The Care Ministry Podcast

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... more

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FAQs about The Care Ministry Podcast:

How many episodes does The Care Ministry Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 169 episodes available.

The Care Ministry Podcast episodes:

January 09, 2025167: Creating a Care Ministry Plan for 2025
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 care programs that meet real needs year-round.

Quotes
"The goal is to have systems and strategies in place so that you have space and capacity for prevention work."
"It's about meeting people where they’re at—not empty-handed, but with resources and tools ready to support."
"We tend to feel like it’s all on us individually, but good ministry brings people alongside to share the load."
"When we set our future selves up for success, we create space for meaningful, impactful ministry."
"This process of thinking ahead actually sets your future ministry up for success—it’s planning with purpose."

Resources
https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-ministry-cohort
2025 Care Ministry Calendar

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
31min
January 02, 2025166: The first year as a Care Coordinator with Ariyana Rimson
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 the importance of building sustainable care systems within faith communities.

Quotes
“There has to be a way where people can express, ‘This is what I need,’ and then people meet that need.”
“We saw gaps where people didn’t know who to go to for help. We needed something clear and consistent.”
“By creating intentional care pathways, we empowered people to ask for help and support one another.”
“When people know where to turn, they feel seen, supported, and cared for.”

Resources
[email protected]
https://www.careministrycohort.com

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
46min
December 19, 2024165: Cultivating Resilience with Glenn Packiam
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 relational orbits. It’s all in today’s episode!

Quotes
Struggling is not a reflection of your abilities, your strength, or your faith. -Laura Howe
There is no shame in being distressed, or anxious, or discouraged, or depressed, or feeling all kinds of dysregulation in your life. -Glenn Packiam
Health is about how well we recover and how well we recalibrate for the seasons ahead. -Glenn Packiam
You are not a bad leader because you have limits. But you can be an unhealthy leader if you transgress those limits. -Glenn Packiam
We need the right people around us. -Glenn Packiam
God works in our lives through a constellation of voices. -Glenn Packiam

Resources
glennpackiam.com
@gpackiam
Rockharbor.org

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
32min
December 12, 2024164: Cultivating Compassionate Strategies for Healing with Aundi Kolber MA, LPC
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 compassionate way—one that aligns with Jesus’ call to find rest for our souls.
Aundi also breaks down the neuroscience behind our “window of tolerance” and what happens when we live outside of it. Don’t miss this insightful and restorative conversation in today’s episode!

Quotes
“Our God is kind and compassionate, and we are invited to bring that compassion.” Aundi Kolber
You are a child of God. And You are worth it. -Laura Howe

Resources
instagram.com/aundikolber
aundikolber.com

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
31min
December 05, 2024163: Advent Resource for Ministry Leaders
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 embrace the "in-between" moments of Advent with hope, peace, joy, and love. Discover how to nurture your spirit while continuing to serve others during this sacred season.

Quotes
"To care for others, we must also care for ourselves. Rest, nourishment, and connection are not optional—they're essential." – Rebecca Bailey
"In the quiet spaces of life, between the shadows of uncertainty and the illumination of understanding, there lies an opportunity for profound spiritual transformation." – Rebecca Bailey
"True joy can coexist with lament. We can experience joy and sorrow together, knowing that God meets us in both." – Rebecca Bailey
"God ensures our needs will be met, and we are meant to rest in His provision in a world that’s often noisy and fast-paced." – Rebecca Bailey
"Moving our bodies, whether stretching, walking, or running, is a way to care for God's temple, where the Spirit resides." – Rebecca Bailey

Resources
Advent Guide

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
16min
November 28, 2024162:Coaching with Care: Developing a Care Team with Center of Hope
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 needs through practical outreach, and fostered hope and healing. Laura provides insightful guidance on building sustainable care systems, training volunteers, and balancing the many roles of a pastor in a small church.

