Even though people begin to look and act normal after the death of a loved one, grief is their constant companion for a long, long time. And if you are not talking with them about the grief and the story behind it, you may miss opportunities for ministry that can help these individuals make their way through the healing process. Here are five common mistakes pastors make, … [Read more...]
“Complicated grief” and how a church can help
What is “complicated grief”? For a grieving person, grief is the 24/7 awareness of the tragedy that’s befallen him or her. It’s the thought that keeps running through that person’s mind, saying, “My wife died, my husband died, my daughter died.” The person can still function but carries the grief wherever he or she goes. It still lingers without much movement or progress two … [Read more...]
When hurting people reveal unhelpful assumptions, what should you say?
"God doesn’t care about me.” “There’s no hope.” “If she would just stop nagging me, I’d be happy.” As pastors, we regularly hear those kinds of statements from people. And they reveal that people may not be factoring God and/or spiritual truths into their interpretation of their situations. But responding to those kinds of statements can be tricky. If you share … [Read more...]