May 20, 2013

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Weekly Family Features

Former local pastor's book helps those dealing with death of a child

By Kelly Cantrall



After suffering what he calls “the worst thing a parent can experience,” Henry White is now using his experience to help others who are traveling the same path. White, pastor of Heavenbound Baptist Church in Elizabethtown and former director of Helping Hand, recently published a book, “The Greatest Loss - Ministering to Parents Who Lose a Child,” that discusses how ministers can provide aid to parents who have lost a child.

White’s 19-year-old son, Matt, died in a car wreck in 1999. Soon after his son’s death, White was inspired to write a book after hearing from many parents whose ministers ended up hurting more than helping them because of their lack of knowledge in dealing with the death of a child.

White and his wife, Brenda, joined the support group Compassionate Friends soon after Matt’s death, and it was there he heard these stories from fellow parents in the group. He began writing the book, but shelved it for quite a while before he was encouraged to return to it and complete it.

“So I felt it really was something I needed to do,” he said.

It was released a few weeks ago by Butler Books of Louisville.

White said he primarily had ministers in mind as his target audience, but said the book can be helpful to anyone, including parents who have lost a child and their friends and family who might be struggling with ways to help.