Stitching grief together with compassion, understanding, and resilience.

My new chapter of my life began on Feb 10, 2025, when I lost my husband. Not wanting to sit on a couch in an office — I don't judge who do, I just wanted a different atmosphere — I searched for places to go. Almost a year ago I walked into the Bethune Center of JC, NJ. There is where I met Laneisha Trent and her team, Mending Minds and Hearts.

My first experience was a little emotional, but I kept showing up. Each time when it was over I felt better and definitely took something home with me and to share. Being around people going through it and feeling like me was exactly where I needed to be. I met all kinds of people, even a poet, who told me to continue to write. My writing started when I became part of the Mending Minds and Hearts of JC, NJ. As of today, I still continue to write. This is my New Chapter of my LIFE.

Thank you, Mending Minds and Hearts.

Let me tell you about my journey with Mending Minds and Hearts Grief Support Group. I joined this amazing grief support group about 8 months ago, and it has been one of the most meaningful decisions I've made during my grief journey. When I first joined, I felt overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure if anyone could truly understand what I was going through. From my very first meeting, I was welcomed with kindness, compassion, and genuine understanding.

This group has given me a safe place to express my emotions without fear of judgment. Listening to others share their stories reminded me that I wasn't alone, and their strength inspired me to keep moving forward. Through the encouragement, support, and practical tools I've received, I've learned healthier ways to cope with my loss while honoring the memory of my loved one.

Mending Minds and Hearts has helped me find hope again. Although grief is still part of my life, I no longer have to carry it by myself. I've built meaningful connections, gained lifelong friendships, and found comfort in a community that truly cares.

I am deeply grateful for everyone who makes this support group possible. If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one, I encourage you to consider joining. You don't have to walk through grief alone. Healing takes time, but having people who understand and support you can make all the difference.

I am the Senior Bishop and Pastor of Trinity Gospel Haven Church, located at 651 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ. This is my personal testimony about my first and ongoing experience attending Mending Minds and Hearts.

When I first heard about Mending Minds and Hearts, I felt a strong pull to attend. As a pastor, I came hoping to better understand the struggles families face and to minister more effectively to those carrying deep wounds. Yet as I sat in that room, I realized I had overlooked something in my own life.

As I listened to their stories, I began to recognize my own. Even as a pastor, I had not fully realized how much pain, grief, and hurt I carried. I had spent so much time helping others heal that I had neglected the wounds in my own heart. In that moment, it was no longer about the people around me. I realized I was the one who needed healing.

I was the one searching for comfort as I struggled with my emotions; I could feel the weight of brokenness, bitterness, and confusion, along with the overwhelming question I asked myself so many times: "Why?"

Both of my parents remarried, and God blessed me with wonderful bonus parents. Today, they are all gone. Why? Questions flooded my mind. I thought about my childhood, my marriage and subsequent divorce, my children and family, my relationships, my jobs, and even my experiences in the church. Why?

So much hurt and pain — not all of it death, but grief I never fully processed and accepted. Now, how am I supposed to process it all? Would I ever truly recover from so much pain? I had hidden my emotions, and all my long-buried feelings began to surface. I wrestled with thoughts I had avoided for years. How do I deal with this? I didn't know how to explain the numbness I carried. I simply withdrew and held everything inside. How do I admit that I am hurting when I am the pastor, the one people look to for guidance, strength, and comfort?

Then came Laneisha Trent, a God-sent vessel whose mission was to help heal broken minds and wounded hearts. She explained the stages of grief. I thought, "My God… that is exactly what I have been feeling." With her guidance, I realized that before I could effectively help others heal, I had to acknowledge my own pain and begin my own journey toward restoration.

This grief support group is something everyone should experience. Grief does not stop; we simply learn to recognize the steps we are going through. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." And that is what Mending Minds and Hearts Grief Support is. Ms. Trent is close to the brokenhearted.

Ms. Laneisha Trent, Mending Minds and Hearts Grief Support Group, has shown me that what I am grieving is not just something to get over. My feelings count. Thank you for helping me learn to face and handle my grief without feeling guilty.