Welcome to the HeartMend™ Trauma Ministries front porch. Come and stay for as long as you’d like. Our front porch is for survivors of trauma who are looking for a place of safety and rest. Our porch is also for those who sense a calling to listen to the stories trauma survivors tell. Each of our guests can find resources that will strengthen both their resilience and their relationship with God.

Welcome! Enjoy your stay! HeartMend™ will be here for you when you need us.
As HeartMend™ LISTENS and HeartMend STAYS™, churches will become trauma informed and trauma ministry equipped.
Now let us introduce HeartMend™ to you.

HeartMend™ is a non-profit organization that equips churches to implement trauma healing ministries.

HeartMend™ Vision

Hundreds of Churches across the USA and internationally will be trained to implement HeartMend™ Trauma Healing Ministries.

HeartMend™ Mission

HeartMend™ Trauma Healing Ministries Inc., by means of personal and online training, will equip Protestant churches across the nation and internationally to implement Christ-centered trauma healing ministries that will help thousands of trauma survivors to experience mitigation and relief of their symptoms and suffering while also providing them a church and community support network.

HeartMend™ Core Values

HeartMend™ is Christ-centered.
HeartMend™ operates with Christ-like integrity.
HeartMend™ training and interaction with local churches, and customer service will be characterized by the utmost excellence.
HeartMend™ will develop its ministries with prayer, wisdom, intentionality and vision.

Services

HeartMend STAYS™
HeartMend STAYS™ as we provide local churches with the training, resources, and ongoing support to develop a long-term, effective ministry for trauma survivors.

Courageous Christians

HeartMend STAYS™
HeartMend STAYS™ as we teach local church members, Courageous Christians, to listen to trauma survivors with empathy, making sure each one feels truly seen and heard. These volunteers receive specialized training to nurture a safe and welcoming environment. These trained listeners strengthen the resilience of those impacted by trauma as they walk beside them toward healing. Courageous Christians will stay alongside trauma survivors even if their need for healing includes referral to professional services.

A HeartMend™ Church

HeartMend STAYS™
HeartMend STAYS™ when a local congregation accepts our invitation to begin a transformative journey toward becoming a HeartMend™ Church.
Reach out to us to begin your introduction to HeartMend™, where we’ll explore the pathways for creating a trauma-healing ministry within your congregation. Together, we’ll walk through a prayerful process of discernment and commitment, helping your church identify and train members who feel called to serve trauma survivors.

Through this journey, your congregation will cultivate a lasting trauma-healing presence - one that remains, grows, and extends hope to the communities you serve.

HeartMend™ Training and Certification

HeartMend STAYS™
HeartMend STAYS™ through our HeartMend™ Training and Certification which gives Courageous Christians the tools to listen with compassion and create safe places for trauma survivors to share their stories. This begins with an Introduction to HeartMend™ Trauma Ministries.
Training consists of a prescribed number of hours. Three levels of training are offered: Courageous Christian, Lead Facilitator, and Master Trainer. As a HeartMend™ Church, you will affirm the Courageous Christians who are called to trauma ministry, pray for the ministry, develop trauma healing groups, and develop a local community network when referrals for professional therapeutic services are warranted. And HeartMend™ will continue to provide ongoing support, encouragement, and resources.

With your donation HeartMend™ will be empowered to:

Support Courageous Christians
Care for trauma survivors
Equip Churches to implement a trauma healing ministry
Provide excellent ongoing Customer Services

Donate to HeartMend™

Your support creates lasting change for trauma survivors. By donating, you help us offer excellent essential training and support resources for local HeartMend™ churches and Courageous Christians. This forms an effective, superior base of knowledge and experience from which they provide ministry. Join us in helping HeartMend™ to provide healing, patience and understanding as we work together to create a safe place for those whose stories need to be heard.

Your donation to HeartMend™ will...

Equip Churches to implement a trauma healing ministry
Support Courageous Christians
Care for trauma survivors
Provide excellent ongoing Customer Service

Donate to HeartMend™

All contributions are tax deductible and will be acknowledged.

HeartMend STAYS™

In the initial phase your donation will support the development of
HeartMend’s™ infrastructure which will include:

Website
Excellent Training Platform
Presentations at multi-church events
Church recruitment
Superior Customer Service
Development of a trauma informed culture in churches

HeartMend STAYS™

HeartMend STAYS™! Trauma happens. The effects of trauma are lasting. Responsive help to trauma is often time limited. When others finish their work and go home, HeartMend STAYS™.

HeartMend™ will implement our pilot phase in 2027

About Us

HeartMend™ is led by founder Ernest Izard, PhD, who brings over 25 years of experience in trauma care, pastoral leadership, and education. Ernest has trained churches, schools, and organizations in brain-based learning and advanced listening skills. He has authored the National Education Association’s handbook on teaching children from poverty and trauma and has completed over 3,200 hours of supervised Clinical Pastoral Care.

heartmend-camille-simmons-our-executive-director

Camille Simmons, our Executive Director, brings to
HeartMend™ a broad experience in ministry and
community outreach as a pastor’s wife, a denominational servant, and as the co-founder and executive director of a nonprofit that is active in 26 states. Camille’s devotion to fostering healing and support in our communities is instrumental toward advancing our mission.

The HeartMend™ Team

The team includes Christian credentialed therapists, retired chaplains with combat and hospital experience, Master Trainers, and ministry and business entrepreneurs. They are all supported by an advisory board featuring specialists in trauma, moral injury, and human trafficking rescue. This team facilitates a comprehensive approach to healing and support. Together, we are committed to fostering healing, compassion, and understanding for survivors of trauma.

Ernest P. Izard PhD
President and Founder

Camille Simmons
Executive Director

Laura Hamilton
Executive Assistant

Mary Margaret Gibson
Ministry Development Specialist

CH (LTC-R) Phillip Conner EdD DMin BCC CCISM
Director of Strategic Planning Program Development Specialist
Master Trainer

Whitney D. McMahan MSW LCSW EMDR
Certified Therapist
Human Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Specialist

Kevin Morgan
Program Development

Shannon Higgins LPAC-S
Consulting Therapist

Charlie Reynolds DMin
Military PTSI Specialist
Retired Army Chaplain

John LaNoue DMin
Prayer Specialist and Disaster Relief Pioneer