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Churches nationwide surprised at impact of Grief Ministry

Churches nationwide are using the ministry program GriefShare to help people who are grieving the death of a friend or loved one.

According to a news release from GriefShare’s parent ministry, Church Initiative, those offering this weekly, lay-driven ministry are surprised by the impact GriefShare is having on their churches.

Rev. Jim Bates of Quarryville, PA, said he has observed church members becoming more proactive in wanting to help families outside the church through GriefShare.

Speaking in a news release Bates said, “We’ve seen the church come alive to minister to people outside of our walls. People have rallied around our GriefShare coordinators to help behind the scenes and come alongside them.”

GriefShare has also been found to grow churches, introduce people to Christ and lessen staff counseling loads.

“Pastors will be pleasantly surprised about the way GriefShare can be used for community outreach and bringing people into their sphere of influence that they would never have had apart from this,” explained Pastor Denny Stevenson of Evansville, IN, also speaking in the news release.

Because GriefShare is a very specific ministry, it allows churches to come in contact with unchurched people from their community who are looking for answers and hope during one of life’s toughest times.

As more people attend the church, more hear the gospel message. Every person who attends GriefShare hears about the hope and comfort found in Christ.

Debbie, a women’s minister in Brandon, FL, has seen hundreds of hurting people come in their doors because of GriefShare. “And when they leave, many have found Christ,” she said in the news release.

Pastors and church staff who often struggle to meet the many needs in a church body on their own are thankful for the program. “It’s very easy for our lay leaders to run with the program,” said Bates in the news release.

He added, “They have everything they need at their fingertips, and they have support from Church Initiative. ”

GriefShare equips over 7,000 churches across the nation and in other countries. For more information, click here.

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TAGS: USA GriefShare Grief Ministry Rev. Jim Bates gospel message Church Initiative

[09/02/2010]

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