Grief & Hope
Surviving the Holidays

Surviving the Holidays is a 2-hour seminar that provides encouragement, support, and valuable tools to navigate the season. Join us on November 16, 2024 at 10:00am-12:00pm at Faith West Community Center (PBF Room) 1920 Northwestern Ave West Lafayette, IN 47909. Click the button below to register for this event.

Grief & Hope is a program for individuals mourning the loss of a loved one. These individuals often need ongoing support and encouragement. Through Christ-centered teaching, small group discussion, and video input from renowned counselors, this course will provide hope and direction to those who are grieving.

Call (765) 366-2302 for more information or click the button below to view upcoming class dates/times/location/cost.

Class Sessions

1. Is This Normal?

  • Why grief is harder than you imagined
  • Why your emotions are normal and appropriate
  • Despite how you feel right now, there is reason for hope

2. Challenges of Grief

  • Eye-opening reasons why your pain is so overwhelming
  • Common effects grief has on your mind, body, and spirit
  • Getting things done when you have no energy

3. The Journey of Grief – Part One

  • Goals to set on your journey of grief
  • How to deal with those who try to rush you through grief
  • How long the journey of grief typically lasts

4. The Journey of Grief – Part Two

  • Why it’s important to put effort into your healing
  • How the events surrounding your loved one’s death affect your grief
  • Dealing with your loved one’s belongings

5. Grief and Your Relationships

  • How the death of a loved one affects your friendships
  • Solitude – a blessing and a curse
  • Dealing with friends who don’t understand your grief

6. Why?

  • Sharing your feelings with God
  • Being honest with God – an expression of faith
  • What God has to say about your “why” questions

7. Guilt and Anger

  • Dealing with false guilt
  • Grieving conflicted relationships
  • Handling grief-related anger

8. Complicating Factors

  • How traumatic experiences affect grief
  • Dealing with nightmares and flashbacks
  • How thinking affects your emotions

9. Stuck

  • How to prevent getting stuck in grief
  • Common misconceptions that hinder healing
  • Why your path to healing isn’t always smooth

10. Lessons of Grief

  • The benefits of helping others
  • Who you are now that your loved one is gone
  • What grief can teach you

11. Heaven

  • What is heaven like?
  • Should I communicate with my deceased loved one?
  • Are near-death experiences reliable descriptions of heaven?

12. What Do I live for Now?

  • Why moving forward is a necessity
  • Why it’s a process
  • Why peace and pain will always coexist

"Grief and Hope has helped me to set my eyes on Christ in the midst of grieving. The class format of videos, discussion, and prayer was helpful to lead me to God’s Word and to help me hold onto hope and trust in God even in my darkest valley."
- Shelly A.

Dale McGinty

Roles

Deacon - Faith Church

Bio

Dale and his wife, Gail, have been members of Faith Church since 2015. Dale co-leads and facilitates the grief recovery support ministry at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN. Dale has served as Deacon, on the Faith Christian School Committee, taught 1st through 5th grade Sunday School and participates in the Ambassadors ABF along with Living Nativity.

Gail McGinty

Bio

Gail and her family have attended Faith Church since 2015. Gail is an ACBC certified biblical counselor serving at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministry. She and her husband Dale lead and facilitate the grief recovery support ministry at Faith Church in Lafayette, IN. Together they have three adult children and six grandchildren.