PRINCIPLES OF UNCONDITIONAL COMPASSION: A Practical Christian Ministry for Parental Grief and Loss

In the aftermath of her child's death, the author's personal experience

revealed a gap between the need for holistic spiritually based support and

the availability of such resources from the local church. The congregations

that enter each church are not immune to experiencing grief or PTSD.

People, including the local church, may be unaware of such a gap until

support is required.

When someone experiences the death of a child, their spiritual support

system may not be prepared to offer the necessary support and guidance.

The ministries and counseling offered through those churches may not be

effectively meeting the needs of grieving parents. The church's insufficient

preparation to minister to grieving people became the "elephant in the

room" for the author.

In light of the limited resources available, the question needs to be asked if

the amount of pastoral care training for ministers is sufficient for what they

will face in their daily duties as a pastor. Without a standard in grief care,

American churches may experience a chasm between what they perceive

to be the wants and needs of bereaved parents versus the expectations of

parents who are grieving their child's death. As a standardized grief

theology of parental grief, the contents of this book help to guide grieving

parents to seek God for comfort and hope as they struggle to accept their

child's death. As people study grief theology, they may receive personal

healing in conjunction with being increasingly involved with the conversations

revolving around grief.