How GriefShare Supports Your Grief Ministry

Grief is one of the most challenging emotional and spiritual burdens a person can face, and many churches struggle with how to effectively support grieving members of their community. While providing one-on-one support can be beneficial, it’s often difficult for pastors or church leaders to manage the emotional and time demands of individual care. This is where a structured, lay-led program like GriefShare shines.

GriefShare empowers volunteers from your congregation to lead a group where participants can process their grief together in a Christ-centered environment. Through leader training, coaching, and extensive resources, GriefShare offers the tools and support your church needs to run an effective and impactful grief ministry without overwhelming church staff.

How GriefShare Equips Leaders

GriefShare is designed to be accessible for lay leaders who have a heart for walking alongside others in their grief journey. Even if your volunteers have no prior experience leading a grief group, GriefShare’s comprehensive training and resources will set them up for success. Here’s how:

Leader’s Guide: The GriefShare Leader’s Guide is a detailed manual that walks group facilitators through each step of running a session. It includes specific instructions on how to facilitate discussions, encourage participation, and handle sensitive topics. The guide ensures that leaders are fully prepared for every meeting.

Video Sessions: Every GriefShare session begins with a 30-minute video that covers important topics on grief and loss. These videos feature expert insights from Christian counselors and grief specialists, as well as personal testimonies from those who have experienced loss. The video content does the heavy lifting of delivering key teachings, making it easy for leaders to focus on facilitating the discussion that follows.

Leader Training: GriefShare provides thorough training for leaders, equipping them to feel confident and prepared for their role. This includes practical tips on managing group dynamics, leading conversations, and addressing difficult emotions that may arise during the sessions. Leaders are trained to offer compassionate support while maintaining a safe, structured environment for participants to share their stories.

GriefShare Coaches: Ongoing Support for Leaders

One of the most valuable aspects of GriefShare is the ongoing support provided to group leaders. GriefShare coaching connects your volunteer leaders with experienced coaches who can guide them through the challenges that arise when leading a grief support group. These coaches are available to answer questions, offer encouragement, and provide expert advice on how to handle specific issues.

Common issues GriefShare coaches help with include:

• How to manage difficult or emotionally intense group dynamics
• Suggestions for facilitating discussions when group members are hesitant to share
• Strategies for handling unique grief situations (e.g., traumatic loss or complicated family dynamics)
• Encouraging group members to apply biblical principles during their grief journey

This coaching ensures that your leaders are never alone in the process and always have a support system to turn to when they need guidance.

LeaderZone: A Hub of Resources for Volunteers

GriefShare leaders have access to LeaderZone, an online hub filled with additional tools and resources to make running a group easier and more effective. Here are just a few of the helpful materials available:

• Checklists: LeaderZone provides checklists to keep leaders on track, from preparing for sessions to ensuring they’ve covered all necessary details.
• "What the Bible Says About" Resources: Leaders can access ready-made materials that explain how Scripture addresses grief, pain, and healing. These resources are helpful for facilitating biblical discussions and providing spiritual comfort to group members.
• Common Questions Documents: Leaders may encounter tough questions from participants, such as, “Why did God allow this to happen?” or “How can I find hope again?” GriefShare’s common questions documents offer biblical, compassionate responses to these challenging queries, helping leaders guide participants through their difficult emotions.

These resources make it easy for GriefShare volunteers to feel equipped, empowered, and ready to make a real difference in the lives of those grieving.

A Manageable and Well-Supported Program

One of the best aspects of GriefShare is that it is a highly manageable program for churches to implement. While running a grief ministry can seem daunting, GriefShare is designed to minimize the demands on church staff while still delivering effective support to grieving individuals. With comprehensive training, coaching, and ongoing resources, this program allows lay leaders to facilitate group sessions confidently and with minimal stress.

By empowering volunteers, your church can offer a structured, biblically-based grief support ministry without needing to pull too many resources from pastoral staff. The GriefShare program provides everything your volunteers need to run a successful ministry, ensuring that those in your community are cared for in their time of need.

Take the First Step

If you're considering starting a GriefShare ministry at your church, the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. With the help of GriefShare coaching, training, and the extensive resources available through LeaderZone, your volunteers will have all the tools they need to lead a thriving and effective grief ministry.

Download the Let’s Do This Guide to get started with a GriefShare ministry in your church.

Have questions? Contact a coach today to get personalized guidance for starting a group in your church.