I offered to review the Healing through Grieving Program for Dr.
Reed to provide insight from my training and experience. I also
hoped the program would help me deal with the impending death of my
father.
The program was very helpful. I was able to develop a closeness and
intimacy with my father during the last six weeks of his life that I
do not believe would have happened without the insights gained from
the Healing through Grieving Program.
The approach and layout of the program are sound from a learning
perspective. Issues mailed monthly for an extended period of time
validates, for the recipient, that the grieving process does not
happen overnight and delivers insights “just in time.” The
combination of text, poetry, pictures, and exercises addresses the
multiple ways people process information. The length of each issue
keeps it from being overwhelming, encouraging people to take a few
minutes to scan it when it arrives and study it at their leisure.
Lisa Cheraskin
I have just finished reviewing your Healing through
Grieving Program and am greatly impressed. I didn’t plan to do more
than scan it, but I found that it captured my attention and touched
some of my own losses so that I spent all morning with it. Your
creativity and heart as well as head level wisdom about grief
healing are outstanding.
The moving poems, pictures and wise words from many sources will
enrich and extend the grief caring ministry of those who to put this
program in the hands of the bereaved.
Dr. Howard Clinebell, Professor Emeritus of Pastoral
Psychology and Counseling, Claremont School of Theology
The writing is factual, emotional and honest.
Donald Frick, Author and Consultant
…step-by-step help for any who journey the difficult, often
frightening road which twists ahead after the death of a loved one.
The wisdom here comes from many sources; it is skillfully paced,
easily accessible, never overwhelming—clear, tested, trustworthy—a
companion along the universal path of both the pain and the healing.
Rev. Dr. Richard E. Hamilton, United Methodist Pastor, retired
I sincerely wish I would have had a tool like Ken Reed has
developed for extending the ministry to the bereaved when I, and
others, clergy and caregivers, had to focus our energies on more
immediate demands. I commend it for use by any large parish.
Rev. Dr. Joe G. Emerson, United Methodist Pastor, retired
There is certainly ample material available on the grief process.
But, Dr. Reed’s work is the only program I have seen that provides
the structure to lead people through recovery and growth during the
months that follow a significant loss. We have a lot of pastoral
care available at the Franklin United Methodist Community. Yet, we
value the program written by Dr. Reed so much that we have placed a
pre-paid order for enough material to initiate this program for our
residents.
The Rev. Dr. Joseph L. Trueblood, Executive Director
Franklin United Methodist Community
Franklin, Indiana
…Having lost my father, mother and daughter, I can relate to the
subject matter of your Healing through Grieving Program. I was
impressed with your program and feel strongly that it would be
welcomed and would assist most people through the tragic loss of a
loved one.
Jennifer Bostian, Christ the Savior Lutheran Church
It seems that every aspect of grief is lovingly dealt with in
this program. As the reader goes through his/her days, months, and
even years of life without the deceased loved one, loving and
practical words are right there, offering guidance and help for each
situation.
Judy Fries, proofreader/editor
Healing through Grieving fills an important gap in ministry with
the grieving by making reliable, comforting, and challenging contact
with persons throughout an extended period of time following the
loss. The material is sensitively written, theologically sound, and
accessible to a wide readership. It offers an important new resource
for those who grieve (i.e. all of us) and for those who care for
persons struggling with losses of various kinds.
K. Brynolf Lyon, Ph.D. Professor
Practical Theology and Pastoral Care
Christian Theological Seminary
The content is superb. It is my hope that Healing through
Grieving will be used by pastors, grief counselors, funeral industry
personnel and others. This is truly a contribution to the spiritual
and emotional health of those who will be the recipients.
The Rev. Dr. Richard L. Hamm
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Healing through Grieving is like a healing balm for the soul when
it is in its darkest place. His words bring comfort, strength and
hope for a better tomorrow. The thoughts are like a gentle whisper
that can be heard over the loud sounds of sadness.
Gerry Rhea, Board Chairperson
Brooke’s Place, a grief counseling center for children and teens
I was so impressed with your Healing through Grieving program. It
feeds right into our program and we are going to use it. It is so
timely. You have designed a wonderful aid to this ministry. It is
sad to have to experience such a tremendous loss as that of our
spouses to begin to see the need of others who are suffering the
same losses.
