GriefShare Experts

GriefShare features leading authors, counselors, speakers, and pastors with years of expertise in grief recovery.

David & Nancy Guthrie

David and Nancy Guthrie, cohosts of the GriefShare videos, have faced the deaths of two of their three children and now minister to others in grief. David and Nancy share what they’ve learned through the Respite Retreats they hold for couples who have lost children, through speaking around the country, and through their books, including When Your Family’s Lost a Loved One. Nancy has authored several books, including Holding On to Hope, The One Year Book of Hope, and Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow. David, Nancy, and their son, Matt, live in Nashville, TN.

Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni Eareckson Tada is an author, artist, broadcaster, and the founder and president of Joni and Friends Ministries. Her books and ministry reflect her experience of God’s love and grace since becoming a quadriplegic in a diving accident years ago. She has written over 50 books, including Heaven and When God Weeps.

Dr. Paul David Tripp

Dr. Paul David Tripp is president of Paul Tripp Ministries and has authored many books, including Forever and A Shelter in the Time of Storm. He is professor of pastoral life and care at Redeemer Seminary, Dallas, TX. Dr. Tripp experienced the death of his father.

H. Norman Wright

H. Norman Wright is a grief therapist and certified trauma specialist. He is the author of over 70 books, including Experiencing Grief and Recovering from Losses in Life. He experienced the death of his wife and son.

Joyce Rogers

Joyce Rogers, widow of Dr. Adrian Rogers, is a speaker and Bible teacher. She is the author of several books, including Grace for the Widow and Lean Hard on Jesus.

Vaneetha Risner

Vaneetha Risner is an author and speaker who shares how she has found hope through her challenges with the loss of a son, polio, and an unwanted divorce. Her books include The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering.

Thabiti M. Anyabwile

Thabiti M. Anyabwile is pastor at Anacostia River Church in Washington, DC, the author of several books, and a blogger. He also served as a council member of The Gospel Coalition. Thabiti experienced multiple losses, including his mother, father, older brother, and many friends.

Clarissa Moll

Clarissa Moll is a writer, podcaster, and the author of Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief and Thriving After Loss. She became a young widow when her husband died in a hiking accident on their family vacation.

Dr. Dhati Lewis

Dr. Dhati Lewis serves as lead pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, GA, and president of MyBLVD, an organization focused on teaching Christian leaders to navigate the cultural divide. He is the author of Among Wolves: Disciple-Making in the City and Advocates: The Narrow Path to Racial Reconciliation.

Dr. Larry Crabb

The late Dr. Larry Crabb was a psychologist, conference and seminar speaker, Bible teacher, and author. He was the founder of New Way Ministries. His books include Shattered Dreams, Finding God, and The Safest Place on Earth. He experienced the death of his brother in a plane crash.

Janet Paschal

Janet Paschal is a Christian singer and songwriter. She has received Grammy nominations, is a conference speaker, and has been a guest on Christian radio and television talk shows. She is the author of The Good Road and Treasures of the Snow.

Dr. Brad Hambrick

Dr. Brad Hambrick is the author of several books, including God’s Attributes: Rest for Life’s Struggles and Making Sense of Forgiveness. He is pastor of counseling at The Summit Church in North Carolina and serves as assistant professor of biblical counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Deepak Reju

Dr. Deepak Reju is pastor of biblical counseling and family ministry at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition and is a trustee for the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. He has published several books and articles and serves as editor for a 31-Day Devotional series.

Dr. Crawford Loritts

Dr. Crawford Loritts is an author and the senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia. He is a frequent speaker for evangelistic outreaches around the world, colleges, professional sports teams, and Christian conferences. He experienced the loss of his newborn daughter.

Susan Lutz

The late Susan Lutz served as a counselor at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation in Glenside, PA, for over 15 years. She later counseled at her church, New Life Presbyterian Church of Dresher. She is the author of the booklet Thankfulness: Even When It Hurts.

Dr. David Powlison

The late Dr. David Powlison was a faculty member at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation in Glenside, PA. He counseled for over 30 years and was the author of books, articles, and booklets, including Healing after Abortion and Facing Death with Hope: Living for What Lasts.

Dr. Edward T. Welch

Dr. Edward T. Welch is a counselor at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation in Glenside, PA. His books include Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. Dr. Welch has grieved the death of his parents.

