Welcome to the conference! We are so glad that you are here.
Welcome to the conference! We are so glad that you are here.
Conference Schedule
FRIDAY, October 16
11:00 AM — General Session
2:00 PM — Breakout Session
3:30 PM — Breakout Session
5:00 PM — Meet & Greet (Zoom)
6:30 PM — General Session
SATURDAY, October 7
10:00 AM — General Session
11:30 AM — Breakout Session
1:00 PM — Mini-Gatherings (Zoom)
4:30 PM — General Session
5:30 PM — Memorial Service (Zoom)
As bereaved parents, we are walking a very painful road that we didn’t choose travel. This journey is filled with a variety of challenges; many of these catch us by surprise. This session explores the difficult truths and realities of child loss. We will discuss the many facets of grief and the surprising “secondary losses” we may have to endure. We will explore the impact of child loss on our relationship with God and how to reach out to Him in lament. Finally, we will review suggestions for maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health as we travel this strange journey of losing a child.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
When the doctor said there were abnormalities on the ultrasound, Matthew and Hannah's world turned upside down. The following six months of pregnancy taught them how unprepared they and their community were to grieve. Their second son was born March 7, 2020, and passed March 9, 2020. Those 57.5 hours forever marked them. Matthew shares his journey in finding hope in the midst of child loss. His talk is unapologetically rooted in his Christian faith. He provides the practical advice that he wishes he would have had before that doctor's appointment in a few key areas: marriage, parenting, and at work. Attendees will walk away encouraged and challenged to seek after hope in the midst of suffering.
Scripture teaches us the necessity of a new mindset if you and I are to walk in the wholeness of Shalom. But if our mindset, the lens of our hearts, are shattered, everything we see will be distorted. Drawing from Colossians, Romans, Philippians, and Lamentations, we'll unpack a simple but life-altering truth — you can possess the mind of Christ by guarding what gets in, rewriting hurtful thoughts, and reprogramming your mind daily. You can rewire your mind to heal your heart.
Meet and Greet — 5:00 PM
Join this Zoom meeting to connect with other bereaved parents and grandparents. It’s such a wonderful opportunity to get to know others who understand the difficult journey, and always such an encouraging time together. We may arrive as strangers, but we inevitably leave as friends.
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
General Session — 10AM
Step One: Bring Your Grief to God
Molly Huffman
The death of a child shatters our life as we know it. We look around at the wreckage and wonder, "How could I possibly go on from here? I don't want to live without my child. Why did God do this to me?" In this session, Molly Huffman shares how death came crashing into her life, leaving her reeling with questions, doubt, and grief, and how her multi-step healing began with one initial choice. Making that one choice led Molly to discover a deeper faith, purpose, and joy she never knew was possible.
Breakout Session — 11:30 AM
What the Bible Says About the Loss of a Child
Pat Roser
The loss of a child, whether to death, estrangement, or circumstance, represents one of Scripture's most recurring and profoundly human grief narratives. From the very first family in Eden to the grieving widow at the gate of Nain, the Bible refuses to minimize this wound. These narratives anchor some of Scripture's most powerful theology: that God sees, that He is moved by our tears, and that even the death of a beloved child is not beyond His redemptive reach.
Mini-Gatherings — 1:00 PM
During this hour, we have an opportunity to show a picture of our children and share about them. It is a special time to connect with others and introduce our sweet kids. We divide into groups of approximately ten parents/couples.
Breakout Session — 3PM
He Restores Our Soul
Molly Huffman
If Jesus didn't stop the death of our child, can we trust that He will heal us? How do we grieve when the Bible says, "Always be joyful" (1 Thess. 5:16)? What can I do to make this pain go away as fast as possible? What does it look like to flourish during deep grief? In this session, Molly walks us through her favorite passage in the Bible on grief so that you may know you are known and seen by God, that He grieves with you, and that He has a plan to restore you. Additionally, we will discuss some very important practices that will help you be patient and gracious with yourself as you grieve.
General Session — 4:30 PM
Praying Through Life’s Battles
Rachel Wojo
Some battles we win. Some we simply survive. And some, like the loss of a child, leave us with no words to pray at all. Drawing from Romans 8 and her own journey through grief, Rachel Wojo speaks tenderly to weary, worried hearts about praying in the hardest seasons: how to recognize the enemy's lies, how to turn worry into worship, and how to trust the Spirit who intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Rachel will powerfully remind us that the battle is the Lord's. In a special interview segment during this closing session, Rachel also sits down with her husband, Matt, to share honestly about grieving the same child as father and mother.
Memorial Service — 5:30PM
During this special time, we honor and remember our children by sharing a Powerpoint presentation that includes their picture. If you did not send a picture but would like to do so, please email Laura@ourheartsarehome.org by Thursday, October 15.
OTHER BREAKOUT SESSIONS
RECORDINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON! CHECK BACK IN A FEW DAYS.
The Faithfulness of God...Looking Back & Looking Forward — Deb Rhodes
Going Deeper in Lament — Jim Beardsley
Anchored: Finding Spiritual Stability and Scriptural Hope in the Midst of Grief — Daniel & Amy Jepsen
Marriage in the Wake of Child Loss — Keith & Shawnda Freer
From Tragedy to Hope — Rob & Pam Stalets
The following sessions will not be recorded.
Navigating Suicide Loss — Jim Beardsley, Gary & Laura House, Misty West, Daniel & Amy Jepsen, Todd & Melissa Shaffer
Roundtable Discussion for Dads
Roundtable Discussion for Moms
Beauty from Brokenness – A Kintsugi Experience — Deb Rhodes
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