From Pain to Purpose by Gracious Grafx

www.careinconline.org

GRIEF SEMINAR

SATURDAY - MARCH 2, 2019 Session 1 – 10:00 AM TO 12:30 PM Topic: Getting Past the Past: Managing Grief and Loss Location: Fellowship Hall Given the need of the community, this session will be a very practical session in which participants will interact with strategies for coping with grief and loss, and will be given the opportunity to learn how to process their grief in a healthy way. This will include exposure to the stages of grief, physical and emotional symptoms of grief, coping with grief and loss and self-care.

Lunch will be provided for all registrants: 12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Location: Fellowship Hall SATURDAY - MARCH 2, 2019 Session 2 - 1:15 pm to 4:14 pm Topic: Helping People Live in Times of Crisis and Pain Location: Fellowship Hall Each individual mourns the death of a loved one differently. While some may not seem to be adversely affected by their loved one’s death, others may see this loss as most traumatic and painful. This session will explore effective means of stress management and preserving relationships during this time of crisis. Suicide is a form of death and crisis response that is on the increase in the USA and the State of Florida. This session will include a brief look at the statistics on suicide, risk factors for suicide, warning signs and intervention: how to help prevent suicide. It will also include suggestions for the Church’s response to suicide.

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

CHILDREN’S SEGMENT: SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 Session: 10:00 AM TO 4:30 PM Topic: Grief Support for the Childhood Experience Location: CARE Inc. Classroom #2 Presenter: Dr. Tracey-Ann Spencer and Associates When a loved one passes, children are often ignored as adults are consumed by their own grief. Without the appropriate support, children like adults will experience complicated grief. This session is designed for children five to twelve years of age who have recently experienced grief and will provide grief education and emotional support in a fun, safe and interactive environment. SUNDAY - MARCH 3, 2019 Session 3 - 10:00 am -11:00 am Adult Sunday School Class Topic: More Questions than Answers Location: Pentecostal Tabernacle Int’l Sanctuary We have questions and sometimes we feel that we should not ask God questions when we experience tragedy or grief. In this session, we will look at the book of Habakkuk in which the prophet Habakkuk had a conversation with God and he asked the tough questions including why. We will see how God responded and learn from Habakkuk’s response to God when his questions were more than his answers.

Lunch will be provided for all registrants: 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Location: Fellowship Hall

GRIEF SEMINAR Session 4 – 3:30 pm -5:30 pm Topic: Finding purpose After Death: Panel Discussion and Resources Connection Location: Pentecostal Tabernacle Int’l Sanctuary Important to managing grief, is having a positive support system, and access to effective resources. In this session, participants will hear from a panel of individuals who have experienced grief and is finding purpose in their loss, and experts who are helping people cope with their grief. Participants will also be introduced to a working definition of happiness, empirically based principles that are scripturally sound, that lead to happiness and wellness and will be encouraged to make choices that help to make life more meaningful after the death of a loved one.

Panel: Annette Taylor-Spence Panelists: Audrey Johnson Rodrick Ferguson (For Annie’s Sake) Jacqueline Rosen (Florida Initiative for Suicide) Sasheena Reynolds (Jada Foundation) Gian Santayana (Camp Erin/Catholic Hospice) Daniel Sheridan (Children Bereavement Centre) Tentative

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE PURPOSE As we enter the month of February, the residences of South Florida are grieving collectively as we approach the anniversary of the Stoneman Douglas High School Massacre in Parkland, FL. The City of Miami Gardens is also grappling with the frequency of suicide and murders in its community. As a congregation, Pentab grieves the many losses of our families and friends. In response to this overwhelming presence of grief, CARE Inc. In collaboration with the Pentab Family Life Ministry will be hosting a free two day grief support seminar under the theme; “From Pain to Purpose: Finding Meaning After Death”. This seminar will also facilitate the introduction and registration of CARE Inc’s six weeks psychoeducation grief support group, for members of the congregation and community.

AUDIENCE The participants of this seminar will predominantly be consisted of members of the Pentecostal Tabernacle International congregation who are grieving loss of their loved one/s. Elders and church leaders from various congregations including Pentab, will also be present in order to build competence in dealing with those grieving. Members of the Mental Health profession, including, Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family therapist will also be in attendance particularly for their interest in building spiritual and cultural competence as it relates to working with grief among AfroCaribbean clients.

GRIEF SEMINAR

GENERAL OBJECTIVES 1. Identify grief as a process not an event. 2. Discuss symptoms of grief. 3. Present coping skills for resolving grief issues. 4. Compare/contrast men and women’s response to grief. 5. Identify ways to assist those who are bereaved. 6. Discuss the church’s response to grief and suicide. 7. Provide an overview of occurrences of suicide in the 21st century. 8. Examine the warning signs of suicide and its causes. 9. Debunk myths associated with suicide. 10. Sensitization of the process of suicidality. 11. Examine crisis/stress management as it relates to suicidal ideation and tendencies. 12. Present useful prevention and intervention strategies of suicide. 13. Explore practical principles and misconception of happiness. 14. Examine the physical, emotional and spiritual choices that increases one’s happiness threshold. 15. Examine the cultural implication of grief and suicide for those of Afro-Caribbean and African American decent.

