Shows / The Care Ministry Podcast
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…
Episodes
The Care Ministry Podcast235. When the Need Is Bigger Than Your Capacity
What do you do when the needs around you are bigger than your budget, your team, or your capacity? In this coaching episode, Laura talks with John Kakembo, a…
The Care Ministry Podcast234. Building a Stronger Care Team: A Strategy for Year-Round Development
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey talk about how to intentionally develop a stronger care team without adding another…
The Care Ministry Podcast233. Inside the 2026 Church Mental Health Summit: A Sneak Peek at Six Sessions
The Church Mental Health Summit is almost here, and this episode gives you a preview of what’s coming. Laura shares short excerpts from six Summit sessions…
The Care Ministry Podcast232. When to Build Programs and When to Build Partnerships
What care should your church actually provide? In this coaching call, Laura talks with Eric Kuhn from Grace Spring Bible Church about how to discern what care…
The Care Ministry Podcast231. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast230. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast229. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast228. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast227. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast226. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast225. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast224. 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…
The Care Ministry Podcast223. From Informal Care to Intentional Care with Peggy Krueger & Dennis Goff
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast222. The Weight of Care: Why Ministry Feels So Heavy (and What to Do About It)
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast221. Mental Health in the Church: What to Do When You Feel Unprepared with Dr. Mark Mayfield
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast220. Building Care That Grows With Your Church
Build care that grows with your church by balancing relationships, systems, and sustainable support. In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe…
The Care Ministry PodcastE219. Mental Health Isn’t a Program: Rethinking Discipleship in the Church
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……
The Care Ministry PodcastE218. More Connected, Yet More Lonely: Rethinking Discipleship with Rebecca Taguma
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast217. From Global to Local: Next Step with Global Hubs
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…
The Care Ministry PodcastE216. The Power of Referral: Building an Ethical and Effective Community Partner Network
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…
The Care Ministry PodcastE215. How Churches Can Serve Their Communities With Humility and Impact with Kent Annan
How Churches Can Serve Their Communities With Humility and Impact 5 Practices for Faithful Community Engagement with Kent Annan Many churches care deeply about…
The Care Ministry Podcast214. Leading in the Messy Middle: A Real Ministry Story
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…
The Care Ministry PodcastE213. Who Follows Up? Closing the Loop Between Outreach and Care
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…
The Care Ministry PodcastE212. Better Together: From Church Programs to Community Partnership
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…
The Care Ministry PodcastE211. You Don’t Have to Rush Care: A Coaching Conversation on Grief and Trust
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast210. How Spiritual Formation Functions As Preventative Care
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast209. Why You Can’t Lead Well Without Empathy with Drs. Bill & Kristi Gaultiere
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by psychologists, spiritual directors, and Soul Shepherding founders Bill Gaultiere and…
The Care Ministry Podcast208: Championing Mental Health Through Local Church Summits
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast207: An Intentional Vision for Care: Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better with Milton bible Church
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast206: Prayer as a Core Care Strategy
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast205: Spiritual Formation Without Spiritual Bypassing
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast204: Advent Series for Care Leaders: Love in the In-Between
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast203: Advent Series for Care Leaders: Joy in the In-Between
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast202: Advent Series for Care Leaders: Peace in the In-Between
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast201: Advent Series for Care Leaders: Hope in the In-Between
In this special Advent episode, Laura and Rebecca introduce a new free resource designed to help ministry leaders slow down, reflect, and find restoration…
The Care Ministry Podcast200: When You’re Ready for a Fresh Start: Rediscovering Your Why in Care Ministry
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast199: You Can Build a Sustainable Care Ministry. Here’s How
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast198: Thinking About Hosting a Summit? Here’s What We Learned from NAYBA Australia
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast197: Heart for People, Plan for Care: Making Benevolence Sustainable with Shellie Albright
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast196: Church Mental Health Summit: FAQs, Tips, and Must-See Sessions
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…
The Care Ministry Podcast195: Inside the 2025 Church Mental Health Summit: Speaker Previews from Every Track
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…
- The Care Ministry Podcast
194: Hosting a Watch Party: Turn One Event into Year-Round Volunteer Training.