Ellen M. Rhoades, Coordinator of the Grief Recovery Program
First United Methodist Church
Anderson, Indiana
The area of grief ministry is overlooked in most of our
congregations. Your Grief Healing Program provides a wonderful
avenue for bereaved persons to be cared for, comforted, and
accompanied through their lonely healing time.
Thank you, Ken, for using your own grief and healing in such a
positive endeavor, creating for others a gift you could have used so
well in your time of mourning the death of your beloved wife. You
have offered to our church an intelligent, useful companion which
will help bereaved persons see their way through their sorrow to the
hope that awaits.
The Rev. Katharine L. Walker, Senior Pastor
First United Methodist Church
West Lafayette, Indiana
Former District Superintendent
I want to thank you…Since my husband’s death, your program of
Grief Healing has been a great source of comfort and help to me on
both an emotional and spiritual level. It is a program that I feel
should be available in every church and counseling center. It was an
invaluable guide for me.
Carol C. Rogers, Teacher and former school principal
My review of Grief Healing only served to increase the positive
evaluation I have had for the program since you first described the
concept to me some years ago…I think the church is a “natural” for
distributing it. Persons dealing with grief will particularly be
motivated to turn to organizations that can be “trusted” and who
would already be associated with the situation they are facing.
Frank D. Walker, Chairman
WalkerInformation
…because of the variety of program and ministry demands,
providing ongoing care to families after the death of a loved one is
difficult. We don’t always provide the consistent contact people
need over the course of their bereavement and recovery…giving the
program to an individual following a funeral would say, in a genuine
way, that the church cares.
The Rev. Dr. John B. Wantz, Senior Pastor
Meridian Street United Methodist Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
We were thrown into the world of loss when our young son died
from leukemia. Sadness was everywhere. It was an unknown world full
of helplessness. We felt very alone.
The material provided by Dr. Ken Reed helps guide one through the
grief following a loss. Ken’s material helps the reader realize
their feelings are common and eases the harsh loneliness. The
worksheets encourage one to put their thoughts on paper. We both
found writing to be helpful in our grief. Giving it is an act that
shows someone cares.
Chris and Cheri Miller, Christ the Savior Lutheran Church
Your Healing through Grieving Program provides a critical missing
piece in our bank of resources for ministry. I’ve been on the
“receiving” end of pastoral grief ministry several times, and found
it ineffectual at best. What a blessing it would have been for me
and my family if our pastor had had the resources your program
provides. I’m acutely aware of the constant demands placed on
pastors…I wish your program might someday be available to all those
called upon as agents of healing and grace to the bereaved.
Lynne B. DeMichele, Director
Indiana United Methodist Church Communications
Dr. Ken Reed’s Grief Healing program is a labor born from a
lifetime of love and ministry. In my over 30 years of ministry I
have never seen a better tool to help people through the process of
grief. I plan to use it with my congregation.
The Rev. Dr. Ronald F. VerLee, Senior Pastor
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
Kokomo, Indiana
My customary pastoral visit or two to a grieving person/family is
far from sufficient, if the truth be told. I’ve been on the lookout
for grief resources that can help our parish be more sensitive and
present to those in our parish experiencing grief/loss. After
reading this resource, we’ve said such a resource is long, long
overdue!! …We’re shortly moving toward using this resource with more
and more grieving persons in our parish. This way, we can share the
helpfulness of the faith in the midst of mourning, not overnight,
but over time.
Pastor Joe Freeman, Senior Pastor
Christ the Savior Lutheran Church
Fishers, Indiana
I particularly like the fact that you did not just write a book,
but designed a program which is highly “user friendly” and
beneficial to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Our
Religious Congregation wants to make it available to members of our
Community who have lost a loved one. Thank you for caring enough to
share your own story of grieving and for sharing your knowledge and
expertise in a manner that will help others to heal.
Sister Anna Maria Sanders, C.PP.S.
Catholic Chaplain at Miami Valley Hospital
Dayton, Ohio
As one who was involved in pastoral ministry I wish I had had
materials like this to share with people during their time of grief,
transition and adjustment. I believe what Ken Reed has done captures
the various phases of the grieving process and gives tremendous
guidance for the months ahead. I believe it is a resource that
pastors and other professionals who deal with grief will use to
great advantage.
Rev. Dr. James D. Jones, Executive Assistant to the Bishop,
Indiana Area United Methodist Church
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