Two chairs on a dock overlooking a pond

Faith-Based Retreats for Bereaved Parents Finding hope and life after the loss of a child can be incredibly challenging.

The loss of a child, no matter that child’s age, is profoundly life-altering.  It’s as if the foundations of everything we once held dear have been shaken and cracked.

The While We’re Waiting ministry offers free Biblically based retreats, where bereaved parents form bonds and make connections with other moms and dads who truly understand the experience of child loss.  

The loss of a child is very isolating – Making us feel alone in a world that no longer understands us.

Relationships with others can become strained because we are no longer the same people we were before. Pop-culture theology and well-intended platitudes from family and friends often hurt more than they help. Others move on while we are still seeking just to regain our footing.

As bereaved parents, we have some choices to make.

As parents who have lost children, we are faced with the reality that we may have many years ahead of us on this earth before we see our children in Heaven.  As we face this journey, there are some questions we need to work through.  Our While We’re Waiting retreats are designed to help bereaved parents answer these questions in a way that would honor our children and glorify God.

  • How can we trust God again when our hearts have been broken?
  • How can we move forward in life, bringing our grief along with us?
  • How can we honor both our children and our Lord with our lives?
  • How can we live well while we’re waiting to see our children again one day?

Our retreats are designed to help bereaved parents answer these questions.

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  • Learn from dedicated facilitators who have lost children of their own.
  • Make connections with other parents who understand the experience of child loss and are clinging to their faith in God.
  • Share our struggles and our victories in a safe, welcoming, and authentic environment.
  • Discuss how we can live life well while honoring our grief, our children, and our Lord.

Our Retreats

Our While We’re Waiting events are casual gatherings where we share the stories of our children and discuss issues faced by grieving parents.  We offer four unique types of retreats, which are open to both married couples and singles.  There is no cost to attend any of our events.

Hear from Parents who have Attended

Colby's Mom and Dad

“We were very nervous about attending the While We’re Waiting Weekend retreat … opening up our deepest hurt in front of strangers. It was an absolute blessing to attend! The support of everyone, the laughter as well as tears, all blessed us and took all our nervousness away. We are so grateful for you and your ministry.”

Joel's Dad

The dad’s weekend retreat was an awesome time for me. I was strengthened as a man to know other men hurt like I do. It is “manly” to be honest with my ‘not so good days.’ I am part of a special brotherhood that very few men will ever know anything about. For these things and for God’s amazing love shown through WWW I am humbled and eternally grateful!

Frequently Asked Questions

Our retreats are 100% free, though we do accept a voluntary donation at the close of the retreat. 

While We're Waiting is a 501(c)3 non-profit that operates entirely off of generous donations