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Starlight Ministries, Inc. is a harbor in the storm of grief; a place to be with other individuals who are experiencing the same type of feelings. Starlight provides grief support groups, peer-to-peer, specifically designed for participants to process feelings, grow in faith and learn ways to cope with loss.

We offer groups for children ages 4-18 and adults who are grieving the death loss of a significant person in their life.  Our groups are facilitated by trained volunteers.

We also provide educational services to organizations like churches, schools and businesses.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

The heart of Starlight Ministries mission is offering Christ-centered peer-to-peer grief support groups for children ages 4-18 and adults who are grieving the death of a person in their life. Groups are facilitated in Hudsonville and virtually by trained volunteers and are designed to process feelings, grow in faith, and learn ways to cope and heal in their grief. Peer-to-Peer Groups offered:

  • Children and Teens (ages 4-18; groups divided by age)
  • Adult groups are divided by:
    • Bereaved Parents
    • Bereaved Spouses
    • Bereaved Adults

Peer-to-Peer support groups are free of charge. It is because of financial support from individuals, businesses and church sponsorships that no family is ever charged a fee for our peer-support services.

If you are interested in attending support groups beginning the week of September 11th, contact our Family Services Coordinator, Mary at marybr@starlightmin.org

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GRIEF EDUCATION SERIES

An annual three-week Grief Education Series takes place in January.

Learn what to expect with grief, add some tools to your ‘Grief and Mourning Toolbox’ and learn how to manage grief both now and in the years ahead. This series is open to any adults who are grieving a death loss or persons wanting to support someone who is grieving.

$30 per person

$50 for immediate family rate

REGISTER HERE

GRIEF IN THE WORKPLACE – BUSINESS BREAKFAST

Business owners, human resource administrators, and anyone interested in learning how grief affects the work environment is invited to join us on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at 9:00am at Covenant Community Church.

This training will offer information on how grief impacts your organization and give practical ways to support your employees while upholding your company values and goals.

Register Here

BATTLE OF THE BRAIN TRIVIA NIGHT FUNDRAISER

Bring your friends and join us on Friday, March 8, for a night of fun and games to support the work of Starlight Ministries!

Tickets are $25 individually or $200 for a table of 8. The night will include snacks, desserts, a silent auction, a wine pull, and games. Doors open at 6:00 and the trivia starts at 7:00.

Support Starlight further by sponsoring a round of trivia questions! Round sponsors will have their company name or name of the individual they are honoring displayed on every question of the round.

Register Here

EMBRACE THE HOPE GALA

We are thankful for the support poured out at the 2023 Embrace the Hope Gala!

Mark your calendar for our next annual fundraising gala on November 7, 2024!

WOMEN’S BOOK GROUP

This group includes eight weekly sessions held in the spring and fall for woman grieving a death loss. This is a book study and discussion format. Women are invited to join us on Friday mornings from 10:00 – 11:30 starting on September 22nd. Join us this fall to read “A Grace Revealed” by Jerry Sittser.

COMMUNITY QPR TRAINING

QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention is an educational program designed to teach the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond.  Cost is $10/person or $30 for a family of 4 or more.  Starlight will certify each participant at the end of the training.

BEREAVED MOM’S NIGHT OUT

A night for Mom’s who have experienced the death of a child. This night out provides bereaved mothers with a safe place to openly discuss their grief among those who truly understand.

This annual event occurs in the Summer.

CAMP ANEW

Camp Anew is a summer program of Starlight Ministries and ministers specifically to children & teens ages 7-17; it is a place where campers can experience the value of gathering with other children who are grieving, learn biblically-based coping skills and are offered HOPE to lead a meaningful life going forward.

LEARN MORE & WATCH VIDEO

GRIEF STRIDES

A daytime walking group held every other Thursday mornings at 10am. No registration required.

Summer Grief Strides is held at Hager Park ( 8212 28th Ave, Georgetown Twp)

HOOFBEATS OF HOPE

Hoofbeats is one of our summer camp options that we partner with Renew Therapeutic Riding Center.  This is a day camp that incorporates the use of horses to help facilitate the grieving process for children and teens (ages 8-18) who have experienced the death of a loved one.  Trained professionals, volunteers, and therapy horses partner to provide a safe environment to feel, process, and find hope despite facing immeasurable pain and grief.

August 10th & 11th, 2023 from 1:00 – 5:00pm

Renew Therapeutic Riding Center is located at 5080 146th Ave., Holland MI.

GRIEF IN THE CLASSROOM

Starlight is offering a suicide prevention training and innovative, practical tools for teachers and school staff to understand grief and how to navigate it in the classroom.

Training includes:

Tools, practice, and resources to help understand students who have experienced a death loss.

QPR Certification (Question, Persuade, Refer)  As a QPR Certified Gatekeeper, you will learn to:

  • Recognize the warning signs of suicide
  • Learn how to offer hope
  • Know how to get help and save a life

Contact Stephanie (stephanie@starlightmin.org) if you would like to bring this training to your group.

What Starlight Offers Churches & Organizations

PRESENTATIONS – We welcome opportunities to share the tools we have to help those who are grieving and assist in providing ongoing support.

GRIEF RESOURCE MANUAL – A valuable guide to understanding grief, how to help, and available resources.

TEEN GRIEF RESOURCE MANUAL – A guide exclusively geared toward teens and their grief.

CHURCH PROTOCOL – A protocol in which the body of Christ will be equipped to answer its Biblical mandate to care for widows.

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STORIES OF HOPE

Stories of lives restored from participants of Starlight Ministries.

CATHY TILBURT

I discovered Starlight Ministries in September of 2016 by God's providence. I was reading a book by Miriam Neff & learned about the Widow Retreat from the Widow Connection website. That led me to visit the Starlight website & I discovered the Peer-to-Peer groups that way. After the first meeting, both Taylor & I were comforted to know that there were other people who get what we are going through.

Taylor attended Camp Anew this past summer, & even though he was hesitant at first, he really appreciated his time there. He came home with a better outlook on his dad's passing. For that, I am grateful! Through the Peer-to-Peer group, he was able to reconnect with a former classmate. He was also able to talk about his dad's passing & work through his thoughts, feelings & emotions surrounding his dad's death. We will never be able to fully say Thank You to Starlight Ministries for all of the support they have given to Taylor & I through the different parts of their ministry.

Paul Elias

Starlight gives us hope, because they bring others together that have kind of shared this path. They help us to understand what we’re going through, that we are not alone and we will get through this. Starlight developed their program and it’s like the church was meant to be. We come together, we share a meal and then we break off and then we break off into our age appropriate groups for small group time.

I have attended the Widow Retreat for the past two years & I come away blessed & refreshed every time. I am also thankful for the friendships that have formed from the Peer-to-Peer group at Starlight Ministries. I am grateful that there are people who I can talk to anytime who will fully understand the way that I am feeling. Starlight has been a blessing beyond comprehension to us, individually & as a family.

 

Amy Sikkema

Starlight’s been a blessing in so many ways; the grieving process of loosing a spouse and moving forward with this journey, it’s great to have the support of community and knowing that we walk hand in hand; we’re not alone.

 

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