Repeat participants can become your strongest allies.
When a participant comes through your GriefShare group for a second, or even a third time, they might appear stuck in their grief. Don’t underestimate what God may be doing. That participant could be your next co-leader.
Just ask Beverly Burton.
Beverly has been leading GriefShare at her church since 2017. Along the way, she’s learned to recognize the quiet signs of healing—and how God can turn healing into leadership.
One of Beverly’s most trusted co-leaders started as a repeat participant.
“She had gone through the GriefShare series three times,” Beverly says. “I kept telling her, ‘You are qualified. You need to do this.’”
When another co-leader had to step away due to schedule demands, this woman stepped in. She’s now part of the ministry team. “She came on board this spring,” Beverly says. “And she’s been fabulous.”
It’s not uncommon for people to attend GriefShare more than once. In fact, Beverly encourages it.
“I have a lot of people who repeat,” she says. “Every group is different. The stories are different. The timing is different.”
Some repeat participants are doing more than processing grief; God is preparing them for ministry.
Beverly saw that potential in her co-leader. “She knew the material. She had grown so much. I knew she could help others walk through what she’d walked through.”
Now, Beverly’s co-leader brings fresh ideas and compassionate insight to every session. “She came up with a great idea,” Beverly says. “At the end of the group, we gave participants an optional prompt: ‘What would you like to say to the person sitting in your chair next season?’ It was powerful.”
Across thousands of churches, many GriefShare leaders were once group members themselves. Some felt unsure at first. Others needed encouragement. But over time, their healing became a calling.
Beverly has seen this play out again and again. Another example? A college senior named Madeline.
Madeline attended Beverly’s group while grieving the loss of her father. “She was just such an extraordinary young woman,” Beverly says. And when Madeline prepared to move on to grad school, she felt led to start a GriefShare group at Wake Forest University.
With Beverly’s help and guidance from GriefShare’s ministry coaches, Madeline launched a small on-campus group to reach her peers. “She didn’t have big numbers,” Beverly says. “But she was faithful. She said, ‘Even if only one person shows up, I’ll be there. I won’t skip.’”
That’s leadership.
Not every repeat participant is ready to co-lead—but some are. Here’s how Beverly discerns who might be a good fit:
Watch for spiritual and emotional growth. Do they show empathy toward others in the group? Are they moving from inward pain to outward care?
Note their engagement. Are they consistent in attendance? Do they interact thoughtfully with the material?
Look for natural shepherding. Do others in the group turn to them for support or encouragement?
And when you see potential, don’t be afraid to speak into it.
“Sometimes people just need someone to say, ‘I see this in you.’” Beverly says.
She doesn’t pressure anyone. But she does plant seeds.
“Even if they don’t say yes right away, they start thinking about it,” she says. “And when the time is right, they’ll be ready.”
GriefShare works best when you don’t lead alone. Your repeat participants may be the answer to a prayer you haven’t prayed yet.
So take a closer look at the people sitting in your circle. That person who keeps showing up may be the one God is preparing to lead.
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