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The Care Ministry Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Laura Howe
Building a culture of care in your church can feel as complex as the people you serve. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Laura Howe offers listeners practical resources and actionable strategies to support leader’s well-being, strengthen volunteer teams and equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to care for your community. With over 15 years of experience as a community mental health clinician, Laura, founder of Hope Made Strong specializes in Community Development Strategies. You will be encouraged as you listen to expert guests get real with how they overcame challenges and developed best-practice methods of reaching and caring for your church and community. If you want to develop a culture of care in your church and support your community without burning out your leaders? This is the podcast for you.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago37 min
E231. Someone Told You They Are Struggling with Addiction. What's Your Next Faithful Step?
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 <s
- 2 weeks ago1h 1m
E230. Why Caring for Others Requires Caring for Yourself with Dan Allender
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
- 3 weeks ago48 min
E229. Building a Care Team Before Crisis Hits
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
- Aug 13, 202631 min
E229. Why Attending Church is Difficult for Families Impacted by Mental Illness with Dr. Stephen Grcevich
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
- Aug 6, 202642 min
E227. Caring for Blended Families: What Every Church Needs to Understand with Inés Franklin
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
- Jul 23, 202650 min
226. When People Feel Safe Enough to Be Honest with Jennifer VanCleve
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
- Jul 9, 202650 min
225. Creating Safe Pathways for Families to Ask for Help
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
- Jul 2, 202651 min
224. Relationship Skills Are Discipleship: A Resource for Young Adults with Kelly Haer
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
About The Care Ministry Podcast
Building a culture of care in your church can feel as complex as the people you serve. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Laura Howe offers listeners practical resources and actionable strategies to support leader’s well-being, strengthen volunteer teams and equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to care for your community. With over 15 years of experience as a community mental health clinician, Laura, founder of Hope Made Strong specializes in Community Development Strategies. You will be encouraged as you listen to expert guests get real with how they overcame challenges and developed best-practice methods of reaching and caring for your church and community. If you want to develop a culture of care in your church and support your community without burning out your leaders? This is the podcast for you.
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