On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains sit down with child advocate Patrice Mugg to discuss the critical issue of child safety and abuse prevention. Patrice brings a wealth of personal and professional experience as a former special education teacher, long-time board chair of the Missouri Children's Trust Fund, foster parent, and adoptive mother.

In this first part of the conversation, Patrice shares her family's multi-generational connection to MBCH , recounting her father's upbringing at the Bridgeton campus in the 1930s and how that legacy of care influenced her own family's foster-adoption journey. She also introduces Stewards of Children®, an evidence-based training program by Darkness to Light designed to equip adults with practical tools to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. Together, they explore the reality of childhood trauma, the importance of proactive prevention, and the vital role churches and communities play in keeping children safe.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains sit down with Patrice Mugg, a passionate advocate for children’s emotional and physical safety with decades of experience serving families across Missouri. Patrice brings both professional expertise and deeply personal experience to her work as a mother of four, grandmother of seven, and adoptive parent through the foster care system.

In this moving conversation, Patrice shares her family's multi-generational connection to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, tracing her story back to the 1930s when her father and his siblings were cared for at the MBCH Bridgeton campus. She reflects on how that legacy of faith, safety, and care shaped her father's life and inspired her own journey as a foster and adoptive parent.

The conversation also explores Patrice's work as an authorized facilitator for Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children® training. She breaks down the evidence-based program, which equips adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Patrice discusses the prevalence of abuse, the long-term impact of trauma, and why proactive adult education and open conversations are essential to creating safer environments for children in our churches, schools, and communities.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains conclude their two-part conversation with Trina Cruz, Field Director for CarePortal. In Part 2, Trina explores how CarePortal serves youth aging out of foster care, supports kinship placements like grandparents on fixed incomes, and offers a flexible avenue for local churches, businesses, and individuals to meet real-time needs. Through inspiring success stories—including a young man receiving a new bicycle to get to work and a community coming together to repair a damaged roof—Trina illustrates how CarePortal mobilizes the community to keep vulnerable children safe and connected. Tune in to discover how your church or business can step into action at zero cost and bring gospel-centered hope to families right outside your back door.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains sit down with Trina Cruz, Field Director for CarePortal across Missouri and the Great Lakes Region. With a rich background spanning retail management, business ownership, and international missions work in Latin America, Trina shares how God prepared her heart and skill set to step into full-time ministry advocating for vulnerable children and families.

Trina explains what CarePortal is—a care-sharing technology platform that bridges the gap between child-serving professionals (like caseworkers and school counselors) and local churches ready to respond to real-time family crises. The conversation explores the heart behind the mission, highlighting how CarePortal empowers congregations to put "love in motion" by meeting tangible needs like beds, clothing, or utility assistance. Trina shares the current scope of CarePortal in Missouri, serving across 39 counties with 363 active churches, and details how businesses and individuals can also get involved as "Community Champions" to bring hope, dignity, and the gospel to families right in their own backyards.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains continue their conversation with Kathy Woods, Clinical Director at MBCH. On this episode, Kathy addresses the heavy and urgent topic of suicide, sharing sobering statistics and providing practical guidance on how to recognize warning signs and ask direct, life-saving questions. She highlights key mental health resources—including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, NAMI, and Christian counseling organizations—while offering advice for workplace mental health and self-care. Kathy also breaks down how the MBCH Counseling Center integrates evidence-based therapies to treat individuals and families across Missouri, reminding listeners that God's grace is sufficient and that true transformation begins with renewing our minds.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains sit down with Kathy Woods, Clinical Director at Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, to explore the vital role of mental health services in bringing hope, healing, and restoration. With 23 years of service at MBCH, Kathy shares impactful stories of how compassionate care and counseling help break generational cycles of trauma. The conversation demystifies mental health, defining it as general emotional well-being and resilience, while distinguishing it from diagnosable mental health challenges. Kathy offers encouragement to anyone experiencing guilt or shame around mental health struggles, emphasizing that healing is a process best navigated with non-judgmental support.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rayns continue their conversation with Outreach Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and Intern Coordinator Von Hulin. Drawing on her decades of experience in social work and church engagement, Von details how MBCH collaborates with local churches, social workers, and community organizations to meet the critical needs of children and families. She shares heartwarming stories from her career—including a baby shower event hosted by a church that nearly turned chaotic when she stood on a folding chair—and explains how simple, practical acts of service like providing beds, duffel bags, or new clothing can lessen trauma for children entering foster care.

Von also breaks down how the MBCH "Campus Store" operates as a central sorting hub for tangible donations, giving caseworkers immediate access to essential supplies for incoming foster youth. Additionally, she outlines future volunteer opportunities—including upcoming day-habilitation programs, adolescent independence classes, and campus maintenance projects—while emphasizing how churches of all sizes can partner with MBCH. Whether by organizing donation drives, fulfilling Care Portal requests, or offering ongoing volunteer support, this episode provides a clear roadmap for churches looking to turn compassion into active, gospel-centered community outreach.

On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Raines visit with Von Hulin, Outreach Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and Intern Coordinator for MBCH. Drawing on her 30-year career with the agency and 37 years in child welfare, Von reflects on the transformative impact MBCH employees and volunteers have on vulnerable youth and families. She details her wide-ranging responsibilities—from coordinating campus volunteer projects, managing interns, and directing Care Portal requests to overseeing the agency’s massive annual Christmas gift distribution for more than 800 individuals. Through touching personal stories, including providing a simple push on a swing for a young resident and finding a long-wished-for pair of shoes for a child in need, Von illustrates how small acts of care convey worth to those in crisis. She also encourages churches, donors, and volunteers to connect with MBCH to meet specific tangible needs and help support the dedicated staff on the front lines.