197: Heart for People, Plan for Care: Making Benevolence Sustainable with Shellie Albright
In this episode, Laura Howe sits down with Shelli Albright, Director of Care and Connection at Fortville Christian Church and a graduate of the Care Ministry Cohort. Shelli gives an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to lead a growing care ministry—and the tensions that come with wanting to help everyone while building sustainable systems.
Through a real-life coaching conversation, you’ll hear how Shelli is bringing unity to siloed ministries, developing shared criteria for benevolence decisions, and creating a culture of collaboration both within her church and in the wider community. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just ready to take your next strategic step, this episode offers practical encouragement and a vision for care that’s both compassionate and structured.
Quotes
- “We feel like we're just kind of answering the same questions over and over and in the moment. And it just feels very rushed and hurried. So I’m hoping that we can get that more organized and just make the decisions once—have the same criteria—and not have to keep kind of going through this haphazard process.”
— Shelli Albright - “Care ministry can be sacred and structured—it doesn’t have to be chaotic.”
— Laura Howe - “Most care leaders are building ministries on the fly—coaching gives structure to that passion.”
— Laura Howe - “Shelli’s story is a reminder that the presence of complexity doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It often means your church is becoming a trusted source of hope.”
— Laura Howe
Resources
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
