Biblical Foundation of Grief

By

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTIII

DECLARATIONIV

ABSTRACTV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the research1

Context for Research4

Theoretical Perspectives4

Research Question5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Ministry of Embodied Theology6

Grief Symptoms and Their Effect on Individuals:7

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY9

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION10

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION13

ENDNOTES17

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

There is an immense role of my supervisor, family and associations for the completion of this research study. I would be gratitude to them for supporting me and assisting me.

DECLARATION

I take oath that the entire thesis has been completed by me and the entire work has been done by writing and no copy pasting material has been added in this thesis.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

In this research study, the researcher tries to explore the care and strategies for those who experience loss presently and historically among African American congregants. The contextual ministry the writer focuses on is the African American church and its community. The writer intends to utilize strategies to assist those who grieve past and present losses on the conscious and unconscious level. The writer's goal is to administer direct pastoral care to those who are grieving and equipping them to utilize constructive strategies on daily basis. Furthermore, the writer hopes to encourage each participant to become lifelong learners of effective grief strategies.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

This paper focuses on the care and strategies for those who experience loss presently and historically among African American congregants. The contextual ministry the writer focuses on is the African American church and its community.

Background of the research

Chaplains are to take the healing strategies to and beyond the local church. The comprehension of this study is for skilled and trained ministers/chaplains to be as physicians who have the ability to be a wounded healer. Henri Nouwen believes that while we are wounded we can come to a place of healing where we can minister to others. Therefore, we can have strategies of healing so that while we bleed we are not bleeding on others. Chaplains and ministers are as first responders those who grieve while at different stages in the grief process. The writer realized at the age thirteen that the death of her two month old nephew impacted her spiritual journal. While she accepted God into her life very early, evidently, her relationship with God became very focused, deliberate and intentional. She grew up with parents in the ministry she knew God and now life changed. Eternal life and death was suddenly a reality. Questions and fears became a part of her inquisitive self her own mortality. She thought that if a two month baby could die, no one else is exempt not even her because he died as younger sister held him. She wondered what went wrong. Why did he have to die? The joy of a new baby was so exciting and all the joy turned to mourning and grief. She said no one talked about it anymore. The family never got to see his first tooth, first steps or even hears his first word. Just like that he was snatched away and never ...