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 NorthAlabamaWWW@gmail.com.
Arkansas
The Fort Smith chapter is facilitated by Landen and Missy Holmes. For more information about this group, please contact Landen at 479-413-8892 or Missy at 479-461-3997.
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 North Little Rock chapter is facilitated by Kevin & Debbie Russell. For more information about this group, please contact Debbie at 501-831-6830.
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 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 San Leandro is facilitated by Erica Mapp, Denise Leytem, and Lydia Flippen, and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, call or text Erica (510-677-5900), Denise (510-459-4426), or Lydia (510-507-1735).
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 foxhs1972@gmail.com.
The Dundee chapter is facilitated by Rick & Tammy Siegel. For more information about this group, please contact Tammy at 863-332-9140.
Kansas
The Wichita chapter is facilitated by Bob and Justine King. For more information about this group, please contact Justine at 316-640-8234.
Louisiana
The Springhill chapter is facilitated by Greg & Cheryl Sanders. For more information about this group, please contact Greg at 318-453-9501 or Cheryl at 870-904-5524.
Maryland
The Street chapter is facilitated by Arlo and Capri Weiskopf. For more information about this group, please contact them at arlocapriw@gmail.com 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 Bonne Terre 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 Greenwood 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 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.
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.
Oklahoma
The Tulsa is facilitated by Don and Patsy Akin. For more information about this group, please contact Don at 918-605-2974 or Patsy at 918-694-1068.
Oregon
The Redmond is facilitated by Matt and Stacie Zachary. For more information about this group, please contact Stacie at 541-610-2270.
Tennessee
The Memphis area chapter is facilitated by Sean and Heather Ellis and 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 Bryan 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 deller@compassnet.com.
The Tyler chapter is facilitated by Julie LePelley and Patti Wild and is for Moms only. For more information about this group, please contact Julie at 903-646-3105 or Patti at 903-978-0125.
The Waco chapter is facilitated by Sam and Barbara Wilson. For more information about this group, please contact barbara.g.wilson80@gmail.com.
Virginia
The Warrenton chapter is facilitated by Jared and Susie Legg. For more information about this group, please contact Susie at 804-687-7285.
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: twoquail@outlook.com.
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 group is facilitated by Rhyl Venning. 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