The Church Mental Health Summit is almost here, and this episode gives you a preview of what’s coming.

Laura shares short excerpts from six Summit sessions, one from each track, and highlights a few of the ideas that can help shape stronger, more thoughtful care ministry.

Because the goal of the Summit isn’t to consume as much information as possible. It’s to find the one or two ideas that help you think differently, strengthen your care, or take a meaningful next step.

John Swinton | Spiritual Formation
Healing is bigger than curing. John explores shalom, relationship, and what it means to experience healing even when symptoms remain.

Elias Olmer | Leadership
What if behavior is information? Elias challenges leaders to look beneath what they see and become curious about what someone may be carrying.

Rachael Newham | Mental Health & Well-Being
Language matters. Rachael explores how the words we use can either reduce or reinforce stigma around mental illness.

Dr. Zoricelis Davila | Healing & Recovery
Grief doesn’t always look the way we expect. Dr. Davila reminds leaders to stay present long after the immediate crisis has passed.

Chuck Hunt & Dr. Aaron Rosales | Families & Students
Supporting mental health and making disciples are not separate things. Churches can help young people experience belonging, hope, and the presence of Jesus.

Brian Fikkert | Community & Outreach
Care is not only about doing things for people. Brian explores the difference between relief and development and the importance of walking with people.

The 2026 Church Mental Health Summit is happening October 7, 8 & 9.

You’ll hear from speakers from around the world through live Zoom and pre-recorded sessions across six tracks.

Free access is available each day for 24 hours.

Register here:
https://www.churchmentalhealthsummit.com

What care should your church actually provide?

In this coaching call, Laura talks with Eric Kuhn from Grace Spring Bible Church about how to discern what care belongs inside the church and what may be better supported through trusted partnerships.

As Grace Spring builds on its longstanding connection with Response Care Center, Laura and Eric explore how church vision, existing strengths, and congregational needs can help determine where to focus. They also talk about developing a culture of care, equipping group leaders as shepherd leaders, identifying administrative care roles, and building systems that support relationships rather than replace them.

You’ll hear practical ideas for knowing where to start, when to partner, and how to grow care in a way that is sustainable for your church.

“We need both. We need vine workers and we need trellis workers.”
Eric Kuhn

“We don’t want to reinvent the wheel.”
Eric Kuhn

“You might be scared out of your mind to even consider it, but we really want to walk with you.”
Eric Kuhn

“We have to make it our own, and we have to make it in a way that really fits us as a church.”
Eric Kuhn

Care Alignment Framework
Identify the intersection between your church’s vision, strengths, and the needs of your congregation so you can discern what care to build, what may need to wait, and where partnership can help.
https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-alignment

Care Coordinator Resource
Explore the role of a care coordinator, including how administrative leadership, resource connection, and follow-up can strengthen your church’s care ministry.
https://www.hopemadestrong.org/care-coordinator-job-description

Free Care Ministry Planning Mini-Course
Join us in November for a free mini-course designed to help you assess your current care ministry, identify priorities, and prepare for 2027.
https://www.hopemadestrong.org/clarify-course

Website: HopeMadeStrong.org

Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube
Amazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link

What do you do when someone trusts you enough to say, “I’m struggling with addiction”?

For many ministry leaders, that moment can feel overwhelming. You care deeply, but may not know what to say, where to begin, or how much responsibility you should carry.

In this episode, Laura Howe and Rebecca Bailey talk about how churches can respond to addiction with compassion, curiosity, and healthy boundaries. They explore why addiction is often connected with trauma, grief, and mental health, and why someone’s recovery journey cannot be reduced to one simple solution or program.

Together, they share practical questions ministry leaders can ask, common responses to avoid, and ways churches can connect people with appropriate treatment, peer support, and recovery resources.

This conversation is a reminder that churches do not need to become treatment centres or counselling practices to care well. The church can offer belonging, purpose, hope, prayer, discipleship, and long-term companionship.

You do not need to know every step of someone’s recovery journey. You simply need to listen well, help them find their next faithful step, and continue walking alongside them.

“When someone shares their story with you, they’re feeling desperate and they’re wanting some hope. They’re wanting to be heard.” Rebecca Bailey

“You don’t want to jump into solutions and trying to get to the underlying details of things. Instead, you really want to say, ‘Thank you for telling me. I’m glad that you’ve been vulnerable enough to share this with me.’” Rebecca Bailey

“Questions are offered as curiosity so that they feel they can express and share and go deeper.” Laura Howe

“You have to let the person also be a participant in their recovery journey. You can’t do things for other people.” Rebecca Bailey

“It’s not knowing all the answers. It’s just loving the person that God has placed right in front of you.” Laura Howe

• Curious Questions for Care Conversations
  A practical list of compassionate questions to help you listen well, understand what support someone already has, and help them identify their next faithful step.
• Continuum of Care
  Learn more about the different roles of pastors, peer-support leaders, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, medical professionals, and other care providers.
• Faith-Based Recovery Resources
  Explore trusted recovery programs and resources, including Celebrate Recovery and Life Recovery.

Project Exodus - https://www.projectexodus.net/

Life Recovery - https://newlife.com/groups/

Re:Generation - https://www.watermark.org/ministries/regeneration-recovery

Celebrate Recovery - https://celebraterecovery.com/

• Church Mental Health Summit
  Access practical, hope-filled training to help your church respond wisely to addiction, trauma, grief, mental health challenges, and other complex care needs.

Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
Socials: Facebook – Instagram – YouTube
Amazon store: 🇨🇦Link 🇺🇸Link