In this insightful episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Ruth Brooks, Care Ministry Administrator at Mission Church in Ventura…
The Care Ministry Podcast193: Stop Scrambling, Start Caring: Your 12-Month Ministry Plan
In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura and Rebecca walk you through how to create an annual care ministry plan that integrates compassion and…
The Care Ministry Podcast192: Leading with Presence: Alison Cook on Healing, Boundaries, and the Church
In this powerful episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with psychologist and author Dr. Alison Cook to explore the role of inner healing…
The Care Ministry Podcast191: Systematizing Care Without Losing Heart: A Culture-Driven Approach to Ministry
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe dives into a deeply practical and inspiring conversation with Eric Freemon from City Church in…
The Care Ministry Podcast190: Celebrating 100K Downloads - 5 Practices to Cultivate a Safe and Deep Community with David Kim
We’re celebrating a huge milestone—100,000 downloads of The Care Ministry Podcast! Thank you for being part of this growing community of care-minded leaders…
The Care Ministry Podcast189: Becoming an Attuned Listener with Dr. Jackie Perry
At Hope Made Strong, we’re taking a bit of a summer breather, and bringing back some of our top episodes for you to enjoy again—or maybe for the first time!…
The Care Ministry Podcast188: From Overwhelmed to Organized: A Coaching Call on Sustainable Care Ministry
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Rebecca Nordquist, Director of Care and Crisis at Verity Church, to explore how her…
The Care Ministry Podcast187: Understanding the Helpers – Who’s Who in Mental Health Support
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe welcomes Rebecca Bailey, a licensed professional counselor and coach for Hope Made Strong, to unpack…
The Care Ministry Podcast186: From Chaos to Clarity: Organizing Church Care with CareNote
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Donnell Wyche, long-time pastor and software developer, to explore how technology can…
The Care Ministry Podcast185: Creating Dignified Care: Lessons from the Field with Tricia Marble
In this podcast episode, Trisha Marble shares her journey in care ministry at Seven Rivers Church in Florida. She discusses the challenges of bridging…
The Care Ministry Podcast184: When the Plate is Too Full: Boundaries, Delegation, and Self-Care in Ministry
“Burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’ve been strong for too long without rest.” In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca…
The Care Ministry Podcast183. RelateStrong: Creating Safe and Connected Church Communities with Dee Dee Mayer
In this insightful episode, Laura sits down with Dee Dee Mayer from the Boone Center for the Family. Dee Dee is a community leader, and she shares about the…
The Care Ministry Podcast182: Saying Yes to the Hard Thing: How Amy Hughes Turned a Calling Into Community Impact
In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe talks with Amy Hughes about the journey of hosting a Church Mental Health Summit at her church in…
The Care Ministry Podcast181: Origin Stories, Care Gaps, and Coaching Wins
In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey share their “origin story” as friends and colleagues, reflecting on how their…
The Care Ministry Podcast180: Mobilizing Your Care Team with Spiritual First Aid With Jamie Aten of Spiritual First Aid
In this insightful episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe reconnects with Dr. Jamie Aten, co-founder of Spiritual First Aid, to explore how churches…
The Care Ministry Podcast179:What Churches Get Right (and Wrong) About Mental Health Outreach with Seth Perry
In this powerful episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Pastor Seth Perry to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month with a deeply…
The Care Ministry Podcast178: Coaching with Care: Bringing Clarity to Care Ministry in Transition
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Hilary Spears, Director of Care at The Journey West County in St. Louis. Hilary shares…
The Care Ministry Podcast177: More Than a Sermon: How to Host a Mental Health Sunday That Breaks the Stigma
“Hosting a Mental Health Sunday isn’t about being experts—it’s about being open.” In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura and Rebecca dive into a…
The Care Ministry Podcast176: How Churches Can Respond to Loneliness and Create Space for Forgiveness with Rebecca Taguma
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe welcomes Rebecca Taguma from the Trauma Healing Institute to discuss how churches can effectively…