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

GRIEF SEMINAR ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

MRS. FAITH THOMAS

Mrs. Faith Thomas is Vice President and Co-Founder of CHOOSE LIFE INTERNATIONAL, which was established by herself and her husband Donovan in 2008. Prior to that, she served as the Senior Counsellor at the Stony Hill Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Academy for nineteen (19) years. She has presented at seminars locally and internationally on subjects such as Stress Management, Self Esteem, Getting Past Your Past: Grief and Loss Support, Suicide Prevention, Sexuality, Marriage Enrichment, Parenting in the 21st Century and the Art and Science of Happiness. Faith has been an adjunct lecturer in the Social and Behavioural Sciences Department, at the Jamaica Theological Seminary (JTS) for over twenty (20) years. She has also lectured at the International University of the Caribbean (IUC), the Mico University College and Shortwood Teachers’ College. Dynamic Faith is a speaker in demand in Conferences, Retreats, Workshops, Seminars, churches of different denominations, schools and other social organizations. Her special ministry and passion is to help hurting women and in general to help people fulfil their life’s purpose. To this end, she and her husband have pioneered and are main facilitators and presenters of the systematically organized, stimulating and life-changing 18-hour tertiary-level course, The Art and Science of Happiness. The appeal of this course, in an abridged 3-hour seminar, has been increasingly attracting the wider educational sector, the church community and business sector! She is co-author with her husband of a children’s book entitled, H is for Happiness, and executive co-editor and contributing author for the more recent book GEARED TO LIVE: Twelve Keys to Happiness. Mrs. Thomas holds a B.Sc. in Sociology (Hons) from the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), and a M.A. in Counselling Psychology (Hons) from the Caribbean Graduate School of Theology (CGST). She is presently pursuing the Doctor of Clinical Psychology at California Southern University. Faith and Donovan are parents of two adult sons, Daniel and Josef, who have already begun making their mark nationally and internationally. The family fellowships at Swallowfield Chapel in Kingston, Jamaica.

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

DR. DONOVAN A. THOMAS

Dr. Donovan A. Thomas is Founder and President of Choose Life International (CLI), a non-profit organization registered in Jamaica in June 2008. Choose Life International is a member of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). He is a former National Director of Jamaica Youth For Christ, a post he held for 14 years, and a past Regional Director for Youth For Christ International in the Caribbean. Dr. Thomas is a Graduate of the Jamaica Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, and has conducted extensive research on the subject “Confronting Suicidal Propensity among Jamaican Teenagers”. He first became involved in working with suicidal persons over twenty-five (25) years ago. From his wealth of experience and training, Dr. Thomas has made presentations to churches, schools, the business community and the public at large on the subject of suicide prevention in countries such as Jamaica, USA, Trinidad, Grenada, Barbados, Tanzania, Brazil and Grand Cayman. He is the author of the book, “Confronting Suicide: Helping Teens at Risk”, a book which has received the endorsement of the Ministry of Education. He has served in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health where he has provided specialist training to Guidance Counsellors and Master Counsellors in suicide intervention and prevention. Dr. Thomas has made presentations at conferences and training sessions such as: Jamaica Employers Federation Conference, Jamaica Teachers Association International Conference on Best Practices in Education and Mark Your Mark Middle Managers Conference. He has served as a guest lecturer at the University of the West Indies: in the Tutors’ Workshop of the Masters in Counselling (Mona); Department of Education (Mona), and to Clinical Psychology Students at St. Augustine (Trinidad). He has been guest presenter to Principals of Secondary Schools in Trinidad (2012) and at the Conference of Caribbean Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (2010). Dr. Thomas is married to Faith, Co-Founder and Vice President of this faith-based organization. They are designers and main presenters of the very stimulating tertiary level course, ‘The Art and Science of Happiness’, offered primarily at the Mico University College. The fun-filled, interactive, motivational and introspective 1-hour to 3-hour seminars on 'Happiness' offered by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas have been well received by hundreds of persons in the business, school and church communities. They have authored a children's book entitled, 'H is for Happiness' (2013) and serve as executive editors and contributing authors to the book, 'GEARED TO LIVE: Twelve Keys to Happiness' (2014). The couple has two adult sons, Daniel and Josef, who are also involved in the ministry. The family attends Swallowfield Chapel in Kingston, Jamaica.

GRIEF SEMINAR

NOTES FOR THE PRESENTATIONS

Session 1: GETTING PAST THE PAST: MANAGING GRIEF AND LOSS Presenter: Donovan Thomas, D. Min. Â© Donovan Thomas

Introduction

II.

Sharing our story

III.

What is grief? _______________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________ IV. Some causes of grief: __________________________________ ___________________________________ V.

