The first episode of each month, we have a series-within-a-series, focusing on starting a ministry from the ground up. This first episode will help you develop the grit, the resolve to persevere through the frustration and challenges to serve your community more effectively. It is a hard and draining job, but well worth every heartache and struggle. Decide early on that you will persevere so you can be useful to your community when they need you most!

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

When someone is used to a lifestyle of trauma, it affects their physical and emotional development. This episode explains the differences between sympathetic nervous system dominance and parasympathetic dominance as well as typical behaviors to expect. As you serve those with a higher trauma background, often those in the poverty class but not always, you are more likely to see certain behaviors that can be labeled a problem but are really their brains attempt to provide a solution.

Through today’s episode you will gain a deeper understanding of How our brains and our bodies rewire because of the trauma that we have experienced.

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

In today’s episode, Suzanne discusses what trauma means as well as the various types of trauma. Then, she introduces listeners to the ACEs survey and what that score can mean for you and your future.

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

How does anxiety affect the people you serve and how can you help? In this episode, Suzanne presents several practical ways you can respond both biblically and physically. Minister more effectively to those battling anxiety and panic attacks through the information you’ll learn in this episode.

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

How can giving financial gifts to the less fortunate be harmful?? Recognize the poverty mindset behind their material poverty or frustrate yourself when your sacrifice doesn’t magically fix their problems. Understand how a worldview of poverty is different from a lifestyle of material poverty. Learn ways to navigate around these obstacles so that you can serve your community more effectively.

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

This episode features an overview of how poverty mindset, and the church’s response, can damage relationships and harm those you seek to serve and also yourselves. Understand why people ask for help from you rather than helping themselves. Gain insight into learned helplessness and entitlement mentality. Learn tools to combat it in your ministry.

Also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Google Podcasts, and everywhere you listen!

Check out this quick, funny video with Director, Suzanne, and find out why you should be encouraged when people tell you that you or your church family made them uncomfortable. As Suzanne shares this story about one of her clients, think about ways that you and your church are demonstrating a different way of life to the people you are ministering to, and how making them uncomfortable might be your best indication that you're making a difference in their lives!

Let me know what you think! I love to read (and respond to) your emails.

[email protected]

Suzanne is Founder and Director of a maternity home in Tennessee. She also offers coaching and training to churches and ministries, encouraging others to understand poverty, trauma, and addiction so that you can "Do Good - Well". Check out her most recent ebook, The Accidental Social Worker, as your free gift. 

What do you do when someone claims their bad behavior is Jesus' fault? Watch as Suzanne dissects their likely reasons and how you can nip that in the bud. 

Let me know what you think! I love to read (and respond to) your emails.

[email protected]

Suzanne is Founder and Director of a maternity home in Tennessee. She also offers coaching and training to churches and ministries, encouraging others to understand poverty, trauma, and addiction so that you can "Do Good - Well". Check out her most recent ebook, The Accidental Social Worker, as your free gift. 

Picture yourself with a roomful of 30 clients. Some of them are misbehaving in ways that derail your best efforts to help them.

Many teachers feel just like that. Every day.

Child psychologist Dr. Ross Greene, in his article on compassion fatigue, describes the troubled students whom many teachers serve:

“These students sometimes come from very unfortunate circumstances (trauma, neglect, family dysfunction, etc.) and exhibit a wide variety of maladaptive behaviors: hyperactivity, poor impulse control, inattention, inflexibility, poor tolerance for frustration, poor problem solving, social skills deficits, irritability, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse…the types of things one would see in a mental health clinic.

“Of course, there’s the rub, since schools weren’t designed to be mental health clinics and teachers aren’t typically trained as mental health professionals."

Can you relate?

Like you, teachers want to provide a service...