Another aspect of the While We’re Waiting ministry is our faith-based support groups for bereaved parents.
As with all of our While We’re Waiting events, our goal at these meetings is to point grieving parents to our only true source of comfort, Jesus Christ. Although our topics of discussion may be painful, and tears will be inevitable, our desire will be to honor God by seeking how we can live well while we’re waiting to be reunited with our children some day.
All of our support groups are facilitated by parents who have experienced the death of a child. None of us has any training in grief counseling, and attending this group should not be viewed as a substitute for professional counseling. We are just parents who are walking this road of grief, a few years ahead of some folks, and decades behind others. That’s why we use the term “facilitating” … We will all be learning from each other. Each meeting is based around a particular Scripture passage and will address a specific topic faced by grieving parents.
Anyone who has lost a child is welcome to come. You are welcome if your child has been in Heaven for thirty days or for thirty years. You are welcome if your child was stillborn and never took a single breath, or if your child lived to be an adult and had a family of his or her own. come, knowing you will be surrounded by people who care, who understand, and who will pray for you. This will be a safe place, a place where we can discuss our struggles, knowing we will not be judged, because every one of us has been there at one time or another. We will also share our victories, and rejoice with each other as we move along the road toward healing.
At this time, we have chapters in several states, as you can see below. If you would like more information about facilitating a group in your area, please contact Jill Sullivan at 501-881-8851. Our board has set a stipulation that those who would like to facilitate a group attend one of our While We’re Waiting Weekend events, or attend three of our Hot Springs area support group meetings. We like to get to know our facilitators on a personal basis! Prospective facilitators must also complete an application, provide two letters of reference, and agree to both our While We’re Waiting Statement of Faith and our While We’re Waiting Statement of Beliefs. All facilitators must be approved by our board of directors.
While We’re Waiting Support Groups
Please call or text the group facilitator(s) for information regarding meeting dates and times.
All groups are open to both couples and singles, except for those designated as “Moms Only.”
Alabama
The Huntsville chapter is facilitated by Scott and Karen Harmening. For more information about this group, please call or text 256-580-6260 or email [email protected].
Arkansas
The Hot Springs chapter is facilitated by Brad & Jill Sullivan and Larry & Janice Brown. For more information about this group, please contact Jill Sullivan at 501-881-8851.
The Jonesboro chapter is facilitated by Jan Ellis and Carol Duncan and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, please contact Jan at 870-926-1623 or Carol at 870-931-8517.
The Magnolia chapter is facilitated by Phil and Andrea Fewell. For more information about this group, please contact Phil at 870-904-9211 or Andrea at 870-914-9054.
The Pine Bluff chapter is facilitated by Greg and Cheryl Sanders. For more information about this group, please contact Greg at 318-453-9501 or Cheryl at 870-904-5524.
The Sherwood chapter is facilitated by Kevin and Debbie Russell. For more information about this group, please contact Debbie at 501-831-6830.
The Siloam Springs chapter is facilitated by Don & Deondra Chamberlain. For more information about this group, please contact Deondra at 479-549-7005.
The Springdale chapter is facilitated by Michael and Michelle Moore. For more information about this group, please contact Michael at 479-251-0959 or Michelle at 479-466-7446. The Moores also host a WWW support group for Spanish-speaking bereaved parents in Northwest Arkansas. Please contact them for more information.
The Wynne chapter is facilitated by Beth Ratliff, and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, please contact Beth at 870-588-5474.
California
The El Centro chapter is facilitated by Taylor and Rose Holmes. For more information about this group, please call or text Rose at 760-679-6383.
The Gilroy chapter is facilitated by Frank & Indra Carlos. For more information about this group, please call or text Indra at 408-694-8243 or Frank at 408-607-1525.
The San Leandro chapter is facilitated by Denise Leytem, and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, call or text Denise at 510-459-4426.
Florida
The Belleview chapter is facilitated by Lee & Heather Fox. For more information about this group, please contact Heather at 352-348-1596 or email [email protected]
Illinois
The Metamora chapter is facilitated by Wendy Dubois. For more information about this group, please contact Wendy at 309-231-1525.
The Mount Carmel chapter is facilitated by Chris and Tina Howton. For more information about this group, please contact Tina at 812-629-0806.
Iowa
The Fort Dodge chapter is facilitated by Jerry and Kelle VanVacter. For more information about this group, please contact Kelle at 515-570-3083
Kansas
The Wichita chapter is facilitated by Bob and Justine King. For more information about this group, please contact Justine at 316-640-8234.
