S2E5 Making Space for Grace: A Safe Church for the Struggling

In this week’s episode of The Substance of Faith Podcast, Rudy Swigart speaks straight to the heart of the church—and the hurting.

We’re diving into what it really means to be a safe church for those who are silently battling addiction, mental health challenges, grief, trauma, or spiritual burnout. For too long, the church has unintentionally fostered environments where people feel pressure to appear whole instead of being honest about their brokenness.

This episode is a call for something better.

• What makes a church unsafe for the struggling

• The quiet crisis of leaders who suffer in silence

• How shame, silence, and stigma destroy healing

• Real-world, practical ideas for shifting church culture

• Why discipleship and recovery aren’t separate journeys

• A vision for “space for grace”—where truth is told and people are still loved

• Pastors and church leaders who want to lead well while carrying their own burdens

• Church members who wonder if they’re the only ones who feel out of place in “perfect” spaces

• Recovery communities looking for a spiritual home

• Anyone hungry for authenticity, grace, and truth in action

“Space for grace isn’t soft on sin—it’s strong in mercy. It’s the environment where healing is possible and shame no longer gets the final word.”

📬 Connect with Rudy:
🌐 www.substanceoffaithmedia.com
📧 [e-mail]

🧭 Looking for tools to make your church safer for the struggling? Visit the site for coaching, resources, and recovery-friendly ministry support.