WELCOME
Welcome to the S.O.S. Conference, an empowering, one-day event focused on restoring and equipping church and ministry leaders in their mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Date & Location:
📅 Saturday, October 18, 2025
📍 Ministry of Reconciliation Church | Clarksville, TN
🕘 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Click The Link For Your Tickets
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sos-mental-health-and-wellness-conference-tickets-1376870178769
About S.O.S.
The Sustaining Our Shepherds (S.O.S.) Mental Health and Wellness conference is powerful one-day conference created to support the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of church and ministry leaders. In today’s fast-paced and ever-demanding ministry landscape, pastors and faith-based leaders are often stretched thin and called to pour into others while silently battling stress, burnout, isolation, and emotional fatigue.
Purpose
This conference was born out of a deep conviction: that those who care for the souls of others also need intentional spaces of care for themselves. Our mission is to provide that space offering practical tools, expert insights, and soul-nourishing connections that empower leaders to thrive, not just survive, in their calling.
The Need
Ministry leaders are facing a mental health crisis:
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According to a 2022 Barna Group study, 42% of pastors seriously considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year due to stress, isolation, and burnout.
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A 2021 Lifeway Research survey revealed that 63% of pastors say they are frequently concerned about the mental well-being of fellow clergy, but only 26% say they have someone they can confide in about their own struggles.
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The American Psychological Association has noted that helping professionals, including clergy, are at higher risk for compassion fatigue, depression, and emotional exhaustion, especially when consistent self-care and support are lacking.
Church leaders face unique pressures, such as carrying the weight of congregational expectations, navigating spiritual crises, and managing personal challenges, often without adequate support. Studies consistently show elevated rates of burnout, anxiety, depression, and compassion fatigue among clergy. Yet, conversations around mental health in ministry remain stigmatized or neglected.
The S.O.S. Conference aims to shift this narrative by breaking the silence and creating a safe, faith-affirming environment to address these critical issues head-on.
Why You Should Join Us
Whether you’re a senior pastor, ministry staff member, chaplain, or spiritual caregiver, this conference is for you. Step away from the pulpit, the planning, and the pressure and step into a space designed just for your renewal. Come to connect, to heal, to grow, and to be reminded: your well-being matters.
Let us help you reclaim your peace, refocus your purpose, and rediscover the joy of your calling.
Join us at the Sustaining Our Shepherds Mental Health and Wellness Conference on October 18th, 2025 and let the healing begin.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Rashad Muhammad
Dr. Rashad R. Muhammad, a native of Savannah, GA, is a retired U.S. Army veteran and a
passionate servant of Christ. Since accepting his call to ministry in 2007, he has faithfully served in roles such as minister of music, assistant pastor, and senior pastor. He is happily married to his wife, Tiffany, and together they have four adult children and two grandchildren.
Dr. Muhammad has earned a Bachelor’s in Music Business and a Master’s in Entertainment
Business from Full Sail University. He earned a Master’s and Doctorate (Summa Cum Laude) in
Pastoral Theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Biblical
Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Intercultural
Studies (Summa Cum Laude) with a focus on African American Mental Health Disparities and
Intersectionality from Faith International University & Seminary. He is currently pursuing a
Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership at Calvary Chapel University.
Today, Dr. Muhammad serves as a Supervisory Training Instructor for the Department of
Defense and as a Professor at Nations University. Known for his Spirit-filled, practical preaching style, he is dedicated to reaching the unchurched with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One of his favorite quotes is: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at
things in life that don't really matter.” — Pastor Francis Chan.
Dr. Sabrina Wanamaker
Dr. Sabrina L. Wannamaker, PhD, LPCS, LPC, EAS-C
Assistant Professor, School of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of the Cumberlands
Dr. Sabrina Wannamaker is a licensed professional counselor supervisor, educator, and advocate for mental wellness in faith-based spaces. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences at the University of the Cumberlands, where she teaches and mentors future counselors in clinical skills, ethics, and supervision.
Dr. Wannamaker is the founder and lead therapist of Just-Us Counseling & Consulting, LLC, a private practice that provides therapy, clinical supervision, and wellness consulting, with a focus on clergy, college students, and individuals navigating life transitions. With over 12 years of clinical experience, she brings a culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach rooted in Reality Therapy, CBT, Solution-Focused, Client-Centered, and Problem-Solving therapies.
