The Care Ministry Podcast

Епизоде

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  E231. Someone Told You They Are Struggling with Addiction. What's Your Next Faithful Step? 10.09.2026 37мин

  What do you do when someone trusts you enough to say, “I’m struggling with addiction”? For many ministry leaders, that moment can feel overwhelming. You care deeply, but may not know what to say, where to begin, or how much responsibility you should carry. In this episode, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey talk about how churches can respond to addiction with compassion, curiosity, and healthy boundaries. They explore why addiction is often connected with trauma, grief, and mental health, and why someone’s recovery journey cannot be reduced to one simple solution or program. Together, they share practical questions ministry leaders can ask, common responses to avoid, and ways churches can connect people with appropriate treatment, peer support, and recovery resources. This conversation is a reminder that churches do not need to become treatment centres or counselling practices to care well. The church can offer belonging, purpose, hope, prayer, discipleship, and long-term companionship. You do not need to know every step of someone’s recovery journey. You simply need to listen well, help them find their next faithful step, and continue walking alongside them. Quotes “When someone shares their story with you, they’re feeling desperate and they’re wanting some hope. They’re wanting to be heard.”   Rebecca Bailey “You don’t want to jump into solutions and trying to get to the underlying details of things. Instead, you really want to say, ‘Thank you for telling me. I’m glad that you’ve been vulnerable enough to share this with me.’”  Rebecca Bailey “Questions are offered as curiosity so that they feel they can express and share and go deeper.” Laura Howe “You have to let the person also be a participant in their recovery journey. You can’t do things for other people.”   Rebecca Bailey “It’s not knowing all the answers. It’s just loving the person that God has placed right in front of you.”   Laura Howe Resources Curious Questions for Care ConversationsA practical list of compassionate questions to help you listen well, understand what support someone already has, and help them identify their next faithful step. Continuum of CareLearn more about the different roles of pastors, peer-support leaders, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, medical professionals, and other care providers.  Faith-Based Recovery ResourcesExplore trusted recovery programs and resources, including Celebrate Recovery and Life Recovery.    Project Exodus - https://www.projectexodus.net/    Life Recovery - https://newlife.com/groups/    Re:Generation - https://www.watermark.org/ministries/regeneration-recovery    Celebrate Recovery - https://celebraterecovery.com/ Church Mental Health SummitAccess practical, hope-filled training to help your church respond wisely to addiction, trauma, grief, mental health challenges, and other complex care needs.   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link  
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  E230. Why Caring for Others Requires Caring for Yourself with Dan Allender 03.09.2026 1ч 1мин

  What happens when the people caring for everyone else realize they need care too? In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by Dr. Dan Allender, therapist, author, professor, and founder of the Allender Center. Together they explore the connection between story, trauma, healing, and spiritual formation, and why caring for others requires us to tend to our own hearts first. Dan shares the deeply personal story that shaped his life’s work and discusses how unaddressed pain often continues shaping us in ways we do not recognize. Laura and Dan also unpack why healing is rarely quick or linear, the role of community in restoration, and what ministry leaders need to understand as they support others through grief, trauma, and recovery. This conversation is especially helpful for pastors, care leaders, and helpers who spend much of their time supporting others but may be realizing there are parts of their own story that still need attention. Quotes "The more we grow, the more we know how far we have to grow." Dan Allender "My God has known my sin today and a month from now and still delights in me." Dan Allender "So many of us who serve others know how to offer good comfort. But then the simple question is: how are you in receiving comfort?" Dan Allender "Healing is not something we arrive at. It's a journey of truth-telling, grief, courage, and relationship." Laura Howe Resources Learn more about the Allender Center and their story-based approach to healing and spiritual formation The Allender Center   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link
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  E229. Building a Care Team Before Crisis Hits 27.08.2026 48мин

