Church Mental Health Summit returns Oct. 7-10 with free global training for ministry leaders

Hope Made Strong will host the 2026 Church Mental Health Summit online Oct. 7-10, offering free registration, workshops and resources for pastors, care teams and clinicians. The event is designed to help churches move from mental health awareness to practical, sustainable care.

Why it matters: - Churches are facing more mental health, grief, trauma and recovery needs, and many leaders want practical help rather than another awareness campaign. - The summit is built to give pastors, ministry teams and lay leaders tools they can use to strengthen care inside churches and communities. - Free access lowers the barrier for leaders regardless of denomination, location, ministry size or budget.

What happened: - Hope Made Strong will host the 2026 Church Mental Health Summit online Oct. 7-10, 2026. - The event centers on the theme “Get Equipped to Care.” - Laura Howe, founder of Hope Made Strong, said the summit is designed to close the gap between compassion and confidence in ministry care. - The summit is open to pastors, care teams, ministry leaders, clinicians, volunteers and lay leaders.

The details: - The program now spans three full days of training, plus a bonus day on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10. - Attendees will get keynote sessions, practical workshops, pre-recorded teaching, downloadable resources and conversations focused on care ministry. - Organizers say the summit will feature 45+ speakers from ministry, theology, mental health, leadership and care. - Featured speakers include Ruth Haley Barton, John Swinton, Drew Hyun, Davey Blackburn, Chuck Hunt, Dr. Brian Fikkert, Evan Owens and Reina Olmeda. - The event is organized around six care areas: Spiritual Formation, Leadership, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Healing & Recovery, Community & Outreach, and Families & Students. - Topics will include spiritual rhythms, leader resilience, trauma, grief, addiction and recovery, suicide prevention, family and student ministry, community partnerships, mental health support in the church and sustainable care ministries. - Free registration is available. - Additional options include an All Access Pass and Church Licensing. - The event website is Church Mental Health Summit.

Between the lines: - Hope Made Strong is positioning the summit as part of a broader effort to make churches places of practical support, belonging and hope. - The format suggests the organization is trying to move the discussion from theory to implementation with tools that smaller and larger churches can actually use. - The mix of clinicians, theologians and ministry leaders points to an effort to bridge spiritual care and mental health practice.

What's next: - Registration and participation will lead into the Oct. 7-10 online summit. - Attendees will be able to use the training and resources to build or strengthen care ministries after the event ends. - Hope Made Strong is continuing its work to equip local churches with best practices, tools and strategies for sustainable care.

The bottom line: - The Church Mental Health Summit is set to give church leaders a free, global training event focused on practical care, not just mental health awareness.