Dr. John Applegate

Dr. John Applegate is a board-certified psychiatrist and director of the counseling and psychiatry group practice John Applegate, MD & Associates. He is executive director of Philadelphia Renewal Network, a nonprofit that works with local churches to provide affordable counseling.

Dr. Clay L. Barrow

Rev. Dr. Clay L. Barrow is pastor at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Greensboro, NC, as well as an adjunct professor. He received his master of divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He's experienced multiple losses, including the death of his father, all three of his brothers, friends, and family members.

Keith Battle

Keith Battle is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Zion Church, a non-denominational church that reaches tens of thousands through service at four physical locations around the Washington, DC area, and an online campus. Keith Battle is an author and chapel speaker for the NBA and NFL and can be heard on his radio and television broadcast, Weekly Wisdom.

Sabrina D. Black

Sabrina D. Black is CEO and clinical director of Abundant Life Counseling Center. A licensed counselor and certified addiction and biblical counselor, she helps others apply spiritual values to overcome life’s challenges, including grief. She experienced the death of multiple close relatives and the miscarriage of her baby.

Dave Brannon

Dave Branon experienced the death of his 17-year-old daughter, Melissa. Dave is an editor, a contributor to Our Daily Bread, and the author of many devotional articles and books. His book Beyond the Valley details his journey after the death of his daughter.

Dr. Fredrica Brooks-Davis

Dr. Fredrica Brooks-Davis is the founder and executive director of Reid Temple Restoration Center, a church-based counseling center. Her husband, Teddy Davis, was diagnosed with brain cancer three months after they married. Before his death, they cofounded the Brooks-Davis Institute for Brain Cancer Awareness, where she serves as board president.

Melissa Brown

Melissa Brown has served as a medical social worker at Crossroads Hospice in Dayton, OH, and Dayton Children's Medical Center. She is professor of social work at Cedarville University. She experienced the loss of a twin son in the womb during her second trimester of pregnancy.

Cindy Bultema

Cindy Bultema is a Bible teacher and speaker. She shares her personal testimony in the DVD presentation He Loves Me. Cindy has experienced addiction and the death of her fiancé.

Dr. Kathryn Butler

Kathryn Butler, MD, worked as a trauma surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is the author of Between Life and Death and Glimmers of Grace. Kathryn's close friend died from emphysema, and she witnessed many deaths in her role as a trauma surgeon.

Dr. Tate Cockrell

Dr. Tate Cockrell is founder and president of The Center for Hope & Reconciliation counseling ministry. He currently serves as Director of Doctor of Ministry Studies and Professor of Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he's also Counseling Minister at Faith Baptist Church in Youngsville, NC.

Yana Jenay Conner

Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher. She has served in full-time ministry for the past 15 years and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Yana's father died unexpectedly, and her grandmother died from COVID and dementia.

Dr. Zoricelis Davila

Dr. Zoricelis Davila is a licensed professional counselor, community educator, author, and international speaker. Her passion is to help churches and families achieve emotional, spiritual, and mental health. She experienced multiple losses, including her father, mother, and close friend.

Ron Deal

Ron Deal is a licensed marriage and family therapist, conference speaker, and podcaster. He is director of FamilyLife Blended^®, president of Smart Stepfamilies™, and author of more than a dozen books and resources. His son passed away unexpectedly in 2009 at the age of 12 after a 10-day battle with MRSA.

Dr. Robert DeVries

Dr. Robert DeVries is professor emeritus of church education at Calvin Theological Seminary. His first wife of 28 years died of cancer. Now remarried to Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge, they work together to help people in grief and are coauthors of many books, including The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions and From We to Me.

Dr. Michelle D. Dickens

Dr. Michelle D. Dickens is a counselor, writer, and the LIFE Center director at Hope Church, Las Vegas, NV. All three of her children passed away in the womb during the second trimester, and her mother, father, and mother-in-law died within a four-year span.

Dr. Erikka Dzirasa

Dr. Erikka Dzirasa is a board-certified adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She specializes in anxiety and mood disorders, trauma, and psychotic disorders. She has served as president of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and as a subject matter advisor for the nonprofit organization “I Live For.”

Mel Erickson

Mel Erickson is an author, speaker, and social worker. She co-wrote Teen Talk: An 8-Week Curriculum for Grieving Teenagers, and she authored the Our Story memory book as a tool to help children tell their story and process their grief. Mel's son died when her other children were young.