  What does it look like to build a care team before the crisis happens? In this coaching episode, Laura talks with Bill Loften, Care Pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Maryland, about expanding care beyond pastors and licensed ministry leaders. Bill is less than a year into his role, but he is already thinking strategically about how to identify, equip, and support people within the congregation who can step into care. Together, Laura and Bill explore peer support, lay care, small group leaders, volunteer training, community partnerships, and how to build care systems that are sustainable and aligned with the strengths of your church. This conversation is especially helpful for care leaders who want to grow their ministry without carrying every need themselves. Quotes “We're developing a fire department to be able to handle the fires when they come.”Bill Loften “They might not feel called to ministry, but they feel called to do ministry.”Bill Loften “There's these specific people that show up when crisis happens or when a need is happening.”Bill Loften Resources Care Alignment FrameworkIdentify the intersection between your church’s vision, strengths, and the needs of your community so you can focus your care ministry where it can have the greatest impact.https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-alignment Model of CareExplore the different layers of support available within a church, including self-care, community care, peer support, pastoral care, and professional care.https://www.hopemadestrong.org/model-of-care    Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link  
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  E228. Why Attending Church is Difficult for Families Impacted by Mental Illness with Dr. Stephen Grcevich 13.08.2026 31мин

   In this special summer episode, Laura and Rebecca are taking a short break while continuing to bring listeners new and meaningful content each week. This episode features one of the top sessions from a past Church Mental Health Summit with Dr. Stephen Grcevich, founder and president of Key Ministry. Dr. Grcevich shares important research on how common mental health conditions can impact church attendance for families. He helps leaders understand why families may struggle to participate in church life, especially when anxiety, ADHD, depression, autism, trauma, sensory needs, social communication differences, stigma, or past church experiences are present. This conversation invites church leaders to look at their ministry environments with fresh eyes and consider what barriers may be making church harder for families who already feel isolated or overwhelmed. Dr. Grcevich also introduces a practical framework for developing a mental health inclusion strategy so churches can become more welcoming, thoughtful, and supportive places for individuals and families impacted by mental illness. Quotes “When we think about inclusion in our churches, mental health inclusion is by far and away our greatest need.”Dr. Stephen Grcevich “Mental health ministry is clearly family ministry.”Dr. Stephen Grcevich “When one member of the family struggles, it’s likely that everybody else isn’t going to be part of church.”Dr. Stephen Grcevich Resources Key Ministry Training Videos on Mental Health Inclusion Mental Health and the Church by Dr. Stephen GrcevichHMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦LinkHMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link Church Mental Health Summit Summit Circle  Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube Amazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link
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  E227. Caring for Blended Families: What Every Church Needs to Understand with Inés Franklin 06.08.2026 42мин

  Blended families are more common than we often realize, but they’re rarely talked about in our churches. In this episode, Laura sits down with Inés Franklin to explore the realities of blended family life and how care leaders can better support those navigating complex family dynamics. Together, they discuss hidden challenges, the impact of family systems on identity and faith, and practical ways the church can create space for healing and belonging. If you’re a pastor, care leader, or walking alongside families in transition, this conversation will help you care with greater awareness, compassion, and intention. Quotes “Blended families aren’t broken… they’re a picture of redemption.” - Inés Franklin “We don’t make space for blended families to share their story, and so often, they stay silent.” - Inés Franklin “We can’t fully care for someone without understanding the family dynamics shaping their story.” - Inés Franklin “You have to be honest about the pain so that you can experience healing.” - Inés Franklin “God doesn’t wait for our stories to become tidy. He meets us right in the middle of the complexity.” - Laura Howe Resources  Blended & Blessed — Inés FranklinCAN - https://amzn.to/42xk82pUS - https://amzn.to/42flVc9 Uncharted — Inés FranklinCAN - https://amzn.to/4wfCi6nUS - https://amzn.to/4tdWcvA Trochia Ministries → Inés’ online discipleship ministry with teaching, courses, and resources Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  226. When People Feel Safe Enough to Be Honest with Jennifer VanCleve 23.07.2026 50мин

