in Canada. Jennifer shares the heart, strategy, and lessons learned from hosting a multi-day summit that brought together pastors, therapists, educators, and ministry leaders to explore faith and mental health together. The conversation covers why embodiment and hospitality matter, how to scale summits to fit any community, and why collaboration across sectors is essential for sustainable care. This episode is both practical and visionary for leaders considering hosting a local summit or partnering more intentionally around mental health.   Quotes “Mental health is part of our health journey. The brain is a beautiful, complicated, and fragile organ—and sometimes it goes a bit funky.” — Jennifer Bowen “We wanted to embody mental wellness in the entire experience, not just talk about it from a stage.” — Jennifer Bowen “The in-between moments—the hallways, the meals, the conversations—were as rich as the sessions themselves.” — Jennifer Bowen “This wasn’t about one voice leading the conversation. It became a mural of many voices coming together.” — Jennifer Bowen “The local summits are meant to be a choose-your-own-adventure—designed around the capacity and context of your community.” — Laura Howe   Resources Host a Local Summit   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe sits down with Mark Strickland and Matt Timpson from Milton Bible Church to explore what intentional, sustainable care looks like in a mid-sized church. Together, they unpack why Milton Bible has chosen to remain “decidedly mid-sized,” how administration can strengthen (not replace) relationships, and how care systems can support people without becoming cold or program-driven. The conversation offers practical insight into connect groups, prayer pathways, boundaries in care, documentation, and building a culture where people are truly seen—without trying to meet every need alone.   Quotes “Administration should feed ministry and feed what’s pastorally happening in the church—not the other way around.” — Matt Timpson “We don’t want to just go wide. We want to go deep.” — Matt Timpson “When you get beyond a certain size, the organic care that once happened naturally starts slipping through the cracks, and systems help bridge that gap.” — Mark Strickland “You can have great systems, but if people aren’t actually engaging with other people, something essential is missing.” — Mark Strickland“Care doesn’t mean solving the problem. It means walking with people and connecting them to hope.” — Laura Howe   Resources Care Ministry Cohorts Milton Bible Church   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey kick off the new year by introducing prayer as a foundational care strategy within a holistic care ministry. They unpack how prayer fits into six core care pillars and explore why prayer should be more than informal or assumed. It deserves thoughtful structure, training, and follow-through. From understanding different types of prayer to building clear systems for prayer requests, follow-up, confidentiality, and team support, this conversation offers both theological grounding and practical guidance for churches that want prayer to be an intentional, trustworthy entry point into care. Quotes“Prayer is the most accessible entry point into caring for your congregation — and that’s exactly why it needs intention.” –Laura Howe“If we don’t provide training and conversation around prayer, we assume everyone knows how to pray — and we miss a lot.” –Rebecca Bailey“Prayer ministry is not a gossip chain, and it’s not a substitute for pastoral or professional care. It’s an intentional way to enter someone’s life in a tender moment.” –Laura Howe“Different lived experiences shape how people pray — and that’s what helps others feel seen, heard, and understood.” –Rebecca Bailey“When prayer requests go unanswered, it can quietly reinforce stories of shame, rejection, or not belonging.” –Laura Howe ResourcesCare Ministry Cohort Connect with Hope Made StrongWebsite: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Today, Laura Howe speaks with Dr. Chris Adams, Executive Director of the Mental Health and the Church Initiative at Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology. They dive into the essential practices of healthy caregiving within ministry, highlighting how care leaders can show up with empathy and wisdom without carrying the full emotional weight of others. Chris shares his personal journey from pastoral ministry to clinical psychology, offering practical insights on boundaries, supervision, and cultivating emotional and spiritual resilience in leadership.   Quotes “I didn’t have the skills to not carry people’s pain.” – Chris Adams “I believe in equipping people to be the church—what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” – Chris Adams “Our own woundedness can drive our ministry if we’re not aware.” – Chris Adams “God is not glorified by burned-out leaders.” – Laura Howe “If you don’t have a biblical understanding of boundaries, the need will drive your ministry.” – Chris Adams   Resources Mercy Multiplied Boundaries by Cloud & Townsend Care Ministry Cohort   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In the final week of the Advent series, Laura and Rebecca explore the theme of love…not just the love we offer others, but the radical invitation to receive love ourselves. They reflect on the vulnerability of love, the five needs for Christian connection, and how community becomes the soil where love is planted and grown. This episode brings a practical and deeply spiritual close to the Advent journey, reminding leaders that God's love flows to us before it flows through us.   