About the Book
In 2015, when I accepted the call to be Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Coal City, I had already trained hundreds of Soldiers, Veterans, and First Responders in suicide prevention, and earned Master Trainer status in ASIST — one of the most respected suicide intervention models in the world. Then a church member asked me a question no training had prepared me for: was her brother in hell because he had taken his own life?
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That question collided my two worlds. I discovered that suicide prevention isn't taught in seminary, and the church, like the rest of the world, tends to avoid the subject because it's uncomfortable. But nearly 1 in 5 clergy have seriously considered suicide themselves — which means the people in our pews, and often our pulpits, are struggling more than we know.
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Around the same time, a friend told me about her daughter, who shared in a college small group that she'd struggled with thoughts of taking her own life. The next day, the ministry leaders emailed her and asked her not to come back — they weren't equipped to deal with her issues.
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That's not a failure of the church. It's a failure to equip the church. And it's why I wrote this book.
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I can't be in every congregation. But I can train the leaders who are. Because at the end of the day, this isn't a book, or a system. It's about people. Real people.
Reviews for Holding Hope
"David Gilleland has written the book the church has needed — one that pairs real theological depth with practical steps to face a difficult situations. Holding Hope allows us to tackle an often awkward topic with confidence instead of fear, and grace instead of judgment. This book will help equip Christians to do what we are meant too, help those who are hurting. God created life, and it is precious. Every church leader should read this book."
— Jared DePoppe, Co-Pastor, First Baptist Church of Gillespie
What a gift it is to have a resource like this to address such a tough subject: suicide. While David speaks directly to pastors, this book can be read by anyone that is willing to help anyone they know that is walking "through the valley of the shadow of death." It's refreshing, challenging and incredibly practical for every believer that has taken ahold of the hope of the gospel and is willing to offer it to others. We need more workers to step into the darkness and Holding Hope is the essential handbook for this great work."
— Dane Solari, Co-Pastor, Unity Baptist Church of Gillespie
Share Your Story for Holding Hope for You
We are collecting real stories of darkness and light from church leaders and believers to include in our next book, "Holding Hope for You." Your journey could be the very thing that encourages someone else to find their way through the valley. Share your experience with us today.