  What happens when a church becomes a place where people feel safe enough to be honest? In this coaching episode, Laura talks with Jennifer VanCleve, a campus pastor at StoneBridge Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Jennifer shares how care has been growing in her church through small groups, recovery ministries, grief support, mental health conversations, and a deep desire to help people feel seen, known, and loved. Together, Laura and Jennifer explore how churches can create safe spaces for honest stories, support people walking through grief, addiction, trauma, and mental health challenges, and equip more leaders to step into care with confidence. This conversation is especially helpful for churches asking how to build a culture of care that is relational, compassionate, and sustainable. Quotes “We have to remember grace abounds and love abounds.” Jennifer VanCleve “That’s what a church can be when people are loved unconditionally.” Jennifer VanCleve “Care ministry isn’t designed to be cookie-cutter to the church down the street.” Laura Howe “When people feel seen, known, and loved, care begins to take root.” Laura Howe “We have to start thinking about designing an onboarding strategy for leaders so that they feel supported and not just thrown into the mix.” Laura Howe Resources StoneBridge Christian Church Celebrate Recovery GriefShare MomCo When Helping Hurts / The Chalmers Center Slow Kingdom Coming by Kent Annan Hope Made Strong Care Protocol  Care Ministry Coaching  Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – YouTube  
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  225. Creating Safe Pathways for Families to Ask for Help 09.07.2026 50мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey discuss how churches can create safe pathways for families to ask for help before situations reach a crisis point. Many families are carrying challenges related to parenting, grief, finances, mental health, caregiving, and relationships, but often hesitate to reach out for support. Laura and Rebecca explore the barriers that prevent people from asking for help and share practical ways churches can build trust, communicate care clearly, and make support easier to access. Together, they discuss how churches can move from simply responding to crises toward creating cultures of care where families feel safe, supported, and connected. Quotes "If you aren't talking about mental health, recovery, financial problems, marriage, if those conversations are not coming up already in the normal rhythm of your church, then people are thinking, 'This isn't the place where I'm able to talk about this."Rebecca Bailey "All the more reason why, as churches, we want to make care accessible. We want to have intentional communication that is letting people know, 'We are here. We are here."Laura Howe "People are going to seek help if they know that their story is going to be handled with dignity and care."Rebecca Bailey "Asking for help shouldn't be the hardest part of getting help."Rebecca Bailey Resources Care Ministry Assessment Care Ministry Collective   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  224. Relationship Skills Are Discipleship: A Resource for Young Adults with Kelly Haer 02.07.2026 51мин

  What if relationship skills are not just practical life skills, but part of discipleship? In this episode, Laura sits down with Dr. Kelly Haer, Executive Director of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University, to talk about Relationship IQ, a practical resource designed to help young adults build healthy relationships. Kelly shares her own story of being drawn to counseling and relationship work from a young age, and how God opened the door for her work at the Boone Center. Together, Laura and Kelly explore why young adulthood is such a formative season, why many young people are longing for meaningful connection but have not always been taught the skills to build it, and how churches can help. This conversation is hopeful, practical, and deeply relevant for pastors, parents, youth leaders, young adult leaders, and anyone who wants to help the next generation grow in healthy relationships with God, family, friends, dating, boundaries, conflict, technology, and more. Quotes “Technology changes how we relate and connect.” Dr. Kelly Haer “There are relational calories being consumed, but the quality of those relational calories are subpar.” Dr. Kelly Haer “So much of life happens in and around relationships.” Dr. Kelly Haer “Our greatest highs are around relationships, our greatest lows often happen through relationship.” Dr. Kelly Haer “This is a huge part of following Jesus, being able to relate well with those that we’re around.” Dr. Kelly Haer “My vision and heart is that young adults both are competent and feel confident.” Dr. Kelly Haer Resources Boone Center for the FamilyA relationship training center located at Pepperdine University that integrates psychology and theology to equip people with healthy relationship skills. Relationship IQA curriculum from the Boone Center for the Family is designed to help young adults live out healthy relationships. Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  223. From Informal Care to Intentional Care with Peggy Krueger & Dennis Goff 25.06.2026 38мин