________________________________ _________________________________

Five Stages of Grief (Kubler-Ross) 1._________________________________________________________________________ 2._________________________________________________________________________ 3._________________________________________________________________________ 4._________________________________________________________________________ 5._________________________________________________________________________

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

VI. Processing Grief __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

VII. 1. 2. 3.

6 Strategies for Self-Care _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

4. _____________________________ 5. ____________________________ 6. _____________________________

VIII. Reflection: Pain to Purpose 1. What steps can YOU take as you seek to find purpose in the midst of pain? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

GRIEF SEMINAR

Session 2: HELPING PEOPLE LIVE IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND PAIN

I. Video: II.

Physical Symptoms of Grief a. Fatigue b. Nausea c. Lowered Immunity d. Weight loss or weight gain e. Aches and Pains f. Insomnia

III.

Ten Symptoms of Uncomplicated grief

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

10 SYMPTOMS OF GRIEF

1. Symptoms of depression or anxiety, such as poor sleep, lowered appetite, low mood, feeling of anxiety – for some people the anxiety will be more obvious, for others the depression. 2. Sense of the loss not quite being ‘real’ at first, or refusal to believe it has occurred. 3. Feeling disconnected from others, sense of numbness. 4. Guilt about not initially feeling pain about the loss. 5. Worries about not grieving ‘normally’ or ‘correctly’. 6. Mood swings and tearfulness. 7. Guilt about interactions with the person who has died (e.g. I should have spent more time with her or I wish we didn’t have that argument. 8. Waves of sadness or anger, which can be overwhelming and sometimes suddenly triggered by reminders. 9. Seeking reminders of the person who has died (e.g. being in their home or with their belongings) or perhaps at times even feeling you see or hear the deceased person. 10.Guilt about gradually getting back to “normal” life and at times not “remembering” to feel sad. Donovan Thomas, Choose Life International

GRIEF SEMINAR IV. What is complicated grief? Complicated grief occurs when the __________________ responses to the death of a loved one do not fade over time and can impair or prevent them from leading their _____________________lives. V.

Some symptoms of complicated grief a) An inability to focus on anything but the death of the loved one b) ____________________ feelings of sadness, pain, detachment, sorrow, hopelessness, emptiness, low self-esteem, bitterness or longing for the deceased's presence c) Problems accepting the reality of the death d) ___________________________ behaviour, such as alcohol or drug abuse e) Suicidal thoughts or actions

VI.

Managing Grief

Write down: a) Three (3) unhealthy ways in which people manage GRIEF 1. _______________________________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________________________________ b) Three (3) healthy ways in which YOU manage GRIEF. 1.________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________ VII.

What is Suicide?

1.Your Definition__________________________________________________________ 2. Collinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dictionary: Suicide is ________________________________________________________________

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE IIX

Statistical Overview

Gender Suicide

Eight Risk Factors for Suicide 1. __________ of substance abuse 5. Mental Health ________________ 2. Physical disability or illness 6. Access to harmful means 3. Recent death of family or close ____________ 7. Relationship ______________ 4. Exposure to ___________ behaviour 8. Previous suicide attempt

Eight Warning Signs 1. Threat

5. Hopelessness or no hope for the future

2. P_____________ 6. Experiencing Prolonged/______________ Crisis 3. Negative view of self

7. Changes in eating/sleeping _______________

4. Preparations for ________________

8.Withdrawal from friend and family

XII Assessing the Severity: PINS Scale (Adapted from Stephen Lansing) P - Plan I - Intensity of Method N - Nearness of Method S_______________ System XIII

BEWARE: What NOT to do

Do NOT get trapped into secrecy Do NOT say, “Go ahead and try” Do NOT ignore a threat Do NOT leave the person alone Do NOT say how much friends and family will be hurt Do NOT look shocked or embarrassed by anything Do NOT get into an argument Do NOT try to solve the person’s problems by yourself

What To Do If You Are Suicidal

Share your feelings with someone responsible. Hand over any weapon that you have. Disclose your plan to a trusted person. Resist any temptation to be alone. Insist that you will not obey the devil. Remember that God has a way of escape for you. Remember suicide causes more problems NOT a solution. Remember suicide is PERMANENT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your problem is only TEMPORARY.

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE XV

Responding Appropriately to Death by Suicide ! Willingly C ___________ with grieving children, teens and adults. E____________________ emotional state of persons most impacted. Communicate regret, condolences and allow expressions of a variety of f__________________. Always indicate that suicide is an i________________________ choice. Never sensationalize: N_______ give the impression that suicide is heroic. Never refer to suicide as successful.

Clearly communicate possible c____________ of suicides. Openly talk about o____________ for help. Promote awareness of warning s _________. E__________________ of any suicidal thoughts and/or plans. 2.4 Closing 2. A call for help from within: increase your capacity to offer help. 3.

What two steps will YOU take as you seek to find purpose in the midst of pain? _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

GRIEF SEMINAR

______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE

Address 631 NW 183rd Street Miami Gardens, FL 33169

Phone 305.917.0376

www.careinconline.org

Fax 305.651.9627