On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains conclude their conversation with Dawn Hensley, Program Director for the Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Ministry at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. In this part, Dawn highlights the crucial role local churches play in welcoming adults with IDD into full, active participation within the body of Christ. From singing in the choir and greeting guests to participating in sports, IDD adults thrive when congregations create intentional opportunities for them to exercise their God-given gif
On this episode of the MBCBH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains highlight the vital work of the individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Ministry at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. Joining the conversation is Dawn Hensley, Program Director in Peculiar, Missouri, who shares how MBCH serves adults ages 18 and older living with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. Rather than focusing solely on basic care, the IDD Ministry strives to create a dignified, supportive environment where clients are empowered to build independence, pursu
On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains continue their conversation with TFC recruiters Kimberly Cooper and Mary Schneider to unpack practical ways churches can wrap around and support foster families. Kimberly and Mary detail the core mission of Finding 15—a strategic initiative seeking 15 new TFC foster homes in the short term, with a long-term vision of opening 15 new foster homes across every Missouri county over the next five years. They discuss the critical need for families willing to open their hearts to teenagers and larger sibling groups, addressing co
On this episode of the MBCH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains sit down with TFC recruiters Kimberly Cooper and Mary Schneider from Western Missouri to discuss Treatment Family Care (TFC). They break down what TFC is, the unique needs of children in this program, and how church communities can surround and support TFC foster families. Kimberly and Mary share about the higher level of specialized training TFC parents receive to care for children stepping down from residential treatment or managing elevated emotional, behavioral, or medical needs. They highlight the intensive, 24/7 supp
On this episode of the MBCBH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains continue their look into the Family Resource Development program at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. They are joined once again by Jasmine Hamilton Baldwin, Assistant Program Director for Family Resource Development, and Angie Gentry, Family Resource Development Supervisor from the Joplin office. Together, they share the raw data and look at the actual realities surrounding youth in foster care, helping to dismantle common misconceptions along the way. Listeners will discover that the standard face of foster care is
On this episode of the MBCBH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rains introduce listeners to the Family Resource Development program at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. They sit down with Jasmine Hamilton Baldwin, Assistant Program Director for Family Resource Development, and Angie Gentry, Family Resource Development Supervisor from the Joplin office. Together, they discuss the critical purpose and function of the program in recruiting, training, and supporting foster parents to care for youth across Missouri. The conversation highlights the sobering math and significant need for spec
On this episode of the MBCBH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rayns sit down for part 2 of their conversation with Heather Gain, the Director of Communications and Outreach at Rooftop Church in Affton, Missouri. In this episode, the team dives into the practical reality of living out a culture of service. For Rooftop, Care Portal is just one piece of the puzzle. Heather walks us through their multi-faceted local ministries, including their 18-year partnership with the Affton Christian Food Pantry and their dedicated "Street Team" homeless outreach. Lead by veteran coordinator Justin Stone
On this episode of the MBCBH Podcast, hosts Nate Melton and Jasper Rayns sit down with Heather Gain, the Director of Communications and Outreach at Rooftop Church in Affton, Missouri. Heather shares her unique journey from working as a crime reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to transitioning into vocational ministry. She opens up about the heart and personality of Rooftop Church—a community that famously "takes Jesus seriously, but doesn't take themselves seriously" (yes, this includes throwing Easter candy off the church roof!). The conversation dives deep into what it truly means to b
In this second part of their conversation, hosts Nate and Jasper delve deeper into the Stronger Families Services program with guests Yolanda Johnson and Ruby Latoya Harris. Ruby share insights into the program's operations and its critical expansion following a devastating tornado in St. Louis City. They share that the program uses an assessment tool tailored to identify the unique needs of each family and connects them with necessary support services, including individual therapy, case management, housing resources, food pantries, and financial empowerment. Ruby also highlights the Missouri
In part 1 of this segment, hosts Nate and Jasper focus on the Stronger Families Services program, designed to stabilize, strengthen, and preserve vulnerable families in the St. Louis area. They are joined by Program Director Yolanda Johnson and Supervisor Ruby Latoya Harris, who share insights into the program's operations and its critical expansion following a devastating tornado in St. Louis City. Yolanda highlights how the program, entirely funded by MBCH, was launched in July 2025 and quickly scaled to serve 67 families in its first six months alone—many of whom were displaced and facing a