  Care is already happening in your church so how do you build on what is already there In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by Peggy Krueger, Care Coordinator, and Pastor Dennis Goff from St. Michael Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a real-time coaching conversation Peggy and Dennis share what it looks like to build care ministry in a growing church context where many forms of care already exist but there is a desire to bring more intention, structure, and sustainability to it all Together, they explore how to move from scattered efforts to a more connected and accessible approach while still maintaining the relational heart of care ministry This episode is especially helpful for leaders who feel like they are building the plane while flying it and are looking for clarity on what the next step could be Quotes “Care is already happening. The question is how do we become more intentional with what is already in motion” Laura Howe “Culture shifts at the speed of relationships” Laura Howe “I have not heard anybody talk about this in church before” Dennis Goff “We are building the plane while flying it” Peggy Krueger Resources Care Ministry Collective (Online Community + Office Hours) Apply for Coaching on the next podcast- https://forms.gle/hu5Dd4Tv2gq33rAY6 Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  222. The Weight of Care: Why Ministry Feels So Heavy (and What to Do About It) 11.06.2026 32мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey talk about the weight many care leaders are carrying right now. Walking with people through grief, crisis, and everyday challenges can take a toll. It is not just the work. It is the stories, the responsibility, and the pressure to respond well. For many leaders, that weight can start to feel overwhelming. Laura and Rebecca offer a simple but powerful reminder. Feeling this way does not mean you are disqualified. It means the work is heavy, and it was never meant to be carried alone. Together, they explore the importance of recognizing early signs of burnout, inviting others into your process, and creating small, restorative rhythms that help you stay grounded. This episode is a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and receive care as you continue caring for others. Quotes “The weight that you’re feeling is not because you’re disqualified… it’s because this is really hard work.” “This is really hard work… and you aren’t meant to carry this alone.” “We make terrible accountability partners to ourselves.” “The best way we can care for others is when we receive care ourselves.” Resources Care Ministry Collective (Online Community + Office Hours) Keys to Resilience - Podcast Episode  Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  221. Mental Health in the Church: What to Do When You Feel Unprepared with Dr. Mark Mayfield 04.06.2026 42мин

  What do you do when someone shares something heavy… and you care deeply, but don’t feel equipped to respond? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mark Mayfield (or as he prefers, “just Mark”) to talk about the growing need for mental health awareness in the church, and the very real tension many leaders feel between wanting to help and not knowing how. Mark brings a unique perspective, having spent years in both ministry and clinical counseling. Together, we explore his personal story, what he’s seeing in churches today, and why so many leaders feel stuck in that middle space of “I know this matters… but what do I actually do?” This conversation is honest, practical, and hopeful. You’ll walk away reminded that you don’t need to have all the answers to care well, and with a clearer sense of what your next step could be. Quotes “I don’t believe church is about Sunday mornings. It’s a component—but it’s not the end-all, be-all. We have to think beyond Sunday mornings. We have to think about community and connection.” — Dr. Mark Mayfield “I think the hesitation is legit. It’s just we have to get them past paralysis.” — Dr. Mark Mayfield “People just want to have language to their struggles. That’s okay. They want to be seen.” — Dr. Mark Mayfield “The secret to good counseling is the therapeutic relationship… just creating space for people to be seen and to be heard.” — Dr. Mark Mayfield “You don’t need to be a counselor to care well—but you do need to know your role.” — Dr. Mark Mayfield Resources 📘 The Mental Health Handbook for Ministry by Dr. Mark Mayfield A practical, easy-to-use guide to help ministry leaders understand mental health, respond with confidence, and know when to refer. HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦LinkHMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link 🌐 Mental Health Made Simple Free tools, assessments, and training resources to support churches in mental health care Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube    
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  220. Building Care That Grows With Your Church 28.05.2026 1ч 9мин

