Most of you do not need to be reminded that Father’s Day is this coming weekend. For many dads, it is the hardest day of the year with the pain of missing their child.
Today and next week, we are going to hear from Laura’s husband, Dave, and their friend, Steve Martindale, who also lost a daughter. These two men not only share encouragement for the dads, but for the wives/moms.
May Father’s Day not only be a day of pain, but a reflection of the joy and blessing of being a dad to your special child who is no longer here with you.
Dave Diehl is retired from a career of over thirty
years in IT. He is the cofounder of GPS Hope, and is much of the “behind-the-scenes” support, including technical support for the ministry, and driving the Hope Mobile. Dave wrote a chapter in Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes, and ministers directly to grieving fathers around the nation at the GPS Hope & Healing retreats.
Steve Martindale has been a minister for over thirty years. 
For several of those years, he and his wife, Denee, held meetings for the body of Christ in a barn. Many powerful men and women of God came to minister at “The Barn”, and people would come from all over to receive a touch from God. After the death of his daughter, and then a son, Steve is now in a new season of life. One of the things he enjoys is being the chaplain for a large local business.
(Note: The views and opinions of our guests outside of this podcast may not be in agreement with GPS Hope.)
Links Mentioned in this episode:
Check out the GPS Hope & Healing Virtual Summit here.
Find out more about Laura’s book When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child.
Birthdays:
Conor Combs was born on June 16 and is forever 25.
Calvin Joseph Kendricks Jr. was born on June 17 and is forever 28.
Joe Luzzo was born on June 18 and is forever 17.
Tony Posatiere was born on June 18 and is forever 38.
Fill out the short form to have your child’s birthday shared with our listeners.
The special song “I Remember Well“, which was written by Laura for our children’s birthdays, can be heard on your favorite music app. To hear samples of Laura’s other songs, click here.
Remember to Hold On Pain Eases; there is HOPE!
Would you like to have Laura come and speak to your group? Contact us at office@gpshope.org.
Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) is here to walk with parents through the darkness of child-loss, guiding them to a place of hope, light and purpose.
It is a safe place for anyone who has lost a child from this earth. There is no shame or judgment in where you are in this journey, including if you are struggling in your relationship with God or your faith has been completely shattered.
Since that time, he has done more than most to help others who are grieving deep loss, including speaking around the nation, being a grief artist, interpretive sign language, writing a book, and more. Mitch moved with his wife from Minnesota to Wisconsin as part of his recent retirement.
is no stranger to adversity. After losing a husband to suicide and her son in a drunk driving crash, she wanted to give up. She battled depression and discouragement, loneliness and pain, yet she persevered and ultimately found hope. Now Beverly seeks to share that hope with others. She speaks to churches, schools, businesses, and military events, showing strength and courage in a way that offers hope to those listening. She makes it her mission to help others rediscover their identity and purpose after loss and trauma.
in the Airforce as an Aircrew Life Support Equipment Specialist. She is the wife of a military husband, the mother of Spc Michael Rodriguez, as well as three other children, and is the grandmother of four beautiful grandchildren. Lorie started both the Dogwood Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers in Sanford, North Carolina, and Wreaths Across America at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake. She was also instrumental in naming part of NC Hwy 24 “Gold Star Memorial Highway”. Lorie has also volunteered with and managed the Fort Bragg Fisher House and has worked closely with the Warrior Transition Battalion for wounded soldiers at Fort Bragg. She spends her time helping local veteran groups and is very active in her church.
twenty-one grandchildren so far. She was a stay-at-home while mom raising her family. Church was first in the lives of her children and teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ was most important. After the death of her son, due to military PTSD, Amy started making and selling aprons to raise awareness of PTSD (which can be found on Facebook as Aprons for PTSD Awareness) and to get resources for military veterans. When her husband retires later this year, they plan to travel around the country to visit their children and grandchildren who are scattered around the US.
