Our Team
Our team consists of experienced GriefShare and DivorceCare facilitators and those who have a heart for hurting people. They all demonstrate the appropriate skills required for leadership and complement each other well. The team have been in existence since 2002.
Donald Devlin
Donald heard about GriefShare when he was at Mandate and picked up a leaflet as he knew he may need this as his wife June was very ill with cancer. Following her passing he picked up the courage to attend a GriefShare in Carrickfergus. This was very difficult at the start but he was made to feel welcome and that his input was valued and felt a great bond talking with other people who understand to pain of grief and loss.
He attended several times to process his own grief and then was asked to come on board as a facilitator which he has done for many years. Following this, Donald got married to Ruth and together they form a crucial part of the committee at Caring a Ministries.
Ruth Devlin
Ruth got involved with Griefshare following the death of her husband, Mum and Dad all within 9 months.
She got involved with Evangelical Ministries and went to a Minus One Widows support group. When Evangelical Ministries brought GriefShare to Northern Ireland in 2001 and she was privileged be part of this.
Ruth then brought GriefShare to her own church and facilitated this for many years. More recently we have become a Charity, Caring Ministries and we are the UK’s main contact for Church Initiatives in USA regarding all their materials, GriefShare, DivorceCare, DC4k (DivorceCare for Kids), Single and Parenting etc.
Valerie Duff
Valerie is a director of Caring Ministries since 2013. She has been involved with various caring ministry teams for over 25 years ago.
Valerie is a retired nurse who worked in Zambia as part of a missionary team in 1970s and then returned home to Belfast to help look after her mother when she became unwell. She then assisted her brother to set up his electrical business, S & R Electrics, known as ‘Sam’s Yer Man!’ She was a director in this business until she retired from this role to set up a charity shop raising funds for Waakisa Ministries, Uganda. She was voted N.I. 2016 Woman of the Year for her contribution to voluntary work.
Valerie has always had a heart for helping the hurting and grieving both practically and pastorally.
John Palnoch
John is a retired electrician. He was divorced in 2003 and has two grown up children. He has since remarried to Audrey who is also a director in Caring Ministries.
John was introduced to DivorceCare in 2004, by a friend and attended two 13 weeks courses as a participant.
John has been a leader of the DivorceCare group in Strandtown Baptist Church, Belfast, since 2008, supporting those who are going through the pain of separation and divorce. He also attended a GriefShare group after his mum died in January 2014.
He is a director in Caring Ministries since its foundation in 2013 and has a real passion for the hurting, and especially those who are experiencing divorce and separation.
Audrey Palnoch
Audrey is a director of Caring Ministries since it was founded in 2013. Prior to this she was an advisor for the team, within Evangelical Ministries, who were responsible for training leaders and supporting both DivorceCare and GriefShare groups in N.I.
Audrey went through a divorce in 2005 after 4 1/2 years of marriage. She attended 3 courses of DivorceCare which she said helped build her life after the devastation of Divorce. Her dad had also died 6 months after her marriage breakdown and she found the groups helped her deal with her grief.
Audrey has remarried to John and is passionate about supporting others who are going through the pain of Divorce or Grief and help them find healing and hope for the future.
Margaret Williamson
Margaret Williamson is our longest running member and has been a member of Glengormley Baptist Church since 1976. Margaret’s main role in Caring Ministries is helping people who are going through difficult times, struggling with pain and hurt in their lives.
Margaret has been involved in counselling for thirty years. During this time she has been helping people who are hurting from divorce, and all sorts of situations.
With the Lord’s help, Margaret has been helping people move on. If anyone feels they need help, Margaret wants people to know that it is there for them. She urges anyone in need of help, to please reach out and contact us.