  Build care that grows with your church by balancing relationships, systems, and sustainable support. In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by Laura Mulligan, Care Coordinator and Chaplain for a slightly different kind of conversation; less coaching, more shared learning. Laura reflects on 10 years of building care ministry at Grace Fellowship, growing from a few simple teams to supporting a church of over 5,000 people. As the church continues to grow, they explore the tension between relational care and scalable systems. This episode is for leaders asking: How do we care well as we grow? How do we support our teams? And what needs to evolve next?   Quotes “Ministry, and especially care ministry, is built at the speed of relationship.” Laura Mulligan “I don’t want to continue moving forward in ministry with a small church mindset.” Laura Mulligan “We don’t want anybody to fall through the cracks.”  Laura Howe   Resources Care Protocol: Receive, Respond, Report, Follow-Up Grace Fellowship Community Church HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦LinkHMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  E219. Mental Health Isn’t a Program: Rethinking Discipleship in the Church 14.05.2026 53мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey explore a question many churches are asking right now: we care about mental health… but what do we actually do with it? As awareness has grown, the challenge has shifted from understanding mental health to integrating it into the life of the church. But with so many resources and approaches available, many care leaders feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin. Laura and Rebecca unpack this tension and offer a simpler way forward—one that moves beyond programs and focuses on integrating mental health into discipleship through relational presence. Instead of trying to fix or have all the answers, they highlight the power of listening, curiosity, and being with people in the middle of their struggles. This episode is especially helpful for care leaders who want to support mental health in a way that is clear, sustainable, and rooted in everyday church life. Quotes “We’re not called to know more… we are actually called to be with people.” Rebecca Bailey “It’s harder to sit in the uncomfortable, messy space of someone struggling than it is to have a solution.” Rebecca Bailey “We don’t need more programs—we need a clearer way to care for people.” Laura Howe “There’s a difference between caring for people and carrying everything for them.” Rebecca Bailey Resources Mental Health Sunday Resources The Attuned Listener Course Email for more info at [email protected] Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  E218. More Connected, Yet More Lonely: Rethinking Discipleship with Rebecca Taguma 07.05.2026 45мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined again by Rebecca Taguma from the American Bible Society and the Trauma Healing Institute. Together, they explore what many churches are quietly experiencing—everyday overwhelm, loneliness, and emotional exhaustion—and how this is shaping the way we care for and disciple people. This conversation reframes emotional resilience as part of discipleship, not a separate ministry, and offers a hopeful, relational path forward for churches. They also introduce Anchored in Hope, an accessible resource designed to help churches build connection, resilience, and support in everyday life. This episode is especially helpful for leaders who feel stretched, are carrying more than they should alone, and are looking for practical ways to build a culture of care. Quotes “It’s really easy to be lonely in a crowd if it doesn’t feel safe.” — Rebecca Taguma “Church leaders are struggling right now… it’s been unrelenting.” — Rebecca Taguma “God created us to be in relationship with one another—and to heal in relationship with one another.”  —  Rebecca Taguma “Care happens in relationship. Programs are just the vehicle.” — Laura Howe Resources Anchored in Hope – Trauma Healing Institute Healing the Wounds of Trauma Small Group HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦LinkHMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  217. From Global to Local: Next Step with Global Hubs 30.04.2026 40мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by David Barter, pastor, ministry coach, and the lead for Hope Made Strong’s work in Australia. David shares how his own experience with depression, anxiety, and burnout shaped his passion for helping churches care well. Together, Laura and David talk about the reality many churches face—they want to help, but often aren’t sure how. This conversation also introduces Hope Made Strong’s next step toward global hubs, starting in Australia. Not as a new organization, but as a way to deepen connection, offer culturally relevant support, and better serve care leaders in their local context. This episode is especially helpful for leaders who feel like they are carrying too much alone and are looking for a more shared, relational approach to care. Quotes “I really started to think about it—well, what am I doing that maybe not that I shouldn’t be doing, but that somebody else could do?” David Barter “People need to be empowered across the church to do the work of the ministry.” David Barter “The work of the ministry basically is to care for people and disciple each other.” David Barter “We’ve always had a global community at Hope Made Strong… but this is about making that feel more connected, more relational, and more rooted in local context.” Laura Howe Resources A Better Way - Website The Church Mental Health Summit Email David - [email protected] HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦LinkHMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  E216. The Power of Referral: Building an Ethical and Effective Community Partner Network 09.04.2026 42мин