Quotes
"To have a Center of Hope, we need to be able to offer hope, which ultimately is Jesus, but alongside that is being His hands and feet in practical ways." – Tina Drysdale
"Care ministry is less about having the gift of compassion and more about the gift of administration. It's about coordinating, delegating, and supervising care." – Laura Howe
"Hope becomes hopelessness if you don't know the way and don't have a pathway out." – Laura Howe
"We took $9,000 saved for a church building and invested it back into our community during COVID, and God blessed us with a building shortly after." – Tina Drysdale
"By creating different entry points for volunteers with varying capacities, you allow care to flow both ways—blessing both the giver and the receiver." – Laura Howe

Resources
Care Ministry Podcast, Episode 93
https://www.centreofhopevictory.com/

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
50min
November 14, 2024161: Why is a care ministry strategy important?
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-reach and outreach, developing volunteer capacity, and creating sustainable support structures. Rebecca also shares insights from leading a care ministry cohort, underscoring the need for clear priorities and collaboration to meet the real needs of people in crisis.

Quotes
"Care is more than casseroles. It's about showing up consistently and meaningfully for people, sometimes even just sitting with them."
"We often forget that care ministry is not just about Sunday; it's about becoming a community hub of support and connection throughout the week."
"People come to churches hoping for more than a service—they seek a family, someone to walk with them in their struggles."
"A strategic care ministry knows its strengths and limitations, recognizing that no church can be a one-stop shop for every need."
"If we’re truly committed to caring, we need to plan for it. Otherwise, we’ll end up putting out fires rather than offering meaningful support."

Resources
Hope Made Strong Community
Care Ministry Cohort
Communities of Practice Guidebook

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
39min
November 07, 2024160: Care Ministry Cohort: Stories from Alumni
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 Ministry Cohort, beginning in January, and begin a guided journey toward cultivating a culture of care at your church!

Quotes
The cohort came at the perfect time.
It is ok to be patient and wait.
We’re not trying to start from the ground up. But we’re trying to renovate.
The cohort did a great job of starting at the basics.
We don’t want cookie-cutter care ministries. We want care ministries that look and feel like your congregation.

Resources
CareMinistryCohort.com

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
47min
October 24, 2024159: Behind the Scenes of Hosting a Local Church Mental Health Summit
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 took to address it in their community. He highlights the importance of building collaborative relationships between the faith community and human services, and how hosting the summit fostered these connections. The conversation also covers how local churches can become safe spaces for mental health support through awareness, training, and partnerships.

Quotes
"I was a pastor for a number of years who didn’t think about mental health issues because it wasn’t staring me in the face."
"As a parent, an eating disorder gets your attention."
"One of the things that made the event a success was the balance between local and national speakers, adding so much credibility to the whole event."
"The ultimate solution for human flourishing is Jesus, but we also need to address mental health practically."
"I wanted human service agencies to know that the faith community values what they do."

Resources
https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com/host
https://www.zionlife.com/

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
42min
October 10, 2024158: How To Get The Most Out Of The Church Mental Health Summit
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 to summit content for volunteer and staff development. Rebecca shares ideas for involving church communities and sponsors in making the most of the summit, while Laura emphasizes the importance of intentional participation to fully absorb the content.
Quotes
“I love our summit. You get the packet that you can download, and you can go through and highlight all the things you want and get super excited about." - Rebecca Bailey
“If you have the capacity to get the all-access pass, please know it’s our heart’s desire that you use that over and over in your church—for volunteer training, staff discussions, and watch parties.” - Laura Howe
“We don’t want people to feel left hanging. This could be a great opportunity to kick off a think tank in your community or start a cohort for ongoing discussions.” - Rebecca Bailey
“Set your intention, be present, schedule your time, and engage with the online community to fully participate.” - Laura Howe
Resources
Church Mental Health Summit
All-access Pass
Ultimate Pass
Care Ministry Cohorts

Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
...more
30min

FAQs about The Care Ministry Podcast:

How many episodes does The Care Ministry Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 169 episodes available.

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