Muncie-Area Church Members Come Together to Lighten the Load of Loss Through ‘GriefShare’

Deb Rolli is the facilitator of the Commonway Church GriefShare program. Photo by Allison RobbinsDeb Rolli is the facilitator of the Commonway Church GriefShare program. Photo by Allison Robbins

By K. Aleisha Fetters—

MUNCIE, Ind.—Grief is a hard journey. But it’s one that Muncie church members are increasingly walking together.

They are doing so through the aptly named GriefShare, a grief recovery support program that is helping people in the US, Canada, and more than 10 other countries find meaning and rebuild their lives following the loss of friends, family members, and loved ones.

“GriefShare provided me a lifeline during my time of loss,” says Cheyrl McCoy, a former participant. “Sharing my story with others who could relate to what I was going through was comforting. I was grateful for the support materials which offered scripture, videos, and relevant lessons designed to help navigate the difficult journey of grief. My GriefShare experience has helped me with the ongoing process of moving forward.”

GriefShare first came to Muncie more than 20 years ago. And in the past years, it has spread to serve hundreds of people. Currently, Commonway Church, First Brethren Church, First Church of the Nazarene, Grace Baptist Church, and The Jar Community Church all offer GriefShare programming throughout the year for anyone, regardless of church affiliation.

“It hurts to lose someone. Find help at GriefShare.”

The foundation of the GriefShare program is its 13-week classes. Each week, groups watch videos featuring expert interviews and real-life stories of loss and recovery. The groups then discuss the video’s lessons, what’s going on in their lives, and how the two relate. People are free to share as little or as much as they are comfortable. Between sessions, GriefShare participants can also use their program workbooks for further reflection and journaling — which they have an opportunity to discuss at the next week’s session.

Designed to offer community, support, and practical faith-based advice, these classes are led by people who understand. Many of them first came to GriefShare after their own losses.

“I first came to Grief Share as a participant nine years ago after the death of my husband,” says Deb Rolli, facilitator of the Commonway Church GriefShare. “The healing that I experienced and the community that I found were so impactful to me that I have went on to become a GriefShare leader.”

Apart from its 13-week courses, which take place throughout the year, GriefShare also offers one-time sessions aimed to meet people at specific points along their grief journey. Two of the most popular are Surviving the Holidays and Loss of a Spouse.

 

Muncie-Area Churches Offering GriefShare:

Commonway Church

First Brethren Church

First Church of the Nazarene

Grace Baptist Church

The Jar Community Church

 

To learn more about GriefShare and get connected with a Muncie-area group, contact Deb Rolli at debrarolli@comcast.net or 765.744.7920. You do not need to be a regular member of any of these churches to sign up.

You can also go to griefshare.org for an overview of weekly session topics, expert bios, and more info.