Tag: grief

Sunshine in the Shadows Event Aims to Help People Navigate Grief and Loss

Loss comes in many forms, and Ruth-Ann Thompson wants people to know that hope can still be found even in life’s darkest moments.

WNZR’s Eric Brown recently spoke with Thompson, who will be a featured speaker at the Sunshine in the Shadows event on Sunday, June 28th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon SDA Hill Church, located at 535 Wooster Road in Mount Vernon.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Thompson says her passion for grief ministry was born out of personal experience. She was widowed at age 24 after her husband was killed in a car accident. Thirteen years ago, she also experienced the loss of a son. Through those difficult experiences, she says God showed her that it is possible to find “sunshine in the shadows.”

She says many people struggle after a loss because they feel displaced and unsure of where they belong. Her goal is to help people rediscover hope and purpose while navigating grief.

The Sunshine in the Shadows event was inspired by Psalm 23:4 and the idea of walking through the valley of the shadow of death while still looking for God’s light. Thompson emphasizes that the event is not limited to those grieving the death of a loved one. She says grief can come from the loss of a job, income, friendships, a home, retirement, or any major life change.

The event is open to anyone experiencing loss, as well as those who want to better understand how to support someone who is grieving. Thompson hopes attendees leave with encouragement, hope, and the belief that there is something better ahead than what they may be experiencing today.

During the interview, Thompson also discussed the importance of faith during difficult times. She encourages people to continue moving forward while grieving, finding strength through prayer, God’s Word, and the support of others.

She also shared the story behind one of her books, which focuses on sibling loss. Thompson says siblings are often overlooked when a family experiences the death of a loved one, prompting her to create a resource that gives them space to process their grief. The book includes journaling sections and was influenced by her own family’s experiences following the loss of her son.

Thompson says one of the most important lessons she has learned is to pay attention to siblings, cousins, and others who may not be the primary focus of support after a loss but are hurting just the same.

She encourages anyone facing grief or walking alongside someone who is grieving to attend the event and be reminded that hope can still be found in the midst of life’s shadows.

For more information, call 740-358-9687 or click HERE!

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You’re Not Alone: How Common Ground Is Bringing Hope to Those Facing Loss

Grief has a way of changing everything—and for many families in our community, it’s a reality they’re learning to live with each day. In the middle of that journey, a group called Common Ground is offering something simple but powerful: a place to come together, share, and be reminded that no one has to walk through loss alone.

WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart recently sat down with Kathy Wantland, Kathleen Swanger, and Wendi Lahmon—three women who know that journey firsthand and are now helping others navigate it together.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation!

Common Ground is a support group that meets the second Tuesday of every month, focused on those grieving the loss of loved ones—especially parents who have lost children. The group began last year after Kathy Wantland lost her son. In the midst of her own grief, she felt a calling to create a space where others could come together, share, and simply not feel alone.

Kathleen Swanger, a licensed social worker with a background in hospice care, helped shape that vision. Having walked through the loss of her own son, Kevin, nearly 5 years ago, she understood the importance of connection. She shared that one of the biggest needs in grief is knowing that someone else understands—because every story is different, but the pain is something many share.

Wendi Lahmon echoed that sentiment. After losing both her husband, Tim, and her son Ryan, she says the support she’s found has been essential. She shared Ryan’s story—how he pushed through life after a devastating construction accident left him paralyzed, how he rebuilt his life in Florida, and how unexpectedly, a pulmonary embolism took him far too soon. Wendi was there through those final moments, and she says the days that followed were filled with both heartbreak and incredible support from others.

That’s what Common Ground is all about.

It’s a place where people can come as they are—where it’s okay to cry, okay to be vulnerable, and okay to not have all the answers. The group emphasizes confidentiality and compassion. There’s no pressure to speak—just the opportunity to listen, to share, and to be surrounded by people who truly understand.

Faith has also played a role for many in the group. Kathleen shared how prayer and reading the Psalms helped carry her through the darkest days, reminding her that even in loss, there is still purpose. Wendi admitted there were moments of anger in her grief—but even in those moments, she found that God never left her.

The support doesn’t stop at the monthly meetings. Kathy also offers additional connection opportunities, including a summer restaurant gathering (currently on break) and personal conversations for anyone who needs to talk. She emphasizes that grief can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to be.

