The Other Half of Church: Why Discipleship Needs Emotional Safety with Michel Hendricks

What actually helps people grow, heal, and mature in church?In this episode of the Steadfast Podcast, Jessie Evans sits down with Michel Hendricks, co-author of The Other Half of Church, to talk about why so many churches are strong on teaching but weak on relational transformation. Together, they explore the connection between discipleship, emotional safety, attachment, trauma healing, and spiritual maturity.This conversation gets into what it means to become people who love like Jesus, why information alone is not enough to change us, and how healthy churches can become places of real connection, healing, and growth. Jessie and Michel also discuss modern challenges facing the church, including disconnection, emotional immaturity, neurodiversity, and the need for both men and women to model maturity in Christian community.If you have ever felt like church gave you truth but not always the safety or support needed for transformation, this episode will resonate deeply.In this episode, we discuss:Why Michel Hendricks wrote The Other Half of Church out of frustration and questionsThe role of emotional safety in spiritual growthWhy healing and discomfort are both necessary in discipleshipHow trauma healing fits into Christian formationWhy churches often focus on information but miss relational maturityThe importance of attachment, attunement, and real communityHow churches can better care for neurodivergent individuals and emotionally sensitive peopleWhy trying, risking, and even failing may be part of building healthier churchesMichel Hendricks is Director of Life Model Consulting at Life Model Works and co-author of The Other Half of Church, a book that connects brain science, relational formation, and Christian discipleship. He has served as a pastor, missionary, and trainer for more than 25 years. Learn more about Michel and his work through Life Model Works, where The Other Half of Church is described as an invitation to rethink spiritual growth through both biblical truth and how the brain was designed to change in community. Connect with Steadfast Christian Counseling:Website: www.steadfastchristiancounseling.comBook a free consultation: https://sccandcic.janeapp.com