  In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey explore one of the most misunderstood areas of care ministry: referrals. Church leaders often feel tension when referring someone outside the church. It can feel like handing people off or losing influence. But healthy referrals are not a failure of care. They are a critical part of sustainable, holistic ministry. Laura and Rebecca reframe referrals as accompaniment rather than outsourcing. They discuss how churches can build ethical referral systems, develop trusted community partnerships, and avoid codependency in ministry leadership. You will hear practical guidance on consent, autonomy, follow-up, and how to navigate value differences with humility. Strong care ministries do not try to meet every need alone. They build thoughtful networks that expand support while remaining relationally present. Quotes “We don’t want codependency in the church… because we aren’t the saviors.” –Rebecca Bailey “We’re not referring someone out. We’re referring someone in.” –Laura Howe “Referrals don’t have to be an endpoint. They are transitional.” –Rebecca Bailey “Healthy care ministries share the load.” –Laura Howe Resources  Hope Made Strong Model of Care Three Steps to Building a Sustainable Care Ministry Care Protocol Download Episode 187 - Types of Mental Health Professionals HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦Link HMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  E215. How Churches Can Serve Their Communities With Humility and Impact with Kent Annan 02.04.2026 46мин

  How Churches Can Serve Their Communities With Humility and Impact 5 Practices for Faithful Community Engagement with Kent Annan Many churches care deeply about their communities but feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the needs around them. Where do you start, and how do you help without causing harm or burning out your team? In this episode, Laura Howe talks with Kent Annan, co-founder of Haiti Partners and author of Slow Kingdom Coming, about how churches can engage their communities with humility, wisdom, and long-term impact. Kent shares five practices that help leaders discern where they are called to focus and how to serve in ways that honor dignity and build meaningful partnerships. If you want to serve your community well without trying to fix everything, this conversation offers practical encouragement and perspective. Resources Mentioned Slow Kingdom Coming  CAN Link / US Link When Helping Hurts   CAN Link / US Link Haiti Partners Spiritual First Aid Slow Kingdom coming Discussion guide Quotes from the Episode “If the primary takeaway from being with people who are suffering is that we feel better about our own lives, we are disrespecting them.” – Kent Annan “The practices of attention, confession, respect, partnering, and truthing are both spiritual disciplines and practical ways to do justice work well.” – Kent Annan “The slow kingdom coming means we can lament that the world isn’t as it should be, hold onto hope that transformation is possible, and commit ourselves to participate in that work.” – Kent Annan “When you enter a community, you slow down and ask: Am I coming with honor, and am I waiting to be invited in with respect?” – Kent Annan Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  214. Leading in the Messy Middle: A Real Ministry Story 26.03.2026 55мин

  How do you lead well in church ministry when you care deeply about people but aren’t the final decision maker? In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down for one of her monthly coaching conversations with Lacey Reaves, a ministry leader serving in small groups at Redemption Church in South Carolina. Together they explore a leadership challenge many ministry leaders face: how to faithfully care for people while navigating leadership structures, shifting ministry needs, and the realities of leading from what Laura calls the messy middle of ministry. Lacey shares openly about her experience of burnout and what she learned about carrying ministry differently. Laura reflects on how sustainable care ministry requires leaders to care deeply for people while also recognizing the burdens they were never meant to carry alone. If you’ve ever felt the tension of trying to lead, care for people, and navigate church leadership dynamics at the same time, this coaching conversation offers encouragement and practical perspective for sustaining ministry over the long term. Quotes “I knew that I still cared about people, but I felt that I had lost the capacity to care effectively because I myself needed care.” –Lacey Reaves “I found that I am still called, but I may need to learn how to carry the calling differently.” –Lacey Reaves “Ministry rarely happens in clean and simple ways. Most of the time we’re leading in complicated spaces with changing needs, limited resources, and leadership structures.” –Laura Howe “There’s a wisdom that develops when we stay deeply compassionate toward people while recognizing that we are not their savior.” –Laura Howe Resources Joyfully Free Journey Podcast (Lacey Reaves) Care Ministry Collective (Free Online Community) Care Ministry Cohort HMS Amazon store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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  E213. Who Follows Up? Closing the Loop Between Outreach and Care 12.03.2026 38мин

  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  
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  E212. Better Together: From Church Programs to Community Partnership 05.03.2026 55мин

  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