Maryland
The Street chapter is facilitated by Arlo and Capri Weiskopf. For more information about this group, please contact them at [email protected] or 443-987-6734.
Michigan
The Owosso chapter is facilitated by Keith and Lynnae Kelley. For more information about this group, please contact Keith at 517-525-9102 or Lynnae at 989-721-1303.
Missouri
The Blackwell chapter is facilitated by Mike & Kim Canania and Joe & Kayla West. For more information about this group, please contact Kim at 636-208-8707.
The Hannibal chapter is facilitated by Bob and Susan Wathen. For more information about this group, please contact Bob at 573-406-2960 or Susan at 573-406-3695.
The Kansas City area chapter is facilitated by Terry & Joy Young and Michael & Julie Coram. For more information about this group, please contact Joy at 816-853-7729 or Julie at 816-824-6845.
The Oronogo chapter is facilitated by Ward and Tanya Thomas. For more information, please contact Tanya at 785-534-2234.
Nevada
The Sparks chapter is facilitated by Jim and Carol Smitherman. For more information about this group, please contact Jim at 775-240-5624 or Carol at 775-240-5652.
North Dakota
The Fargo chapter is facilitated by Troy and Jana Solhjem. For more information about this group, please call or text Jana at 701-640-3402.
The Lisbon chapter is facilitated by Jana Solhjem and is for Moms only. For more information, please contact Jana at 701-640-3402
Ohio
The Dalton chapter is facilitated by Michael and Judy Hostetler. For more information about this group please call or text Judy at 330-234-8562.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma City chapter is facilitated by Reed and Grace Whitnah. For more information about this group, please call or text Grace at 405-229-6686.
The Sapulpa chapter is facilitated by James and Tricia Bell. For more information about this group, please call or text Tricia at 918-724-3613.
Oregon
The Redmond chapter is facilitated by Matt and Stacie Zachary. For more information about this group, please contact Stacie at 541-610-2270.
South Carolina
The Lyman chapter is facilitated by Blake and Jennifer Mullinax . For more information, please contact Jennifer at 864-483-3330.
Tennessee
The Bartlett chapter is facilitated by Jason and Robin Hargrove. For more information about this group, please contact Robin at 901-628-3767.
The Chattanooga chapter is facilitated by Jason and Amy Carter. For more information about this group, please contact Amy at 423-413-4128 or email her at [email protected]
The Fayetteville chapter is facilitated by Kevin and Wendy Hammons. For more information about this group, please contact Wendy at 256-497-8607.
The Oakland chapter is facilitated by Sean and Heather Ellis & Jason and Robin Hargrove. For more information about this group, please contact Sean at 901-603-7889 or Heather at 901-603-7798.
Texas
The Austin chapter is facilitated by Mitzi Reese and is for Moms only. For more information, please contact Mitzi at 512-731-1347.
The Bryan chapter is facilitated by Nathan and Cherie Sivils. For more information about this group, please contact Cherie at 979-204-3230.
The Frisco chapter is facilitated by John and Terisa Poirier. For more information about this group, please contact John at 214-809-4988 or Terisa at 469-446-4970.
The Medina chapter is facilitated by David and Lacy Rogers. For more information about this group, please contact Lacy at 830-328-3596.
The Sugar Land chapter is facilitated by Tim and Donna Eller. For more information about this group, please contact Tim at 281-217-5780 or Donna at 281-413-2484 or email [email protected].
The Tyler chapter is facilitated by Patti Wild and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, please contact Patti at 903-978-0125.
The Waco chapter is facilitated by Sam and Barbara Wilson. For more information about this group, please contact Barbara by email at [email protected].
Virtual
A Virtual chapter is facilitated on Zoom by Ron and Nan Deal, so you can join in from anywhere. For more information, please contact Nan at 806-274-0001 or [email protected].
Washington
The Bothell chapter is facilitated by John and Dori Shane. For more information about this group, please contact John at 425-445-6157 or Dori at 425-420-4204 or email: [email protected].
The Port Angeles chapter is facilitated by Peter and ‘Kenzie Gish. For more information about this group, please contact Peter at 360-912-1011 or ‘Kenzie at 360-461-4591.
Australia
The Sunshine Coast chapter is facilitated by Rhyl Venning and is for Moms only. It is currently on hiatus until the summer of 2022. For more information about this group, please contact Rhyl at 042-387-9186.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Romans 8:25