Quotes "We love because God first loved us—and that truth changes how we show up for others." — Rebecca Bailey "Love isn’t about doing more. It’s about being known and embraced—even in our mess." — Laura Howe "The five needs for Christian connection are prayer, authenticity, adventure, laughter, and service. These bond us in love." — Rebecca Bailey "Leaders often focus on being loving—but accepting love is just as sacred." — Laura Howe "A cord of three strands isn’t quickly broken—and community gives strength in tension." — Rebecca Bailey Resources Advent Guide Care Ministry Cohort Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this third week of the Advent series, Laura and Rebecca dive into the theme of joy, not as fleeting happiness, but as a deep, sustaining posture of the heart. They reflect on how joy can coexist with sorrow, stress, and fatigue, and how it’s often found not in perfection, but in presence. Through personal stories, theological insights, and the Advent Guide, they invite leaders to explore what true joy looks like, especially during a busy, overwhelming season. This episode is a gentle yet powerful reminder: joy is available even in the in-between.   Quotes "Joy is not toxic positivity. It doesn’t ignore the pain—it stands with it and still proclaims hope." — Laura Howe "Joy is a posture of your heart, not the result of your circumstances." — Rebecca Bailey "If we don’t take time to reflect, we lose sight of God’s faithfulness, like spiritual object permanence." — Rebecca Bailey "Even in burnout and fatigue, joy can be recalled—it becomes a marker of God’s sustaining presence." — Laura Howe "Sharing our joy with others is worship. It builds connection and reminds us that God is good, even here." — Rebecca Bailey   Resources Advent Guide Care Ministry Cohort   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In week two of our Advent series, Laura and Rebecca reflect on the theme of peace, not as the absence of noise or activity, but as the deep assurance that God is near in the midst of chaos. Using the free Advent Reflection Guide, they share practical ways for care leaders to slow down, center themselves, and reconnect with God, even in the busiest season. Through breath prayers, hymns, and daily prompts, this episode is a gentle reminder that leaders are invited to experience peace, not just extend it to others.   Quotes "Peace is the confidence that God is near, even when everything feels chaotic." — Rebecca Bailey "As leaders, we have access to peace too. We don’t have to neglect our own peace in service to others." — Laura Howe "In the space between noise and silence, we find the chance to truly listen and connect." — Rebecca Bailey "The goal isn’t to give you more to do—it’s to tend to your weariness and offer a rhythm of restoration." — Laura Howe "Christlikeness is an achievable goal, even in the middle of the mess."  — Rebecca Bailey   Resources Advent Guide Care Ministry Cohort   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this special Advent episode, Laura and Rebecca introduce a new free resource designed to help ministry leaders slow down, reflect, and find restoration during the hectic holiday season. This Advent series centers on nurturing leaders through the four themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. With daily breath prayers, scripture readings, hymn reflections, and photo prompts, this guide offers a meaningful way to tend to your own soul. Whether done alone or with your team, this is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the faithfulness of God.   Quotes "God’s refreshment is for leaders too. We are invited to the table, not just setting it for others." — Rebecca Bailey "Hope isn’t wishful thinking. It’s trust that God is already at work—even when we can’t see it." — Rebecca Bailey "It’s hard to pull myself out of the frenzy, but restoration is possible and available if I pause." — Laura Howe "This Advent guide is not passive. It's an invitation to actively invite the Holy Spirit to work within us." — Rebecca Bailey "When we’re frantic, we lose sight of the hope of Christ. But breath can bring us back to God's nearness." — Laura Howe   Resources Advent Guide Care Ministry Cohort US Amazon Store CAN Amazon Store   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Today, Laura sits down with therapist and ministry leader Rebecca to talk about what it looks like to integrate professional care and pastoral support in the church. They discuss the importance of psychological safety, how to cultivate healing environments in ministry, and why a strengths-based approach matters when building a culture of care. Their conversation highlights the blend of clinical insight and spiritual wisdom needed to lead well in caregiving roles.   Quotes "Caregiving is not about having all the answers, it's about showing up consistently with compassion." — Laura Howe "We heal in community. Isolation may protect us short-term, but connection restores us." — Rebecca Bailey "When we assume we must fix people, we miss the opportunity to empower them." — Laura Howe "A trauma-informed church is not a therapy session; it’s a place where people feel safe to bring their whole selves." — Rebecca Bailey "We can't pour from an empty cup. Caring for ourselves is an act of stewardship." — Laura Howe   Resources Care Ministry Cohort   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Today, Laura Howe pulls back the curtain on the Care Ministry Cohort, a five-month mastermind designed to equip ministry leaders with the tools and community they need to build sustainable care ministries. Laura shares her heart for church leaders who are overwhelmed by the needs of their congregation and unsure of where to begin. Listeners get a sneak peek into the four core modules of the cohort and receive practical tips to start building a care framework today, whether or not they join. If you’re passionate about supporting your church without burning out, this episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and real next steps.   Quotes "You know your church wants to care better. Every church does. But the how is often the hurdle." – Laura Howe "We don't need more programs. We need sustainable systems of care that don't burn out our leaders.” – Laura Howe "If you're tired, stretched thin, and unsure where to start, you're not alone—and you're not without support." – Laura Howe "Building a care ministry isn't about doing more—it's about doing the right things, with the right people, at the right pace." – Laura Howe   Resources Care Ministry Cohort Contact Hope Made Strong   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Today, Laura Howe sits down with James Harris, Head of Strategic Initiatives at NAYBA Australia, to explore how churches can respond to today’s mental health crisis, not by doing more, but by leaning into their identity as places of belonging and healing. They reflect on the success of Australia’s Church Mental Health Summit, the inspiring legacy of St. Dymphna, and innovative tools like social prescribing. This episode is a powerful reminder that churches aren’t just spiritual spaces…they’re untapped engines of community care.   