E211. You Don’t Have to Rush Care: A Coaching Conversation on Grief and Trust
In this episode of The Care Ministry Podcast, Laura Howe is joined by pastor and care ministry leader Chad Clements for a coaching-style conversation about grief, leadership, and the pressure many ministry leaders feel to move faster than they should.
Chad shares openly about stepping into a newly created care role without a clear roadmap and how his own journey through grief and lament has shaped the way he thinks about care. Together, Laura and Chad talk about why care ministry does not begin with programs or systems, but with listening, trust, and taking time to understand what is already happening in a church.
This episode names a tension many leaders feel but rarely say out loud. The internal pressure to produce results, build structure, and make sure no one falls through the cracks, even when leadership has not placed those expectations on them.
Along the way, Laura introduces simple care frameworks, shares practical tools for grief support, and reflects on why going slow is not a setback but a faithful and wise approach to care. This conversation is especially helpful for leaders who are building care ministries from the ground up, navigating transition, or trying to care well without burning out.
Quotes
“It’s more my own personal journey of going through grief and lament. Just doing too many funerals, seeing too many tragedies, and seeing how powerful it was to meet God in the midst of it.”
Chad Clements
“The leaders haven’t pressured me, but I feel that internal pressure to produce and to develop what they’ve called me to develop.”
Chad Clements
“Care doesn’t start with systems. It starts with listening and slowing down enough to see what’s already happening.”
Laura Howe
Resources
- CareNote
- Notebird
- Planning Center
- GriefShare
- The Loss Foundation
- Stephen Ministry
- New Life Ministries
- Edmund Ng
- Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
- HMS Amazong store 🇨🇦Link, 🇺🇸Link
Coaching and Support
At Hope Made Strong, we walk alongside church leaders as they listen well, discern next steps, and build care ministries that are sustainable and relational. Coaching is not about rushing to solutions. It is about creating space to notice, reflect, and respond wisely.
Apply to receive coaching on the podcast
Connect with Hope Made Strong
Website: HopeMadeStrong.org