Dr. Albert Hsu

Dr. Albert Hsu is senior editor for IVP Books at InterVarsity Press. He is the author of Grieving a Suicide: A Loved One's Search for Comfort, Answers, and Hope, which he wrote out of the experience of losing his father to suicide.

Ron Hutchcraft

Ron Hutchcraft, president of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, is a speaker, radio host, author, and veteran of cross-cultural youth and family ministry. His great love is his late wife, Karen, and their three adult children and nine grandkids.

Julie E. Lowe

Julie E. Lowe is a faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF), Glenside, PA, and a licensed professional counselor with over 22 years of experience. She is the author of Building Bridges: Biblical Counseling Activities for Children and Teens, Helping Your Anxious Child, and Teens and Suicide.

Dr. Shelly Melia

Dr. Shelly Melia is a licensed professional counselor with a special interest in grief and resilience. She is an associate dean at Dallas Baptist University and the program director of the Master of Arts in Children's Ministry and the Master of Arts in Family Ministry. Her husband died in a car accident, leaving her to parent three young children.

Dr. Elias Moitinho

Dr. Elias Moitinho is professor of counseling at Liberty University in Virginia. He has over 20 years of experience serving as a pastor, counselor, professor, and director of a Christian counseling center. He has a YouTube channel called Motivation and Growth.

Jonathan Pitts

Jonathan Pitts is a pastor and an executive leader who has served the church and in the Christian nonprofit space for more than 15 years. His book, My Wynter Season: Seeing God’s Faithfulness in the Shadow of Grief, chronicles the early days of his life and leadership after the sudden death of his wife, Wynter Pitts.

Lois M. Rabey

Lois Rabey is a speaker and writer. She is the author of several books, including When Your Soul Aches and Moments for Those Who Have Lost a Loved One. Lois lost her husband in a hot-air balloon ride accident.

Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers experienced the death of his wife and all four children due to a flash flood. Robert was the sole survivor. He is an accomplished worship leader, pianist, songwriter, and author of five books (Into the Deep, 7 Steps to No Regrets, Rise Above, Pass the Test, and Stay Pure).

Cori Salchert

Cori Salchert is a former hospice nurse and bereavement counselor who retired due to health issues. Since then, she and her husband have committed their lives to fostering or adopting children with terminal or life-limiting diagnoses. She has experienced the death of her sister and her three adopted children.

Dr. Jerry Sittser

Jerry Sittser is professor emeritus of theology at Whitworth University and the author of nine books, including A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss and The Will of God as a Way of Life. His wife, daughter, and mother were all killed in a car accident.

Dr. Walter R. Strickland II

Dr. Walter R. Strickland II is a diversity consultant, frequent conference speaker, and itinerant preacher whose work has appeared in The Gospel Project, The Gospel Coalition, and Christianity Today, among others. His daughter was stillborn.

Dr. Paul Tautges

Dr. Paul Tautges is senior pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mayfield Heights, OH, and a counselor. He has authored several books, including A Small Book for the Hurting Heart, Comfort Those Who Grieve, and God's Mercy in Our Suffering. He lost both parents and an infant granddaughter, and his uncle was brutally murdered.

Dr. Stephen Viars

Dr. Stephen Viars is pastor and a biblical counselor at Faith Baptist Church and Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries in Lafayette, IN. He authored Putting Your Past in Its Place: Moving Forward to Freedom and Forgiveness. He experienced the sudden death of his father.

James White

James White is pastor at Christ Our King Community Church in Raleigh, NC. He currently serves as executive vice president of organizational relations for the YMCA of the Triangle and as a board member for Carver Bible College. James experienced the loss of his parents.

Dr. Valencia Wiggins

Dr. Valencia Wiggins is associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Moody Theological Seminary. Her clinical and research interests include depression, anxiety, trauma, women's issues, grief, and loss. Her father died from a brain aneurysm.

Ryan Wright

Ryan Wright is pastor of spiritual growth at Bethel Church of San Jose, CA, and a police department chaplain. He and his wife, Janice, help lead GriefShare at their church. Ryan's brother-in-law died by suicide.

Zig Ziglar

The late Zig Ziglar, author of Confessions of a Grieving Christian and other books, was a motivational speaker and chairman of the Zig Ziglar Corporation. In Confessions, he relays the story of his journey through grief after the loss of his daughter.

Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge

Dr. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge is a licensed clinical psychologist. She lost her husband 18 years after he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Now remarried to Dr. Robert DeVries, they work together to help people in grief and are joint authors of many books, including Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse and Traveling Through Grief.