For Rick and Mary Robb, leading GriefShare wasn’t something they planned—but looking back, they see how the Holy Spirit was working behind the scenes long before the opportunity arrived.

Beginning June 15, 2026, the couple will lead this 13-week faith-based ministry at the Summit in Aledo on Monday evenings at 6:30pm. Designed to help people navigate the painful journey of loss, each weekly session combines practical tools, biblical encouragement, and a supportive community to help participants heal.

The Holy Spirit at Work

Rick and Mary understand the road ahead because they have walked it themselves. Both have experienced the loss of loved ones, and Rick’s own battle with cancer five years ago gave him a new outlook on his life. “God saved me from cancer because He had something planned for me,” Rick reflects. That survival deepened his calling to serve as an elder at St. Paul, where caring for congregation members is a core duty.

Mary experienced a different moment of connection while watching a TED Talk by Nora McInerny titled, “We Don’t ‘Move On’ From Grief. We Move Forward With It.” In the talk, McInerny offers a different perspective on grief, explaining that healing is not about leaving loved ones behind, but learning how to move forward while carrying their memory with you.

Mary believes hearing that message was the Holy Spirit at work. “There’s no such thing as coincidence,” she says. “Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.”

That perspective now anchors the couple’s vision for GriefShare. Their hope is to help people understand that grief is not about “moving on,” but learning how to move forward while continuing to carry the love and memories of those they have lost.

A Path of Service

This desire to walk with others reflects one of St. Paul’s core values: Living Generously—Christ’s love compels us to give ourselves for His glory.

For Rick and Mary, GriefShare is simply the next chapter in a life centered on service. Before retirement, Rick spent 10 years as an Air Force pilot flying KC-135 tankers, followed by a 30-year career flying for Delta Air Lines, while Mary spent her career as a restorative dentist. Their careers required patience, precision, and an attention to detail — qualities that also surfaced when they completed personality profiles as part of their preparation for GriefShare. Both were classified as “beavers,” a type known for structure and order.

“There’s a right way and a wrong way,” Mary says. “And it’s always the right way.”

Behind that firm conviction lies a beautiful harmony. The couple, who celebrate 41 years of marriage this July, met at Texas Lutheran College in Seguin. Rick calls Bossier City, Louisiana home while Mary grew up in Houston. Together, they raised a son and daughter, now adults, and anchored their daily lives in faith, reading Proverbs together every day.

Giving People Hope

Because of their own journeys, they are not looking to "fix" anyone's pain. “We don’t see this as solving issues,” Rick says. “It’s about giving people tools and giving them hope.”

As GriefShare begins this summer, their prayer is simple: that no one walking through grief has to do it alone.