February 12, 2026

210. How Spiritual Formation Functions As Preventative Care

45 minutes

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 preventative care within church care ministries. Together, they explore why care and formation cannot be separated, how spiritual formation shows up across Hope Made Strong’s five-part Model of Care (self, community, peer, pastoral, and professional), and why care is less about fixing problems and more about being present and becoming formed alongside one another. This episode invites leaders to move beyond reactive care toward cultivating cultures that sustain people before crisis hits.

Quotes

“If in our care ministries we’re focused on the doing and the fixing, then we will miss the being and the becoming.” –Rebecca Bailey

“Spiritual formation is happening on the inside and the outside—it’s circular. What happens between us forms us.” –Rebecca Bailey

“Care has historically been reactive in the church. Spiritual formation helps us think about care as preventative.” –Laura Howe

“Spiritual formation isn’t about adding more programs. It’s about becoming more intentional with what’s already happening.” –Rebecca Bailey

“Good spiritual formation in care ministries keeps teams from absorbing what they were never meant to carry.” –Rebecca Bailey

Resources

Hope Made Strong Book Club

HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link

Download the Model of Care

Connect with Hope Made Strong

Website: HopeMadeStrong.org