When Bible teacher and mentor Amy Diane Ross first heard about The Grief Recovery Method, she didn’t think she needed it. She loved the Lord, was active in her church, and helped disciple young women. But during her second week in the program, something changed.

She realized no one was trying to fix her. No one rushed to give advice or spiritualize her pain. People listened with open hearts. That gave her room to talk honestly about grief she didn’t even realize was still weighing her down. Over eight weeks, she found new peace, and so did the women in her group.

Now, she starts almost every discipleship journey with grief recovery work, not to replace faith, but to clear space in the heart so faith can grow deeper.

Why does Grief Recovery belong in your church?

Your church is already walking with people through hard seasons. You bring meals, you pray, you open your Bible together. The Grief Recovery Method gives you practical tools to make that care even more effective.

With this method, you can:

• Offer listening without fixing.
• Give people a way to express emotions safely.
• Strengthen marriages, small groups, and ministries through better communication.
• Support pastors and leaders, who often carry more grief than they get to talk about.

This isn’t a new theology. It’s a simple, structured way to help people process pain so they can hear God’s truth more clearly.

Jesus wept.

In John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” He knew His resurrection was coming, but He still stopped to grieve. That moment shows you it’s okay to bring your whole heart before God. Grief is not a lack of faith; it’s part of being human.

The Grief Recovery Method gives you and your church a way to do what Jesus modeled: create space for honest emotion, and walk through it together.

How can you introduce this gently?

Bringing something new into your church doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In fact, the most effective way to start is often quiet and straightforward.

• Start with what’s already working. “We love how our church cares for people. This gives us another way to do that.”
• Begin small. Try one pilot group for staff spouses, a care team, or small group leaders.
• Protect privacy. Offer a men’s or women’s group or connect leaders with an outside specialist so they feel safe.
• Please keep it simple. Use alumni gatherings to help people keep practicing what they’ve learned.

Caring for old wounds with compassion

Many people come to church with grief that has nothing to do with your congregation. Others may carry pain from past church experiences. You can give them a structured, gentle way to name and process that pain. Over and over, people tell us that The Grief Recovery Method helps them return to worship and community with clearer hearts and renewed hope.

A simple path to get started

1. Invite people in. “If you’re carrying loss of any kind, this group is a safe space for you.”
2. Offer the program. Eight weeks of proven, practical tools guided by trained leaders.
3. Create ongoing support. Host a monthly alumni circle or follow-up group.
4. Let it grow naturally. Share listening skills with volunteers and group leaders so the culture shifts gently.

A word for pastors and leaders

You already do so much. This isn’t another burden for you to carry. It’s a way to share the load and give your church a language for grief that supports your ministry, not competes with it. It also gives you a safe space to process your own story, because your heart matters, too.

A word for members and volunteers

You don’t need to have all the answers to walk with someone who’s hurting. You need to listen, to care, and to give them space. The Grief Recovery Method gives you practical skills to do that with confidence and love.

If you’re curious where to begin

You can start small. You might explore a pilot group for your care ministry, bring it to your small group leaders, or experience it for yourself first.

This isn’t about programs or pressure. It’s about making room for the kind of honest emotion Jesus modeled when He wept.

The church already does so much to care for people. The Grief Recovery Method isn’t here to replace any of that. It’s simply a faith-friendly tool that helps you and your congregation walk with grieving hearts in a way that’s honest, kind, and deeply biblical.

Learn more about bringing the Grief Recovery Method to your church