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The Care Ministry Podcast

The Care Ministry Podcast

Written by: Laura Howe
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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. Christianity Hygiene & Healthy Living Ministry & Evangelism Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Spirituality
Episodes
  • E220. Building Care That Grows With Your Church
    May 28 2026

    Build care that grows with your church by balancing relationships, systems, and sustainable support.

    In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by Laura Mulligan, Care Coordinator and Chaplain for a slightly different kind of conversation; less coaching, more shared learning.

    Laura reflects on 10 years of building care ministry at Grace Fellowship, growing from a few simple teams to supporting a church of over 5,000 people. As the church continues to grow, they explore the tension between relational care and scalable systems.

    This episode is for leaders asking:
    How do we care well as we grow?
    How do we support our teams?
    And what needs to evolve next?

    Quotes

    “Ministry, and especially care ministry, is built at the speed of relationship.” Laura Mulligan

    “I don’t want to continue moving forward in ministry with a small church mindset.” Laura Mulligan

    “We don’t want anybody to fall through the cracks.” Laura Howe

    Resources

    Care Protocol: Receive, Respond, Report, Follow-Up

    Grace Fellowship Community Church

    HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦Link
    HMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link

    Connect with Hope Made Strong

    Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
    Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • E219. Mental Health Isn’t a Program: Rethinking Discipleship in the Church
    May 14 2026

    In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey explore a question many churches are asking right now: we care about mental health… but what do we actually do with it?

    As awareness has grown, the challenge has shifted from understanding mental health to integrating it into the life of the church. But with so many resources and approaches available, many care leaders feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

    Laura and Rebecca unpack this tension and offer a simpler way forward—one that moves beyond programs and focuses on integrating mental health into discipleship through relational presence. Instead of trying to fix or have all the answers, they highlight the power of listening, curiosity, and being with people in the middle of their struggles.

    This episode is especially helpful for care leaders who want to support mental health in a way that is clear, sustainable, and rooted in everyday church life.

    Quotes

    “We’re not called to know more… we are actually called to be with people.” Rebecca Bailey

    “It’s harder to sit in the uncomfortable, messy space of someone struggling than it is to have a solution.” Rebecca Bailey

    We don’t need more programs—we need a clearer way to care for people.” Laura Howe

    “There’s a difference between caring for people and carrying everything for them.” Rebecca Bailey


    Resources

    Mental Health Sunday Resources

    The Attuned Listener Course

    Email for more info at hello@hopemadestrong.org


    Connect with Hope Made Strong

    Website: HopeMadeStrong.org


    Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

    Show More Show Less
    54 mins
  • E218. More Connected, Yet More Lonely: Rethinking Discipleship with Rebecca Taguma
    May 7 2026

    In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined again by Rebecca Taguma from the American Bible Society and the Trauma Healing Institute.

    Together, they explore what many churches are quietly experiencing—everyday overwhelm, loneliness, and emotional exhaustion—and how this is shaping the way we care for and disciple people.

    This conversation reframes emotional resilience as part of discipleship, not a separate ministry, and offers a hopeful, relational path forward for churches.

    They also introduce Anchored in Hope, an accessible resource designed to help churches build connection, resilience, and support in everyday life.

    This episode is especially helpful for leaders who feel stretched, are carrying more than they should alone, and are looking for practical ways to build a culture of care.

    Quotes

    “It’s really easy to be lonely in a crowd if it doesn’t feel safe.” — Rebecca Taguma

    “Church leaders are struggling right now… it’s been unrelenting.” — Rebecca Taguma

    “God created us to be in relationship with one another—and to heal in relationship with one another.” — Rebecca Taguma

    “Care happens in relationship. Programs are just the vehicle.” — Laura Howe

    Resources
    • Anchored in Hope – Trauma Healing Institute
    • Healing the Wounds of Trauma Small Group

    HMS Amazon Store 🇨🇦Link
    HMS Amazon Store 🇺🇸Link

    Connect with Hope Made Strong

    Website: HopeMadeStrong.org

    Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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