Quotes “There’s so much unmet need in our community and untapped potential in our churches.” — James Harris “We believe that in doing less, we can be more as the Church.” — James Harris “Churches don't need to do more. They need to rediscover who they already are.” — Laura Howe “What if the greatest need in our communities is actually the Church’s greatest strength?” — Laura Howe “We knew we had all these experts in the room, so we made sure they weren’t just consumers, but participants.” — James Harris   Resources Apply to be a Summit host https://www.nayba.org/ The Church & Mental Health in Australia - A Report by NAYBA Australia  jamesharris@nayba.org.au Three Mile an Hour God, by Kosuke Koyama CAN Link - https://amzn.to/4oqlqoy US Link - https://amzn.to/4hn1uRf   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this episode, Laura Howe sits down with Shelli Albright, Director of Care and Connection at Fortville Christian Church and a graduate of the Care Ministry Cohort. Shelli gives an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to lead a growing care ministry—and the tensions that come with wanting to help everyone while building sustainable systems. Through a real-life coaching conversation, you’ll hear how Shelli is bringing unity to siloed ministries, developing shared criteria for benevolence decisions, and creating a culture of collaboration both within her church and in the wider community. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just ready to take your next strategic step, this episode offers practical encouragement and a vision for care that’s both compassionate and structured. Quotes “We feel like we're just kind of answering the same questions over and over and in the moment. And it just feels very rushed and hurried. So I’m hoping that we can get that more organized and just make the decisions once—have the same criteria—and not have to keep kind of going through this haphazard process.” — Shelli Albright “Care ministry can be sacred and structured—it doesn’t have to be chaotic.” — Laura Howe “Most care leaders are building ministries on the fly—coaching gives structure to that passion.” — Laura Howe “Shelli’s story is a reminder that the presence of complexity doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It often means your church is becoming a trusted source of hope.” — Laura Howe   Resources Free Mini-course: Clarify Your Care Ministry Care Ministry Cohort   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In today’s episode, Laura Howe is joined by Licensed Professional Counselor Rebecca Bailey to answer all your questions about the Church Mental Health Summit. Together, they share personal stories, lessons from years of caregiving ministry, and how collaboration with others brings exponential impact. Whether you're new to the summit or have been part of the journey from the beginning, this episode will inspire you with behind-the-scenes insights, encouragement for care leaders, and a vision for the future of church mental health support.   Quotes “When people are seen, heard, and valued—that's where healing begins.” –Rebecca Bailey “We’re not just hosting an event. We’re building a global movement of care within the church.” –Laura Howe “The stories shared at the Summit remind us why we do this work. It’s sacred, and it’s deeply needed.” –Rebecca Bailey “Hope Made Strong exists so no ministry leader feels like they have to carry the weight of care alone.” –Laura Howe “It's amazing what God can do when we just show up and say yes to caring for others.” –Rebecca Bailey   Resources Church Mental Health Summit All Access Pass Church Bundle   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Get a sneak peek into the 2025 Church Mental Health Summit in this special preview episode! Host Laura Howe introduces you to five powerhouse speakers—one from each of the Summit's five tracks: Community & Compassion-in-Action, Family & Students, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Healing & Recovery, and Spiritual Formation & Caregiving. With over 50 speakers lined up for this free, global event on October 10, this episode highlights key voices you won’t want to miss. Hear impactful clips from Laura Barringer, Kay Warren, Rev. Wen-Pin Leow, Becky Brown, and Dr. Saru Koirala. Whether you’ve already registered or are just hearing about the summit, this episode will inspire you to engage more deeply in the movement to equip the Church for mental health ministry.   Resources Church Mental Health Summit   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

In this insightful episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Ruth Brooks, Care Ministry Administrator at Mission Church in Ventura, California. Ruth shares her unexpected journey into care ministry, the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on how churches care for their congregations, and her excitement about hosting a Church Mental Health Summit watch party. The conversation explores how to equip volunteers, create a culture of compassionate care, and redefine church beyond Sunday gatherings. Ruth’s story is one of resilience, faith, and deep compassion—a must-listen for anyone involved in care ministry.   Quotes “We all have compassion that God gives us…” –Ruth Brooks “It stripped away everything we put on church to find out that church, at its core, is community.” –Laura Howe “I want our volunteers to feel confident—even a listening ear can make a huge difference.” –Ruth Brooks “You don’t have to be a clinician to support someone well—you just need compassion and an attuned ear.” –Laura Howe “To hear mental health talked about in church without shame or embarrassment—it was healing for so many.” –Ruth Brooks   Resources Church Mental Health Summit   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube