In this episode, Laura Howe speaks with Pastor Chris and Samantha from Grace Family Church in Tampa, Florida. They discuss the unique dynamics of their multi-campus church, the challenges of growing a culture of care, and their plans to utilize the Church Mental Health Summit as a tool for staff training.

Pastor Chris shares his 13 years of experience in care ministry and how Grace Family Church has expanded from one to eight campuses. The conversation dives into the importance of resourcing their care teams and the exciting potential of integrating mental health training for their staff.

Samantha, a care ministry coordinator, highlights the significance of building a culture of care that resonates with their diverse congregation. Together, they reflect on the church’s mission to grow disciples and equip leaders, emphasizing that care is a central part of their strategy.

Quotes

• “Care is one of those foxholes... when the real difficult stuff shows up, people can’t wait to find the care pastor.”
• “Care is not just one size fits all... we really want to create strong and healthy disciples to carry out the mission of care.”
• “The local church becoming a safe space for people to feel like they belong is the hope of our community.”
• “We're not building roads anymore; we're building signs to help people find the care they need.”

Resources

• Grace Family Church Care page
• Grace Family Church (CPR)
• Church Mental Health Summit Guide

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Website: HopeMadeStrong.org

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In a new segment of this podcast with guest, Rebecca Bailey, we’re exploring the benefits of creating a Community of Practice within your church. Listen in for tips on how shared experiences, knowledge, and support lead to stronger, more effective care ministries. Laura and Rebecca also share about the best way to put the new Hope Made Strong Online Community into practice–during the Church Mental Health Summit!

Plus, learn about the new Coaching with Care segment and how you can get involved!

Quotes

• People are craving community.
• When we’re in harmony, we’re actually noticing what’s happening in our body–that’s in the body of Christ too.

Resources

• Hope Made Strong Online Community
• Care Ministry Cohort
• Community of Practice Guidebook

Connect with Hope Made Strong

Website: HopeMadeStrong.org

Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube

Melinda Moore shares her personal journey from aspiring to be a medical doctor to finding her passion in suicidology and suicide prevention. Her experience with loss and her work in clinical psychology have driven her to integrate lived experience with clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of empathy and personal insight in mental health support. Melinda highlights the role faith communities can play in suicide prevention by providing spiritual and peer support, advocating for open conversations about mental health, and addressing stigma. She also discusses her upcoming conference, "Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations," which aims to educate clergy and faith leaders on these issues, with the goal of bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and faith-based support.

Quotes

• As I grew stronger, I was then able to make choices that were based upon not just my own personal preferences, but also what I thought God had in mind for me.
• This experience of loss…got me curious about why we weren’t talking about suicide.
• Churches are full of people who have gone through suffering and have wisdom to share.
• Suicidal people are ambivalent. It’s not that they want to die. It’s that they don’t want to live in the pain that they’re in.

Resources

• Conference: Addressing Mental Health and Suicide in Communities and Congregations: A Faith-based Approach
• melinda.moore@eku.edu
• EKU Psychology Clinic
• After the Suicide Funeral, by Melinda Moore
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Connect with Hope Made Strong

Website: HopeMadeStrong.org

Socials: Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – YouTube