People in divorce or separation face tough emotions over the holidays. Local churches across the nation are offering a helpful seminar.
WAKE FOREST, NC, Nov. 8 /
Christian Newswire/ -- The holidays are a crucial time for churches to reach out and come alongside people in divorce or separation in their community. That's why local churches nationwide are hosting Surviving the Holidays seminars from DivorceCare. These two-hour, lay-led events are designed as a care and outreach tool for the holiday season.
For people facing marital breakup, holidays are tough. Reminders are everywhere that their family isn't together; people at holiday events ask prying questions and offer unwanted advice; children often have to divide their time over the holidays; and family traditions will never be the same.
That's why churches are offering help. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale hosted a Surviving the Holidays seminar last year. Pastor Greg Anderson was encouraged by the hopefulness and life changes in those who attended. "When you see the fruit of Surviving the Holidays, you see changed lives; you see people finding genuine healing through Jesus Christ."
"I wish a lot more churches had Surviving the Holidays, because the demand is there," said LuAnn Hermann, a lay leader who helped host a holiday event at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI.
Many churches have reported that people who attended their holiday event later became involved in their church's regular ministries. This has led to greater church ministering opportunities and growth, as individuals and families experience healing and want to take part in the church. Seeing similar results in his church, Steve Cotton, a lay facilitator from Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, concluded, "This kind of program is a tremendous outreach opportunity for churches."
DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays arrives at churches as a kit, which includes a 40-minute video seminar featuring counsel from respected Christian experts and advice from people who've been through divorce; Survival Guides with 30 devotions and a salvation plan for seminar attendees; and instructions for promoting and hosting an outreach event.
About DivorceCare
DivorceCare, a ministry of Church Initiative, Wake Forest, NC, is a network of nearly13,000 churches equipped to offer divorce recovery support groups. Find a nearby group at www.divorcecare.org.