Her doctoral research focused on African American clergy's experiences of secondary trauma and help-seeking behaviors. Through both her scholarship and practice, Dr. Wannamaker remains deeply committed to destigmatizing mental health in the Black church and equipping spiritual leaders to care for themselves as they care for others.
A frequent speaker and national presenter on resilience, professional identity, and mental health in ministry, Dr. Wannamaker combines academic expertise with lived experience to support healing, growth, and sustainable leadership in faith communities.
Dr. Ashley McGowan, Ph.D., LPC-MHSP
Dr. Ashley McGowan is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Counselor Educator, and Behavioral Health Site Manager at the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. In her leadership role, she oversees behavioral health services, manages clinical staff, and ensures the delivery of comprehensive, integrated care to individuals and families from diverse backgrounds. In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. McGowan serves as an adjunct professor, where she passionately trains and mentors future counselors, providing clinical supervision and guiding students through their practicum and internship experiences.
Driven by a deep commitment to mental health within faith-based communities, Dr. McGowan’s doctoral research focused on the factors that influence mental health service utilization among Protestant clergy in Tennessee. Her work sheds light on the unique challenges and stigmas ministry leaders often face as they balance their own well-being with the demands of pastoral care. This specialized focus reflects her broader mission: to bridge the gap between mental health services and ministry leadership, fostering holistic wellness for those who pour so much into others.
With a wealth of experience spanning clinical practice, counselor education, and leadership, Dr. McGowan brings both academic expertise and compassionate understanding to her work. Her passion for equipping and encouraging church and ministry leaders is central to her role in the S.O.S. Mental Health and Wellness Conference, where she seeks to create spaces for healing, education, and open dialogue within the faith community.
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2025 S.O.S. Conference Agenda (Tentative)
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Registration & Networking
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Check-in, receive conference materials, and enjoy coffee, tea, and light refreshments while connecting with other attendees.
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
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Opening by Dr. Ashley McGowan and prayer by Pastor Reeves
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Overview of the day and the importance of mental health for church and ministry leaders.
9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Keynote Session 1
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Speaker: Dr. Ashley McGowan
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Break & Raffle
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM | Speaker Session 2
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Speaker: Dr. Rashad Muhammad
11:30 AM – 11:45 AM | Break & Raffle
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Speaker Session 3
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Speaker: Dr. Sabrina Wannamaker
12:35 PM – 1:45 PM | Lunch & Peer Panel Discussion
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Complimentary lunch provided
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Interactive peer-led panel with all speakers
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM | Closing Remarks & Prayer
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Led by Pastor Reeves
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Key takeaways, encouragement, and closing prayer
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the S.O.S. Mental Health and Wellness Conference?
The Sustaining Our Shepherds (S.O.S.) Conference is a one-day event dedicated to supporting the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of current and aspiring church and ministry leaders. It offers a safe, empowering space to rest, refocus, and be restored.
Who should attend this conference?
Pastors, church staff, ministry leaders, seminary students, and anyone exploring leadership in faith-based communities are welcome.
What topics will be covered?
Attendees will gain practical tools and insight on:
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Mental health in ministry
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Burnout and secondary trauma
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Spiritual self-care
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Culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies
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Navigating life transitions as a leader
Who are the featured speakers?
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Dr. Rashad Muhammad – Pastor, professor, and expert in African American mental health disparities
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Dr. Sabrina Wannamaker – Licensed counselor, professor, and advocate for clergy mental wellness
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Dr. Ashley McGowan – Licensed counselor and researcher focused on mental health service use among Protestant clergy
What’s included in registration?
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Full access to all sessions
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Live Q&A panel with featured speakers
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Complimentary lunch
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Goodie bag
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Entry into prize giveaways
Will I be able to ask questions?
Yes! A live Q&A panel discussion will give attendees the opportunity to engage directly with our expert speakers.
When and where is the event?
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Ministry of Reconciliation Church
1110 Peachers Mill Rd
Clarksville TN 37042
How do I register?
Click on our registration link or QR code to sign up. Early bird and group discounts are available—act fast!
Are physical tickets available?
Yes! In addition to online registration, physical tickets are available. Please TEXT 931-244-1093 to request physical tickets.
Can I bring my ministry team or church group?
Yes! We offer group rates to encourage teams to attend together. Details are available on the registration page.
© 2035 by Naomi Rhyme. Powered and secured by Wix