196: 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. Together, they share personal stories, lessons from years of caregiving ministry, and how collaboration with others brings exponential impact. Whether you're new to the summit or have been part of the journey from the beginning, this episode will inspire you with behind-the-scenes insights, encouragement for care leaders, and a vision for the future of church mental health support.
Quotes
“When people are seen, heard, and valued—that's where healing begins.” –Rebecca Bailey
“We’re not just hosting an event. We’re building a global movement of care within the church.” –Laura Howe
“The stories shared at the Summit remind us why we do this work. It’s sacred, and it’s deeply needed.” –Rebecca Bailey
“Hope Made Strong exists so no ministry leader feels like they have to carry the weight of care alone.” –Laura Howe
“It's amazing what God can do when we just show up and say yes to caring for others.” –Rebecca Bailey
Resources
Church Mental Health Summit
All Access Pass
Church Bundle
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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195: 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 each of the Summit's five tracks: Community & Compassion-in-Action, Family & Students, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Healing & Recovery, and Spiritual Formation & Caregiving.
With over 50 speakers lined up for this free, global event on October 10, this episode highlights key voices you won’t want to miss. Hear impactful clips from Laura Barringer, Kay Warren, Rev. Wen-Pin Leow, Becky Brown, and Dr. Saru Koirala. Whether you’ve already registered or are just hearing about the summit, this episode will inspire you to engage more deeply in the movement to equip the Church for mental health ministry.
Resources
Church Mental Health Summit
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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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, California. Ruth shares her unexpected journey into care ministry, the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on how churches care for their congregations, and her excitement about hosting a Church Mental Health Summit watch party. The conversation explores how to equip volunteers, create a culture of compassionate care, and redefine church beyond Sunday gatherings. Ruth’s story is one of resilience, faith, and deep compassion—a must-listen for anyone involved in care ministry.
Quotes
“We all have compassion that God gives us…” –Ruth Brooks
“It stripped away everything we put on church to find out that church, at its core, is community.” –Laura Howe
“I want our volunteers to feel confident—even a listening ear can make a huge difference.” –Ruth Brooks
“You don’t have to be a clinician to support someone well—you just need compassion and an attuned ear.” –Laura Howe
“To hear mental health talked about in church without shame or embarrassment—it was healing for so many.” –Ruth Brooks
Resources
Church Mental Health Summit
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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193: 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 support across every layer of your church community.
From identifying seasonal needs to aligning care initiatives with your church calendar and team capacity, this episode gives practical steps for intentional, strategic planning.
Whether you're just getting started or looking to bring more structure to your current efforts, this episode will help you move from reactive support to proactive, sustainable care.
Resources
Church Mental Health Summit
Annual Care Ministry Guide
People can access featured authors and speakers through our CAN or USA Amazon store. As an affiliate, HMS earns from qualifying purchases.
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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192: 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 in ministry leadership. They discuss how unaddressed pain can hinder our ability to lead well, the difference between spiritual bypassing and true transformation, and how inner healing enhances rather than diminishes spiritual maturity. With practical insights and a trauma-informed lens, this conversation invites ministry leaders to embrace both soul care and Christ-centered growth as vital components of sustainable caregiving.
Quotes
"You can't lead others where you haven't gone yourself." — Dr. Alison Cook
"Inner healing isn’t about navel-gazing; it’s about removing the barriers that keep you from loving others well." — Dr. Alison Cook
"When spiritual growth bypasses emotional health, we risk hurting the very people we’re trying to help." — Dr. Alison Cook
"Care ministry leaders often operate from a place of depletion—healing is not a luxury, it’s a necessity." — Laura Howe
"The Holy Spirit does some of his best work when we slow down enough to listen to what's going on inside." — Dr. Alison Cook
Resources
Alison Cook website
The Best of You podcast
Boundaries for Your Soul
The Best of You
I Shouldn’t Feel This Way
The Attuned Listener course
Access featured authors and speakers through our CAN or USA Amazon store. As an affiliate, HMS earns from qualifying purchases.
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
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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