We talk a lot about things we all have in common.
Upbringing.
Church experience.
Abuse.
Hobbies.
And on and on the list goes. There is one life event I am willing to wager we all have faced, no matter the age.
GRIEF
Yep, I’d be willing to wager that monster has touched everyone of our lives in one way or another. Some more painfully than others. Some with a vengeance. As a pastor I have experienced both sides of the coin. I have tried to help people through the grieving process, but have also had to go through it myself. We all process it in different ways. What I have noticed is grief is no respecter of persons. The fact we process it in different ways doesn’t lessen its impact upon us.
Owen County (where I live) has its share of grief. Just like every other county. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of places or people folks can go to get help. At least in our county. Meanwhile, the church often sits by and watches it happen, twiddling its religious thumbs while people go rolling by. I want to change that.
This weekend OVCF is hosting a Grief Recovery Weekend: “From Mourning to Joy.” Rather than bore you with all the details, I’ll direct you here. (Scroll down) Each weekend I ask you to pray for our service on Sunday. I’m changing that. I would deeply appreciate your prayers for the whole weekend. For the speakers (see below). For those who come. For my brother, Rob, who will also be preaching Sunday. Thanks so much.
Speakers;
Rick Clayton- Chaplain for SouthernCare Hospice. Death of a child.
Dave Pruet- Licensed grief counselor and Thanatologist. Death of wife and son in same accident (drunk driver)
Dirk & Sherry Tucker- Death of an 8 year old son from brain tumor.
Rob & Joy Grandi- Death of a wife (cancer) and death of husband (tractor)
Cindy Buskirk- Beginning GriefShare ministry under OVCF’s umbrella.
Praying
Good luck helping to bring the Lord’s peace to those who are suffering. I am sure that you know this, but sometimes the folks with the biggest smiles on their faces are the ones with the deepest wounds and they are real good at hiding their burdens for fear of appearing needy or weak or hopeless or helpless.
It’s gonna be a hard weekend, I suspect, but I hope and pray it would be a blessing for all those who attend – whether to speak there or to listen.
From Roberta: God is doing a mighty work in Owen County and I believe Mourning to Joy weekend and GriefShare are the beginning of help and healing for many. I am looking forward this weekend to taking this journey with my own grief. I will be praying for presenters and attenders. I know God will be right there.
This makes me cry .. .and pray. So needed, Pastor Bill. Thank you for being obedient to Him and reaching out to the grieving ones. God bless!
What a beautiful expression of the Father’s heart. Praying with you, Bill.
Real life is way sadder than any story could ever be, except for the ending for those of us who have eternal joy awaiting us.
Praying for the speakers and the ones who will be hearing. May our Father be lifted up.
Bless you brother for taking this on…many will be able to release some of their grief and receive healing. Looking forward to reading testimonies of how God work. It’s evident He is working in your heart. Praying