The Care Ministry Podcast

  In this powerful episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Kay Atoloye, a licensed clinical counselor and church planter, to discuss the intersection of faith, mental health, and care ministry. With over two decades of experience in both clinical practice and pastoral roles, Kay shares his heart for care ministry and how his background uniquely equips him to serve his...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey dive into the essential steps of building a thriving care ministry team. They emphasize that team ministry is not just about filling roles but about discipleship and fostering a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope. The conversation covers the importance of matching people’s gifts with ministry needs, preventing burnout...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , Dr. Jackie Perry joins us to discuss the power of attuned listening and how it transforms care ministry. Dr. Perry, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and founder of The Soulwell Center, shares her insights on how truly listening—beyond just hearing words—creates connection, healing, and trust. We explore the difference between active listeni...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , host Laura Howe sits down with Rev. Emily Badgett to explore the power of equipping peer volunteers in caregiving ministry. Rev. Emily shares her personal journey, from experiencing deep grief to finding her calling in ministry, and offers practical insights on how churches can build sustainable care teams. Discover how to create a culture of care, em...

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast , Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey dive into the essential roles of Peers, Pastors, and Professionals in providing care within the church. They discuss the challenges of reactive versus proactive care ministry and the importance of structured systems to support both leaders and congregants. You’ll hear practical insights on distributing the responsibility...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , Laura Howe sits down with Reverend Dr. Chris Adams to explore the distinctions and overlaps between coaching, pastoral care, and clinical support. As a third-generation pastor, clinical psychologist, and experienced coach, Chris shares valuable insights on how churches can integrate these three approaches to create a holistic support system. Whether y...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , host Laura Howe welcomes Christina Tang, a pastoral care leader in Hong Kong, to discuss the inspiring journey behind the creation of the Restore ministry. Christina shares how her passion for mental health support, coupled with the limited resources in Hong Kong, led her to develop training workshops and host events for church leaders and caregivers....

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , Laura sits down with Shannon Pugh, care pastor at Irving Bible Church, to explore the intentionality behind effective pastoral care. Shannon shares her journey from special needs ministry to leading a cohesive care strategy that spans benevolence, mental health support, and more. The conversation touches on the challenges of addressing diverse needs w...

In this inspiring episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey discuss creating a proactive care ministry plan for 2025. They explore shifting from reactive crisis care to a responsive, prevention-focused model through intentional planning. Their insights on using the "Model of Care" framework and practical ministry strategies will equip church leaders to build sustainable...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Ariyana Rimson to explore the journey of establishing a care ministry. From recognizing unmet needs within the church to developing a clear structure for support, Ariyana shares her experience of transforming a personal vision into a thriving ministry. Her inspiring story highlights the power of compassionate leadership and th...

Did you know your rate of recovery is a sign of health? Cultivating resilience is all about paying attention to our ability to recalibrate. Today, Glenn Packiam shares with us from one of our top sessions in this year’s Church Mental Health Summit. He gives three practical ways we can exercise our agency in this recalibration. Don’t miss Glenn’s insights on personal limits, keystone habits, and re...

As caregivers, we often overlook the toll that compassion fatigue can take on our well-being. When constantly surrounded by others' struggles, feelings of exhaustion, overwhelm, and even numbness can creep in. In today’s Summit replay, Aundi Kolber introduces the transformative concept of “trying softer.” Instead of pushing through life with sheer willpower, she invites us to adopt a gentler, more...

In this special Advent-themed episode, Rebecca Bailey shares insights from Hope Made Strong’s Advent Guide designed specifically for care ministry leaders. Rebecca reflects on the beauty and busyness of the season, offering practical self-care strategies and spiritual practices to help leaders find rest and renewal. From guided breathwork to reflections on Psalm 23, listeners are invited to embrac...

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, host Laura Howe sits down with Pastor Tina Drysdale of Center of Hope Victory Church in Kincardine, Ontario. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of developing a care ministry in a small-town church setting, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Tina shares how her congregation has embraced a diverse demographic, responded to community nee...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , host Laura Howe and guest Rebecca Bailey dive into the importance of strategic planning in care ministry. They discuss the evolving role of care in the church, emphasizing how intentional planning can help churches better support both congregants and the broader community without overwhelming resources. The conversation covers topics like balancing in...

Whether it’s a new team, a church transition, or some other circumstance, care teams are often left to piece together how to create a sustainable and helpful system for creating cultures of care. Today, Janelle and Katie share their experience entering into the Care Ministry Cohort, where the community, helpful resources, and coaching made all the difference. You can apply for the 2025 Care Minist...

In this episode, Pastor Trent Kirkland, from Zion Church in Clarion, Pennsylvania, shares his experience hosting the first local Church Mental Health Summit in North America. Pastor Trent discusses his personal journey with mental health, how his daughter's eating disorder and his experience as a mobile crisis worker shaped his understanding of the mental health crisis, and the steps his church to...

In this episode, Laura and Rebecca discuss how to maximize the benefits of the upcoming Church Mental Health Summit, offering practical tips for attendees, including registering early to avoid last-minute technical issues and organizing watch parties for community engagement.  They also highlight the advantages of the all-access and ultimate passes, which provide ongoing value through access...

In this episode of the Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe sits down with Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, for an insightful conversation. Daniel shares his journey from leading a church in England to facing emotional burnout, which led him to pursue studies in theology and mental health. Together, they talk about the pressures of leadership, the power of vulnerability, a...

In this episode, Laura Howe speaks with Pastor Chris and Samantha from Grace Family Church in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the unique dynamics of their multi-campus church, the challenges of growing a culture of care, and their plans to utilize the Church Mental Health Summit as a tool for staff training. Pastor Chris shares his 13 years of experience in care ministry and how Grace Family Church h...

In a new segment of this podcast with guest, Rebecca Bailey, we’re exploring the benefits of creating a Community of Practice within your church. Listen in for tips on how shared experiences, knowledge, and support lead to stronger, more effective care ministries. Laura and Rebecca also share about the best way to put the new Hope Made Strong Online Community into practice–during the Church Mental...

Melinda Moore shares her personal journey from aspiring to be a medical doctor to finding her passion in suicidology and suicide prevention. Her experience with loss and her work in clinical psychology have driven her to integrate lived experience with clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of empathy and personal insight in mental health support. Melinda highlights the role faith communiti...

This is our first live coaching call on the podcast! Pastor Andy and Roxann join us for a helpful conversation on proactively taking steps toward a sustainable intake of care needs. How do we make sure people’s needs don’t fall through the cracks? What systems will be sustainable? What specific programs and forms are the best way to triage incoming requests? Listen in for this free coaching advice...

In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast , host Laura Howe sits down with Sgt. Roy to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of leading from the middle. Sgt. Roy shares his insights on the importance of making decisions with confidence, even when the outcome is uncertain. He emphasizes that it's better to make a strong mistake than to hesitate for fear of getting it wrong.  &nbsp...

Turns out “flipping your lid” happens to the best of us! In today’s episode, you’ll learn about the science behind what is happening in your brain as you react to various, high-tension scenarios (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn). Knowing how to detect what your brain is doing can help you “HALT” conversations as needed when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Check out today’s episode for acti...