Shaping Families

Faith & Suicide

“[I] had no idea what the impact of suicide would be on us, nor the death of a child. Suicide had never occurred in the family and it wasn’t in our working vocabulary. So  … it was like in a split second the world had changed.” – Fred Fox

Listen - Transcript - Study Guide

Centerpiece

Harvey Yoder

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?” (Habakkuk 1:2 NRSV)

These words from the Hebrew prophet Habakkuk express the kind of depression and despair a suicidal person must feel, as well as how we feel when someone we love takes their own life. Our every cry is a question. “Why?” “How could this be?” “Why couldn’t God, or I, or someone have done something to keep this from happening?” The emotional suffering experienced by those left behind is enormous.

ONLINE
www.FierceGoodbye.com - The official website for the Third Way Media documentary with links, many additional family survivor stories, statistics, sermons and helps for pastors, and more information on the topic of suicide. In the “Tell Your Story” section of the site dozens of people have shared their own survivor stories.

VIDEO
DVD: Fierce Goodbye: Living in the Shadow of Suicide - Five loving and courageous families take you to the innermost depths of their heartbreak and pain to bring hope and healing to others dealing with the numbing aftereffects of suicide. 

Suicide Happens

Burton Buller

Lasting Marriage. Harvey Yoder, a pastor and counselor with Family Life Resource Center in Harrisonburg, Va., and a regular “My Turn” contributor to Shaping Families is the guest on next week’s program. He wrote a book, Lasting Marriage: The Owner’s Manual which offers personal insights and stories on how to keep love alive through many years of marriage.

Apple Rolls

This recipe comes from Betty Reimer, one of the authors of Mennonite Girls Can Cook. Betty says she has made these bite-sized delectable rolls many times and is often asked for the recipe. The rolls taste especially good when hot out of the oven and dripping with glaze. A delicious coffee break treat!

• Shaping Families Update - May 12
• Shaping Families Update - May 5
• Shaping Families Update - April 28
• Shaping Families Update - April 21

The Shaping Families free offer from this week’s program is no longer available. Visit our online store at www.MennoMedia.org/store if you would like to purchase the item offered. Some items are not offered on the store.