Bereaved Parents and Friends — This Is For You
August 18, 2023 — Gary and Laura House
If you are a bereaved parent, then you likely have already experienced the comfort and community of being with others who are walking this road of grief. The bond that we feel the moment we meet someone else who has lost a child is astounding. A complete stranger becomes an instant friend.
One such opportunity is right around the corner! The Our Hearts Are Home Conference for Bereaved Parents takes place October 13-14, and you can participate online or in person.
Why might you consider coming?
The goal of the conference is to create a community which provides comfort, hope, and lasting relationships with other bereaved parents, all while learning more about grief and of the faithfulness of God.
Here are a few details of what you can expect:
Join online or in person in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Enjoy four general sessions.
Mark Vroegop — Learning to Lament (Author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy)
Molly Huffman — Permission to Grieve: Guideposts for the Grief Journey (author of The Moon is Round)
Susan Albers — Never Wasted
Panel of Bereaved Parents — Child Loss 101 (Brad & Jill Sullivan - While We’re Waiting ministry, Gary & Laura House - Our Hearts Are Home ministry, Keith & Shawnda Freer - GriefHope ministry, Greg & Susan Albers, Carol Brown, Molly Huffman)
Choose three workshops to attend.
The Moon is Round: Finding Hope Amid Grief (Huffman)
The Grieving Husband & The Grieving Wife (Sullivans)
Helping Others Help (Houses)
Healing After Child Loss (Brown)
Lessons From Suffering (Houses)
Sibling Loss: The Forgotten Grievers (Sullivans)
Anchored: Finding Peace and Hope in the Storm (Freers)
Navigating Suicide Loss (Houses)
Attend a “mini-gathering” — a small group experience. (Online participants will use Zoom for this session.)
Participate in a memorial service.
Enjoy two family-style meals with other parents. (in-person event)
Although everything we do at Our Hearts Are Home is always free for bereaved parents, the conference has a nominal fee to help cover the costs involved.
$75 per person to attend the in-person event
$50 per person or couple to attend the online event
If the cost is a hardship for anyone, there are scholarships available. We hope that every parent who desires to come, will come!! Email laura@ourheartsarehome.org for scholarship information.
What if you are reading this post and you are not a bereaved parent? Here’s how you can still be involved:
Attend the conference to better know how to minister to someone who has experienced child loss. (During the “mini-gatherings”, there will be a special group for you to join to talk about ministering to grieving parents.)
Help us share the word! Do you know a bereaved parent? Invite them to come. Join the Facebook event page and then invite your Facebook friends through the page.
Pray! Please pray for the parents who come, as well as those who are leading, and for the many details involved.
Give. Consider giving a donation to help cover the many costs involved.
We look forward to meeting you there!
