First Christian Church Supports Grief Response

The mission of First Hour of Grief Response Inc. (FHGR Inc.) is to help people navigate the sudden loss of a loved one. The group provides FREE one-to-one mentoring in addition to facilitating grief support groups for people who have lost children, loss due to addiction, lost infants (miscarriages and post birth loss) and a general grief support group we host at Northeast Christian Church. FHGR incorporated in February 2018 and received nonprofit status in November of 2018. First Christian Church was pleased to partner with First Hour of Grief Response this year to provide Wholeness Grant funds for quarterly mailings.

Clients typically meet with certified Grief Recovery Specialists, who have their own personal stories of grief, for about 90 minutes per session, every few weeks, until they are ready for a support group environment. Many of the clients cannot afford the cost of a licensed therapist. The group is dedicated to providing a warm and welcoming environment for people to come and get coping strategies for what they are feeling as they navigate their grief journey. The goal of FHGR, Inc. is to disseminate information out into the community and into the hands of grieving people and to get involved in the first hours following the loss and be a bridge of hope and healing. The group states that their approach is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Since opening their doors in St. Matthews, First Hour of Grief Response has helped over 40 people from 17 different zip codes.

Louisville has a significant need for grief support services. According to US Census data, 30,000 Jefferson County residents are widowed (79% female; 21% male). Kentucky Health Facts data suggests that each year at least 235 families in Jefferson County experience the death of a child. Jefferson County’s Coroner’s Office reported a 30% increase in suicides from 2014 to 2016 (from 121 to 156). The Louisville Metro Health Equity Report 2017 reported an average of 271 drug and alcohol related deaths per year from 2011-2015. From the tragedies mentioned above, hundreds of surviving family members in our community are left grieving. Grief left unaddressed can lead to a variety of mental health issues including depression, alcohol and drug abuse, anger, aggression and even suicide. FHGR, Inc. serves grievers and educates bystanders on how to help someone they care about following a loss. Click here for a video the group produced to educate people about grief.

The wholeness grant used to fund this ministry was made possible through your faithful financial support of our church and its ministries and help fund a variety of efforts to make our world a better place.

You can find more examples of those efforts or apply for a grant to make the world a better place by clicking here.