Peggy Norton

I am Peggy Norton, Ordained Minister of Encouraging Souls Ministry, Aberdeen, MD.   I have always been sensitive to people that were grieving and feeling that they were at their wits end. At times, I felt hopeless, for not being able to help some of the people through their process. I made a personal vow and commitment to help individuals understand that grief is something people do not talk about because they do not understand. My journey allowed me to serve as an advisor for the Interdenominational Fellowship Youth and Young Adults Ministry with teens from Harford, Cecil and Baltimore Counties, for over 15 years. My community involvement opened the door for me to be appointed by the Mayor for the City of Aberdeen, MD to serve as the City’s Faith-Based Coordinator for two years. On November 2012, I was appointed as the Executive Pastor of Elohistic Ministries and served as my Pastor’s right hand until she died in July 2016. Rather than continue with the ministry, I felt that I needed to resigned and the pain of letting go of 15 years of sertitude was undescribable.  Eight months later I was bewildered when my mother died after a long illness. These two deaths along with the closing of the ministry devastated me.  I realized, it was time to get busy and find out more about this “unexplainable” grief so I could recover and help those who have gone through a tragic loss. In February 2017, I established Encouraging Souls Ministries, as a “Para-Church” to give support, care, and love to people who have felt like their heart has been broken and could see no way out. To complete this vision, I needed something that would give me the tools to aid in this process and that is when I found The Grief Recovery Institute. With this training I now have the tools to bring knowledge and understanding about the recovery of grief and loss. I now can give hope to grievers by helping them understand what "Grief" is when facing a loss of any kind. I can provide support to groups, individualized support, pet loss support and support helping with children in person or by way of zoom.