The next Common Ground meeting is set for May 12th at 6 p.m. at Newlife Community Church, located at 9955 Mount Gilead Road in Fredericktown. There’s no sign-up required—just show up.

Beyond the group, these women are also helping bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention. A 5K/10K run is planned for September 12th at 5 p.m. at Ariel Park, followed by a memorial to honor lives lost and remind others that help is available. They’re also involved in community outreach events like First Fridays and the Rod Masters Car Show, where proceeds go toward suicide awareness efforts.

At its heart, Common Ground is exactly what the name suggests—a place where people can meet in the middle of their grief, find connection, and begin to heal together.

Because sometimes, the most powerful thing you can hear is this: you’re not alone.

Click HERE on how you can find out more through the New Life Community Church in Fredericktown.

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From Hopelessness to Hope: The Story Behind Afterglow Christian Mission House

There are some stories that stop you in your tracks—and this is one of them.

Dave and Stephenie Maggert, co-founders of the Afterglow Christian Mission House, recently sat down to share their testimony during Prayer and Praise Wednesday on Lifeline 2026.

Click HERE to hear the full conversation with WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart and Ethan Hershberger!

It’s a story told in three parts: a journey through deep hopelessness, a turning point of hope, and ultimately a calling to serve others right here in the community.

Dave’s story begins in a place many people quietly understand but rarely talk about—feeling different, alone, and unworthy from a very young age.

He remembers sitting in a classroom as a child, looking around and thinking, “I’m nothing like them. They belong… I don’t.” That feeling followed him through childhood and into adulthood. He tried everything he could think of to fix it—changing himself to fit in, chasing success, even turning to alcohol to numb the pain.

But nothing worked.

“I thought if I became a husband, that would fix it… if I became a father, that would fix it,” Dave shared. “But it didn’t.”

Behind it all was deep trauma and years of internal struggle. Despite seeking help through counseling, medications, and multiple treatment centers, the hopelessness only grew. Eventually, it led him to a breaking point—lying in a hospital bed, convinced there was no way out.

And that’s where everything changed.

In what he describes as a moment he’ll never forget, Dave cried out to God—not even fully sure what would happen next. But something did.

“For the first time in my life, I felt hope,” he said.

That moment didn’t instantly fix everything, but it started a new path. With the support of his wife Stephenie—who says God called her not to fix Dave, but simply to love him—he entered a Christ-centered recovery program where he began confronting the pain he had carried for years.

When he returned home, Dave spent nearly a year immersed in Scripture, searching for truth, healing, and understanding.

And what he found changed everything.

“I came out of that year completely healed and delivered,” Dave said. “Only Jesus could do that.”

Stephenie’s journey, while different, also carried its own challenges. After walking through a difficult first marriage and becoming a single mom, she met Dave in what she describes as a “love at first sight” moment in December of 2013.

Even in Dave’s darkest seasons, she saw something different—hope.

“He always spoke words of life,” Stephenie said. “Even when his own life was hurting.”

Together, their shared experiences and faith began shaping something bigger than themselves.

That calling eventually led to the creation of the Afterglow Christian Mission House.

What started as a simple weekly meal at their church has now grown into a full-time ministry based in Mount Vernon. In December of 2024, they opened the doors to a home on East Gambier Street—a place designed for one simple purpose: loving people.

Today, Afterglow is open throughout the week, offering meals, community, and connection to anyone who walks through the door.

It’s not just about meeting physical needs—it’s about something deeper.

“We always say it’s a place where you have a meal to eat and somebody to eat it with,” Stephenie explained. “And honestly, that second part is the most important.”

The ministry welcomes people from all walks of life—those facing homelessness, addiction, grief, or simply loneliness. There’s no pressure, no expectations—just genuine connection and care.

And that’s exactly the point.

“We’re not hitting people with the gospel,” Stephenie said. “We’re just loving them—and they see something different.”

From Sunday dinners that feel like “going to grandma’s house,” to weekday breakfasts and community gatherings, Afterglow has become a place where people can belong.

And as Dave puts it, that’s what he was searching for all along.

Now, it’s what they’re helping others find.

If there’s one message they want people to hear, it’s simple: no matter how broken or hopeless life may feel, there is still hope.

And sometimes, that hope starts with something as simple as a meal—and someone to share it with.

Click HERE to learn more about Afterglow Christian Mission House!

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