Let the Walls Fall Down Fall Webinar Series
Encountering Invisible Grief
Thursday, October 6, 2022
What happens when the experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood are shattered via miscarriage or a stillbirth? While some suffer in silence, this traumatic yet common reality affects many families. No one should suffer in isolation. A baby loss presents challenges that are unique to the parents. How does one move forward? In this webinar, the Healing Extension Maternal (H.E.M.) Network will present practical tools to help those affected by pregnancy loss. Whether you personally experienced the loss or are a relative, friend, spiritual leader, or healthcare provider, the H.E.M. Network is here to support you on the healing journey.
Webinar Highlights
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Miscarriages are common. 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage (Source National Institutes of Health/National Library Of Medicine)
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A baby loss (miscarriage or stillbirth) can affect the mother, father, other children in the family, and the extended family.
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There are emotional, social, spiritual, and physical challenges that occur after a baby loss via miscarriage or stillbirth.
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The grieving process varies from one individual to another and therefore support needs may differ from one person to another.
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How can I help someone affected by the grief of their baby loss?
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Where is God in all of this?
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What can I do when I feel discouraged about losing a baby?
Guest Presenter: Ruth Jones
Dr. Ruth Alerte Jones is an Optometrist by profession with a passion for community service ranging from leading eye clinics overseas, and working with church youth groups locally and regionally. Her ministry leadership began as a teenager at the Haitian Evangelical Church of Jesus Christ (located in JC, NJ). She served as the AB GIRLS National Leadership Team's first Young Adult Women’s Coordinator. Her trajectory of women’s leadership continued through American Baptist Women's Ministries Women’s Ministries as AB GIRLS National Coordinator.
Dr. Jones and her husband Chad Jones suffered a miscarriage which challenged them in multiple ways. In fact, her Church Development studies at Alliance Theological Seminary (Nyack College) were put on hold. Over time through the support of her husband, a few select persons, and trust in God, she resumed her ministry activities. She shared her testimony which opened dialogue from other previously silent mothers who also faced pregnancy loss. Some family members expressed uncertainty on how to assist them. Dr. Jones repeatedly shared and connected them with grief support resources. This began the network of connecting grieving mothers with tools to address their healing. The turning point in her journey was delivering a healthy baby. It was evident that her miscarriage, her previous women’s leadership roles, and how she connected hurt mothers to resources, were part of God’s plan for her to create the HEM Network. She overcame the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual challenges of miscarriage and now assists others in seeking faith-based healing and support through
resources offered by The HEM Network.
Watch the Webinar on Demand Now!
American Baptist Women's Ministries' webinars and recordings are free to watch, but donations are welcome. Your donation will allow American Baptist Women's Ministries to continue providing programs, resources, and leader training for ministries with women and girls. Click here to make a donation.