In this episode, we present a compelling session from our virtual conference, Voices of Hope 2023, featuring Amy Skogerboe. Amy challenges listeners to see their brokenness as sovereign opportunities for God's plan to unfold and His greater story to come alive through their lives. Tune in to be inspired and to gain a new perspective on how your personal struggles can be part of a divine narrative. Don’t forget to share this episode with friends on social media and explore more resources available at Fresh Hope (https://freshhope.us/). Tune in to additional episodes on our website: https ..read more

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Caroline Beidler and her mother, Diana Dalles, co-authors of the book You Are Not Your Trauma. Together, they share their powerful journey through trauma within their family, including substance abuse and the profound impact it had on their lives. They discuss the challenges they faced, the healing process, and how they found strength and resilience through their faith. Caroline and Diana's story is one of hope and inspiration, demonstrating that it is possible to overcome even the darkest of times. Their insights offer valuable lessons on dealing with t ..read more

In this episode, Pastor Brad interviews Jesslyn McCutcheon, who has lived with bipolar 1 disorder for the past 24 years. Jesslyn shares her journey of coming to terms with her mental illness and realizing her calling to minister in this area. Last year, she began speaking at different churches about creating stigma-free environments and the importance of spirituality and faith in mental health. Jesslyn is an active advocate for NAMI, speaking for their IOOV and NAMIFaithnet programs, and is studying to become a mental health coach through the American Association of Christian Counseling. She i ..read more

In this episode of the Fresh Hope for Mental Health podcast, Pastor Brad sits down with special guests Mark and Janet Soppitt, who bravely share their journey through a 7-year depression that nearly cost them everything, including Mark's life. Through their unwavering faith and resilience, they emerged from the darkness, rebuilt their lives, and now serve as trauma healing facilitators with the Canadian Bible Society. Mark's album "Take My Life and Let It Be" reflects their journey, while their vision for a life coaching business aims to support ministry couples in crisis. Join us as we glean ..read more

Welcome back to the second part of our podcast series, "30 Ways to Make Your Life Worse." If you haven't listened to the first part yet, we highly recommend starting there to catch up on the insightful discussion we had on the critical roadblocks to personal growth and fulfillment. Today Pastor Brad continues his exploration of these roadblocks, offering invaluable insights for recognizing and overcoming them. Dive deeper into the remaining 15 ways we inadvertently sabotage our own lives and explore how these roadblocks hinder personal growth and fulfillment. Don't forget to catch up on the fi ..read more

In this enlightening episode, Pastor Brad delves into the crucial topic of maintaining positivity amidst life's challenges, offering invaluable insights through 8 thought-provoking questions. As life often presents obstacles and trials, having practical tools to navigate them becomes essential. Among the questions explored are: "Is this truly worth becoming upset over at this moment?" and "What lessons can I extract from this experience?" Tune in to this podcast to discover the remaining questions and empower yourself with strategies for fostering resilience and optimism in the face of adversi ..read more

In this podcast episode, Pastor Brad engages in a conversation with Peggy Rice, who shares her journey of encountering Fresh Hope during a challenging battle with depression. Peggy recounts how she sought peer-to-peer support for mental health struggles and discovered Fresh Hope, a turning point in her life. Currently residing in Colorado, Peggy now volunteers as a Hope Coach Trainer. Hope Coaching, a program offered by Fresh Hope, extends a lifeline to individuals navigating crises or battling with hopelessness. For those seeking connection with a Hope Coach, the podcast encourages them to vi ..read more

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 info@FreshHope.us 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:  www.FreshHope4MentalHealth.com. Pastor Brad Hoefs is an ordained Pastor and Member of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations. He has been pastoring since 1985, and he is current ..read more

Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, especially when it reminds us of the loss of a loved one or past traumatic experiences. In this podcast Pastor Brad shares some insights on how to deal with Christmas in a better way. Don't forget to share this podcast with someone who needs hope this Christmas season. 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 info@FreshHope.us with a comment or question we will share on our next podcast.   If you are list ..read more

In this episode Pastor Brad discusses with Kevin Abbot and Brian Runge the experience of participating in a Healing the Heart Wounds of Ministry retreat. Don't miss this interview to learn more and don’t forget to share it with your pastor or a friend of yours in ministry. Kevin Abbott serves as the Associate Director/Chief of Staff for the Union Baptist Association in Houston, TX. He has been a pastor and a leader in churches throughout the state of Texas for the past 25 years. His heart and passion is to encourage, care for, and coach pastors and church leaders. Kevin leads Th ..read more