Planting New Ministries: Starting DivorceCare at Your Church

When April Ferree realized her church didn’t offer DivorceCare, she didn’t wait for someone else to step up., Sshe said “yes” to God’s nudge and launched a group herself.

Her story proves that it only takes one person to spark real change in a church and a community.

Filling a gap with grace

April’s journey with DivorceCare began in 2022, when her 22-year marriage came to an end. A former supervisor encouraged her to attend a local DivorceCare group, calling it a “lifeline.”

“I’ve come to learn that this is an absolutely excellent phrase to describe the class,” April says.

After going through a partial cycle and two 13-week cycles, she began to sense a clear calling. “After my first full cycle, I knew I was going to be leading one day,” she says. “If something is that beneficial and has made such a positive impact, why would you want to keep it to yourself?”

That desire to give back led her to notice something missing—her own community didn’t have a DivorceCare group. She felt God leading her to start one at her childhood church in York County, Pennsylvania.

A God-ordained beginning

Starting a new ministry can feel daunting. You might wonder, Who will join? Will the church support it? Can I really lead this?

But April experienced the power of God’s timing and provision from the very first step.

“I called the church and spoke with their spiritual director—who was my teacher when I was a child—and told her I wanted to start DivorceCare,” she recalls. “She said, ‘We were just talking about that, and your name came up. Wouldn’t it be cool if April led it?’”

As it turns out, someone in the congregation had already purchased the DivorceCare curriculum and donated it to the church, praying God would raise a leader.

April was the answer to prayer.

“It was all orchestrated by God,” she says.

It starts with one

Launching a new ministry can feel like a big undertaking—but it doesn’t have to be. April’s story reminds us that it only takes one willing person to make a difference. 

“There are so few churches in the area that are hosting DivorceCare,” she says. “God even put it on my heart to just be a DivorceCare planter—to lead leaders and raise leaders.”

And that’s precisely what she’s doing. After leading a group herself, April is now training another couple to take over at her church.

“I’m going to lead him and his wife to take over as the leaders,” she says. “Hopefully, they’ll lead the ministry for the church. Lord willing.”

April’s passion is contagious. She’s not just hosting groups—she’s building a movement.

When healing multiplies

Since starting her group, April has seen firsthand how healing can ripple outward when someone steps up to lead.

“I have multiple text threads and activities planned with folks from past classes,” she says. “And I started a single social group at the end of the last session, just because I knew the new normal needed to be something more. What’s the point of all this pain if we can’t use it to connect and heal together?”

Her experience also speaks to the broader opportunity churches have when they offer DivorceCare.

“I had a guy come to the group just because he saw the banner outside the church,” April says. “He screeched his tires, flipped a U-turn, and asked if it was for divorce support. And he joined right then.”

The need is real. And the harvest is ready.

“It’s God’s ministry.”

When asked what advice she’d give to someone thinking about starting a DivorceCare group, April doesn’t hesitate: “If you feel God nudging you, don’t ignore it. It’s God’s ministry. Just trust Him.”

She adds, “You don’t have to be perfect or have all the answers. You just have to remain willing. DivorceCare is so lovingly prepared. The training, the videos, the support—you’re never doing this alone.”

You can launch a group, too. Find out why thousands of churches use DivorceCare.