The answer comes, in part, by recruiting for and supporting the work of Camp Brave Heart which takes place each summer at Ridge Haven Conference Center. This year the dates are July 18-23.

Camp Brave Heart is a Christ-centered camp designed to meet the unique spiritual and emotional needs of youth who are walking the journey of grief after the death of someone they dearly love. Ridge Haven Camp and Conference Center is offering a week of summer camp to support children and teenagers, 3 through 12 grades, with these diverse needs at this time in their lives.

By understanding the grief process, the campers learn how to identify their feelings and how to express them in healthy ways. The feelings of being all alone and no one understanding are defused when, not only do they realize God’s presence in their lives, but they are with others in similar circumstances. Being fearful, anxious, angry, exhausted and paralyzed by guilt and loneliness are all overwhelming, but normal emotions of grief.

Many life lessons and healthy coping skills are learned through the challenges of camp experiences such as, the ropes course, climbing wall and even white water rafting. Trained camp counselors are prepared to walk alongside and listen to the camper.

They will have the opportunity to make memory boxes in honor of their loved one and share about the person with one another. There are many activities that are used throughout the week to teach coping skills and provide ways to express their grief.

Youth grieve more in the future. It is important for them to be prepared with tools to manage the grief during all of the times their loved one should be there but isn’t. The wedding day of a young girl will be the happiest day of her life and also, the saddest because her father is not there to walk her down the aisle. When sad and happy events in life collide, we call them “SAPPY” moments. There are so many changes in their lives that require adjustments and newly acquired strengths.

God heals broken hearts with His love and assurance of His presence. One camper said, “I now know God is with me no matter what bad things happen in my life. I know He has a plan and a purpose for me.” No one “gets over” the heart breaking loss of a loved one, but the goal is “adjustment” and realizing God’s plan and purpose for their life.

One camper put it this way: “…Losing my dad has been tough and the camp I went to made me strong through a really hard time. Helping others who were experiencing the same feeling of loss made me feel stronger. Finding God in it all made me the strongest.”

Camp Brave Heart is built around these two essential ‘Theme Verses’ from the Bible:

Zephaniah 3: 17: “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Isaiah 43: 2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, They will not sweep over you, When you walk through the fire, You will not be burned; The flames will not set you a blaze. For I am the Lord, your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Camp Brave Heart was developed and continues to be facilitated by Martha M. Furman, wife of PCA pastor John Furman. Martha is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. She has been in private practice for over 25 years and presently resides in Roanoke, VA. She is a graduate of Clemson University and received her degree in counseling from Covenant Theological Seminary.

We began by asking the question: What can churches do for grieving families? Churches can send grieving children and teens from their church, family or community to Camp Brave Heart, to walk alongside these families and/or provide financial support for those who could not otherwise pay for the camp to attend.

Follow Camp Brave Heart on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/fOZsGV

Check out Camp Brave Heart on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTKFt7-vgsw

For additional information about supporting the ministry, contact [email protected]

To register for the camp, contact: http://www.ridgehaven.org/camps/braveheart

[Editor’s note:One or more original URLs (links) referenced are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]