Centered around the theme verse of Jeremiah 29:11–12, Prodigal Child Ministries seeks to help parents of struggling teens and adults find refuge in God.
They also hope to provide encouragement as parents in support groups gather to pray for their children to turn back to God.
Based out of Marietta, Georgia, Prodigal Child Ministries was created in 2004 by John and Fair Brocard from their desire to help other hurting and struggling families navigate through experiences they encountered while raising a prodigal child.
As their website notes, “A prodigal child, simply stated, is a child regardless of age who has rebelled against biblical and family values.”
Hurting couples unite
Hurt, rejection, lack of support and understanding for struggling families led the Brocards to join forces with seven other hurting couples to form a 10–week Bible-based support group. When the Bible study ended, it was clear to the Brocards that they needed to continue — and the insights gained needed to be shared with other hurting families.
After 24 years of faithfully pouring into the ministry, the Brocards recently turned over leadership to Pacer and Julie Cordry, who also understand the profound impact of this ministry in their own family.
“My husband and I have only been involved in the leadership for a couple of months, and it’s a God-story of how we got involved,” Julie Cordry said. “We have a son who has battled mental health issues for seven-to-eight years, and God gave us a vision to have retreats for parents and to raise funds in the community.
“These retreats are completely funded and provided free for parents, because for those who are struggling with addictions or other issues, the parents are stretching their finances as they seek treatment, counseling services and looking for any resources they can find to help their kids.
“It isn’t cheap and many families are even having to refinance their home, but they are willing to do whatever is necessary to help their kids.
Finding support
Cordry said the purpose of the retreats is to help parents know “how to find rest in God, Who is able to provide rest and peace over their situation.”
The Cordrys attended a support group with Prodigal Child Ministries and got to know the Brocards.
As the couples talked about their ministries and stories, the Brocards “shared about wanting to step aside and asked us if we would consider assuming the leadership,” Cordry recalled. “It seemed very overwhelming to step into a role like this and we felt very inadequate, but my husband and I felt like the Lord was leading us to help other families walking through similar journeys.”
Although leadership has changed, the heart remains the same — to encourage and equip parents of prodigal children.
One of the ways Prodigal Child Ministries continues to offer support is through a book study called, “Prodigal Parent Process,” written by Douglas Weiss, which meets in homes in the Marietta area and virtually for 10 weeks. The study is provided at no cost several times throughout the year to provide support, encouragement, prayer, hope, accountability and resources to parents.
Cordry noted the virtual study opens the door for people to attend in the comfort of their living rooms, and they had one participant from Australia.
An additional support group for parents of prodigals is offered twice a month at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church Marietta, open to the community and not requiring advance registration. It meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday nights from 7:00–8:30 p.m.
Prodigal Child Ministries also offers a grief group called, “Hope After a Prodigal Loss” at Johnson Ferry Baptist.
In addition to the support groups, the ministry also provides information on “wilderness,” residential and therapeutic treatment programs nationwide to assist parents in finding appropriate programs for their struggling teens and young adults. The programs focus on substance abuse, behavioral issues, healing, recovery and other things that cause children to rebel against biblical and family values and authority.
“There are so many ways God has moved in this ministry and the lives of these parents,” Cordry said. “We desire for the parents to realize that they didn’t cause this situation, learn how to create boundaries for their children and know that they are not alone in this journey. We want to reach parents who are struggling and whose children have turned away from God.
“We desire to glorify God through this ministry and ask daily for His wisdom and direction in the choices we make and to follow in obedience to Him. These relationships that are formed in this group are never-ending. There is no beginning and there is no end. It’s a beautiful picture of the gospel.
“We would love to get these Bible studies and support groups into as many churches as possible and encourage parents that they are not alone.”
