Carers, assistants and those personally struggling with bereavement and sorrow, may find ‘Helping Hurting People’ a seminar being held at the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal on Thursday March 5th at 8pm. By Christy Parker

The evening, organised by Youghal Baptist Church, features Canadian Minister John Stephenson, who lost his wife and only daughter in a car accident in 1993. He subsequently wrote Through Tears to Triumph a book that has been widely acclaimed as providing solace and support through the bereavement process as well as other types of loss. Born on a farm in Toronto, John initially worked for Kodak but felt a void in his life. On reading the New Testament, along with a friend’s guidance, he choose to become baptised into the Baptist Church. He soon attended Bible College in London (Ontario) from where he graduated in 1962. He is also a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology graduate from Canadian universities. John was a pastor in Ontario for 29 years before, in 1991, joining the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) prior to serving as a church planter in Cape Town. While there, his wife and daughter were killed, two years later. John remained in South Africa until 1996, after which, as part of his healing process, he began writing Through Tears to Triumph.
Following the book’s success, he developed Helping Hurting People, offering practical advice, and a scriptural foundation for coping with pain and grief. 1996 also saw him appointed International Director of Compassionate Ministries, with responsibilities towards seminars, counselling and writing.
Grandfather to two young girls, he will be accompanied on his Youghal visit by his second wife, Jeannie, The couple met when Jeannie was tasked with producing his book and married in August 1996. Jeannie conducts writers’ conferences, seminars on ‘Mobilizing Children to Serve the Lord’ and is also an experienced public speaker.
Helping Hurting People is at the Walter Raleigh Hotel on Thursday March 5th, from 8pm. Admission free. Details: Mervyn Scott 024-25964/086-1732034.