The Care Ministry Podcast

Laura Howe
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. Oct 15

    234. 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 overwhelming program to your calendar. Training can easily become reactive. A difficult situation comes up, a volunteer feels unprepared, or someone finds a great workshop, and suddenly leaders are trying to fill another gap. But developing a healthy care team is about more than giving people information. Laura and Rebecca explore how leaders can look at the needs already showing up in their church, identify the foundational skills every caregiver needs, and create simple rhythms for ongoing development. They also discuss the importance of presence, empathy, self-awareness, clear boundaries, and knowing when to bring others into the care process. The goal is not to create caregivers who know everything. It is to intentionally develop people who can show up well, continue learning, and provide care with confidence, humility, and compassion. Quotes “Who you are in the room is more important than what you know in the room as a caregiver.”— Laura Howe “Competence isn’t knowing everything. It’s recognizing your limits and knowing when to bring someone else into the care process.”— Rebecca Bailey “Some of the biggest aha moments happen through reflection rather than adding more layers of information.”— Laura Howe “The absence of mistakes and having perfection is not a reasonable goal in ministry. But how we repair and build resilience is.”— Laura Howe Resources Church Mental Health Summit Summit Circle Care Team Development Planner   Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link

    234. Building a Stronger Care Team: A Strategy for Year-Round Development

  2. Oct 1

    233. 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, one from each track, and highlights a few of the ideas that can help shape stronger, more thoughtful care ministry. Because the goal of the Summit isn’t to consume as much information as possible. It’s to find the one or two ideas that help you think differently, strengthen your care, or take a meaningful next step. In This Episode John Swinton | Spiritual FormationHealing is bigger than curing. John explores shalom, relationship, and what it means to experience healing even when symptoms remain. Elias Olmer | LeadershipWhat if behavior is information? Elias challenges leaders to look beneath what they see and become curious about what someone may be carrying. Rachael Newham | Mental Health & Well-BeingLanguage matters. Rachael explores how the words we use can either reduce or reinforce stigma around mental illness. Dr. Zoricelis Davila | Healing & RecoveryGrief doesn’t always look the way we expect. Dr. Davila reminds leaders to stay present long after the immediate crisis has passed. Chuck Hunt & Dr. Aaron Rosales | Families & StudentsSupporting mental health and making disciples are not separate things. Churches can help young people experience belonging, hope, and the presence of Jesus. Brian Fikkert | Community & OutreachCare is not only about doing things for people. Brian explores the difference between relief and development and the importance of walking with people. Join the Summit The 2026 Church Mental Health Summit is happening October 7, 8 & 9. You’ll hear from speakers from around the world through live Zoom and pre-recorded sessions across six tracks. Free access is available each day for 24 hours. Register here:https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com

    233. Inside the 2026 Church Mental Health Summit: A Sneak Peek at Six Sessions

  3. Sep 24

    232. 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 belongs inside the church and what may be better supported through trusted partnerships. As Grace Spring builds on its longstanding connection with Response Care Center, Laura and Eric explore how church vision, existing strengths, and congregational needs can help determine where to focus. They also talk about developing a culture of care, equipping group leaders as shepherd leaders, identifying administrative care roles, and building systems that support relationships rather than replace them. You’ll hear practical ideas for knowing where to start, when to partner, and how to grow care in a way that is sustainable for your church. Quotes “We need both. We need vine workers and we need trellis workers.” Eric Kuhn “We don’t want to reinvent the wheel.” Eric Kuhn “You might be scared out of your mind to even consider it, but we really want to walk with you.” Eric Kuhn “We have to make it our own, and we have to make it in a way that really fits us as a church.”Eric Kuhn Resources Care Alignment FrameworkIdentify the intersection between your church’s vision, strengths, and the needs of your congregation so you can discern what care to build, what may need to wait, and where partnership can help.https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-alignment Care Coordinator Resource Explore the role of a care coordinator, including how administrative leadership, resource connection, and follow-up can strengthen your church’s care ministry.https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-coordinator-job-description Free Care Ministry Planning Mini-Course Join us in November for a free mini-course designed to help you assess your current care ministry, identify priorities, and prepare for 2027.https://www.hopemadestrong.org/clarify-course Connect with Hope Made Strong Website: HopeMadeStrong.org Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link

    232. When to Build Programs and When to Build Partnerships

  4. Sep 10

    231. 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 Website: HopeMadeStrong.orgSocials: Facebook – Instagram – YouTubeAmazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link

    231. Someone Told You They Are Struggling with Addiction. What's Your Next Faithful Step?

  5. Sep 3

    230. 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

    230. Why Caring for Others Requires Caring for Yourself with Dan Allender

  6. Aug 27

    229. 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

    229. Building a Care Team Before Crisis Hits

  7. Aug 13

    228. 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

    228. Why Attending Church is Difficult for Families Impacted by Mental Illness with Dr. Stephen Grcevich

  8. Aug 6

    227. 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

    227. Caring for Blended Families: What Every Church Needs to Understand with Inés Franklin
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About

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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