Fresh Hope for Mental Health
With almost 20 years in leadership within social work and ministry, author and recovery advocate Caroline Beidler, MSW, aims to answer this question while encouraging women in or seeking recovery to connect with their purpose and connect in community with each other. Her new book (releasing in March 2023): Downstairs Church: Finding Hope in the Grit of Addiction and Trauma Recovery is a gritty and grace-filled story about the miracles that happen in the basement of the recovery community. Caroline brings a vulnerability and hope that is needed in today’s addiction and trauma-saturated world....
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Karen Reynolds is a former teacher, coach, mentor, and a mental health thriver! She has worked with teens in a variety of settings from the classroom to the orphanage. Her travels to work with teens have taken her to Russia, Africa, and Haiti, however, she has spent most of her adult life with teens in the school setting. In those 40 plus years Karen has observed the decline in teens both emotionally and mentally. Many classroom students have become challenged to build healthy relationships and manage stress. Establishing a mental health diagnosis is often the road to recovery for teens. Yet,...
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Criticism can be tough, but Pastor Brad has some valuable insights on how to handle it with grace and grow from it. We encourage you to share this podcast with your friends via your social media connections. After listening to this podcast, we encourage you to email us at [email protected] with a comment or question we will share on our next podcast. If you are listening to this podcast on iTunes, we encourage you to comment on the podcast. Or you can leave a voice message for us on the site: . Pastor Brad Hoefs is an ordained Pastor and Member of the...
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Jeremy was a USMC Infantry Officer in Iraq, has received a Veteran Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for Combat Valor, is a former pastor, and Co-Founder of Mighty Oaks Foundation (). He founded Mighty Oaks in order to help veterans adjust back to civilian life and deal with PTSD from a Christian perspective. Here are some possible ideas for discussion with Jeremy: Roadmap for overcoming trauma and PTSD through the Gospel Using Jeremy’s experiences in war to explain how to move forward when you don’t know what to do How we can find purpose and redeem messy situations We encourage you...
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In this inspiring episode, Pastor Brad reminds us that life is made up of little things: being present in the moment, loving the people we're with, and truly caring about them. These small acts can make a significant impact on our journey towards progress. 🌟 If you’re ready to slow down, let go of what's holding you back, and step into a brighter future, I highly recommend listening to this empowering podcast. 🎙️✨ We encourage you to share this podcast with your friends via your social media connections. After listening to this podcast, we encourage you to email us...
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Exciting Podcast Alert! Hey everyone! I wanted to share an incredible podcast episode that touched my heart and shed light on an important topic. In this episode, Cristóbal Krusen, the talented writer, director, and performer of the powerful movie "Let Me Have My Son," opens up about his personal journey as a filmmaker and how his son's battle with schizophrenia inspired him to create this moving film. "Let Me Have My Son" takes us on a gripping exploration of the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness and their families, providing a thought-provoking and dramatic...
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Join us as we dive into the inspiring story of Tim Fall, a judge who faced the challenges of running for elections for judge, receiving a mental health diagnosis, battling suicidal thoughts, and caring for his ill father. Tim's journey is a testament to the fact that it's okay to admit when we have a mental health diagnosis. It doesn't diminish our worth as individuals, Christians, or children of God. We all need help, and seeking support doesn't make us weak; it shows strength and a willingness to grow. Having the support of medical professionals, friends, and a Christian community is...
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New Podcast Alert: Protecting Our Children and Supporting Survivors The alarming number of men in jail for sexual abuse calls for our attention. It's crucial to understand that there are underlying factors and trauma behind these actions. We are excited to share a powerful podcast episode by Dr. Kelley, specifically aimed at parents. In this episode, she delves into effective ways to protect our children from sexual harassers and identify potential red flags. It's an essential resource for every parent to ensure the safety and well-being of their children. If you have experienced sexual...
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Hello everyone! I want to invite you to this inspiring podcast in which Pastor Brad interviews K.T. Griffiths, who talks about her book "Shhh...Mental Illness, The Silent Disease: A Mother's Heart," and her experience as a mother of a daughter with mental health issues. K.T. invites all of us parents to spend time with our children and, above all, to believe in them from an early age and to be attentive to the silent signals they may be transmitting. How we communicate with them is important and let them know that we are listening and believing in their words. This is a lifelong...
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Friends, We had an incredible podcast interview with Dr. Lubberstedt, where he discusses the rise in cases of depression, stress, and suicide among adolescents after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prevention, emotional regulation, and stress management are key measures to prevent mental health crises. Self-care is important for a healthy mind and body, as is creating a comfortable environment. Parents play an important role in the mental health of their teenagers, and Dr. Lubberstedt emphasizes the importance of listening to them. The church and Christian leaders can play a powerful role in helping...
info_outlineIn nearly two decades of vocational ministry, I’ve experienced the wounds and weariness that we pastors endure. Ministry hurts. It’s hard to remain resilient. But, ministry itself is not the issue. It’s the what, how and who. What patterns keep us healthy? How do we maintain a sense of hope? Who are the trusted confidants that come alongside to encourage and exhort us?
These are questions I explore with my pastor friends and coaching clients. They are borne out of lessons that I learned the hard way. I went to an excellent seminary (Covenant Theological in St. Louis). I gained a great deal of knowledge. When my family moved to a new city to plant a church in 2009, I was not fully prepared for the challenges of pastoral ministry. During ten years of church-planting and previous years serving in a variety of roles, the Lord gently and graciously exposed my shortcomings while also shaping my character and sharpening my mind.
In those early days…My emotional intelligence was a bit lacking. I hadn’t established healthy patterns of work and rest. My boundaries were unclear. I didn’t have reasonable expectations for myself or others. My tendency to feel profound shame was not addressed. I was prone to facing my deepest struggles alone. Of course, I was wounded and weary. It makes sense that I was always anxious and exhausted. It should come as no surprise that I burned out.
When I stepped down from my role in the church plant in August of 2020, the level of burnout became apparent as well as the heavy toll ministry had taken on my family. As I began processing my pain and taking steps to get healthier, the Lord gave me a new calling and opportunity. The care of pastors.
That’s how Fresh Hope for Pastors got its start. Pastor Brad and I share a burden for pastors and their families. We have experience and expertise that enables Fresh Hope to be a blessing for ministry leaders. We know how to help pastors develop new skills and healthier habits. Fresh Hope for Pastors offers insight and strategies that will keep leaders hopeful when life and ministry seem overwhelming. We are committed to creating an atmosphere online and in-person where pastors and spouses can benefit from peer-to-peer support.
One of our programs is called Healing the Heart Wounds of Ministry. Over the course of a two-and-a-half day retreat, ministry couples have the rare privilege to speak freely about the joys and pains of the pastorate. Participants are introduced to ideas and tools that aid them in addressing grief and trauma. They learn to understand their emotions on a deeper level while also considering strategies for overcoming negative feelings that hinder them in life and work. Healing the Heart Wounds of Ministry serves as a balm for the soul and a resource that cultivates maturity and increases resilience.
As we engage with pastors through retreats, cohorts and other means, the mission of Fresh Hope for Pastors is to equip church leaders with the necessary tools and support for a lifetime of fruitfulness even as they experience the professional and personal challenges of pastoral ministry. We are committed to nurturing the spiritual, relational, emotional, and mental well-being of church leaders and their loved ones, so they will enrich the vitality of their churches and ministries.