Interview with Dr. Joel Hunter: The Hug That Changed Everything: Faith, Loss, Belonging and Widow Care

NEW EPISODE 🎙️Healthy Widow Healthy Woman Podcast hosted by Carolyn Moor, Founder of Modern Widows Club | The Movement for Widow Care®(MWC)

What happens when a pastor who advised presidents sits down with a widow advocate? A conversation that bridges faith, social justice, and the urgent need for widow care in America.

Dr. Joel Hunter lost his WWII veteran father at 4, watched his mother navigate widowhood, and later experienced profound losses including his young granddaughter and son. These experiences shaped his 55-year ministry—and now he's bringing that wisdom to widow care awareness.

In this conversation, we explore:

+ How Dr. Joel Hunter's own losses informed how he approached ministry life

+ Dr. Joel Hunter explains: "Every time somebody vows to treat all people with respect, that's gonna include some widows. And every time a widow goes from grieving to growing, that benefits our entire community."

+ The power of presence and✨ stories of comfort when he needed grief care - the men who stepped up-- Pastor Rick Warren and former President Barack Obama, whom he was spiritual advisor for 8 years.

+ Champions within congregations create movements. "When we protect vulnerable communities, everyone wins." - Dr. Joel Hunter

+ How the Central Florida Pledge connects and expands on The Movement for Widow Care® advocacy to increase widow support in our communities ✨ What can we learn from MWC?

+ Creating inclusive communities of care needs to include widows, who are notoriously marginalized, vulnerable and in need invisibly in ways we don't anticipate

With his own losses, he says "I don't remember anything anybody said, but I remember the hugs." - words that changed Dr. Hunter's ministry.

"If you start sowing exclusion, you're gonna reap division. But if you love everybody in the way they need to be loved, that's what the world becomes." - Dr. Joel Hunter

CONNECT WITH DR. JOEL HUNTER: Chairman, Central Florida Pledge; Pastor of Community Benefit, Action Church

CONNECT WITH CAROLYN MOOR: Founder, Modern Widows Club | The Movement for Widow Care Instagram: @modernwidowsclub Website: modernwidowsclub.org