A Hole in My Heart

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A Hole in My H… June 30, 2012 - 11:53pm

After the loss of her son Robert in April of 2006, Autumn Ater found it a real challenge not to lose herself in her grief…it was then that God planted a seed in her heart to start a faith based ministry for mothers called “A Hole In My Heart”.

It is Autumn’s hope to encourage other mothers like herself not to let their grief identify who they are, but to realize that God has a purpose for their lives. She has provided a safe and cozy place for them to talk about their children, as well as receive encouragement and help from the Bible, special speakers, music and fellowship.

Autumn has been leading this faith based support group, with the help of a wonderful board for over 5 years now, and currently has nearly 500 mothers receiving services from the ministry. This ministry was created with the vision of healing for a mother's broken heart through God's Love and Word after the loss of a child. Our mission is to reach out to bereaved mothers through God’s word and deed, offering comfort and understanding where the heart hurts most.

Several annual events are hosted by the ministry, including Butterfly Releases, Candle Lighting Memorials during the Holiday Season, A Healing Journey Mother’s Retreat, special speaker events and much more.

The community has opened their hearts to this growing ministry…and many doors are opening! “The Fountain of Tears”, a vision Autumn only dreamt of, is now a monumental landmark in memory of all children passed, along with its beautiful prayer walk of engraved bricks. Located at Praise Pavilion, of Weatherford, TX.

A Hole In My Heart welcomes any mother who is suffering the loss of her child to come and join the group as they meet the second Thursday of each month at North Side Baptist Church of Weatherford, TX, room 107, from 7-9 Pm. There is a quarterly newsletter sent out and is listed on the web site as well. It is the goal of Autumn Ater to reach out to as many mothers as she can who she knows are walking the same grief journey she is and feel the comfort of a Loving and Healing God!

You can reach Autumn Ater at 817-594-6148 or [email protected]

Please visit www.aholeinmyheart.com  And also, please view Autumn’s books at:  www.aholeinmyheartbooks.com   

 

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About the Author
Autumn was raised in Englishtown, New Jersey, being the eldest of 4 children, in a beautiful rural area, not too terribly far from the coast she loves so much and where her family still resides today. She then moved to Arizona briefly before moving to Texas to pursue furthering her education. Autumn is an honors graduate of Weatherford College, and is currently working towards her Masters Degree in Faith Based Counseling. While obtaining her Associates Degree, she served as one of the first in a newly started program at Weatherford College as a Student Ambassador and was an Officer in Phi Theta Kappa, serving as Vice President of Fellowship. She also earned a Social Work Assistant Certificate through a completion course while attending Weatherford College. Autumn has 2 birth children…one living daughter, Elaina, and one deceased son, Robert, as well as 3 step-daughters: Jennifer, Alisha and Jamie, that she thinks of as her own. She is grandmother to 5 grandsons and 1 granddaughter. Robert regrettably lost his battle on this earth and went home to Heaven on April 22, 2006, due to complications related to his many disabilities. He was 14 years old and is deeply missed. Autumn has been happily married to her best friend and greatest supporter, Scott, for over 23 years and reside in Weatherford, Texas. Robert was their only child together. The Ater's own a local family pluming business and both do charity work within the community. She enjoys good times spent visiting with family and the company of wonderful friends, and has the gift of song, which she shares as often as possible. Autumn has been a guest speaker at many benefits, including: Disabled Crime Victims Association, Crimes Against Children Association, Cook Children’s Palliative Care Conference, REACT of Weatherford Police Dept, The Christian Resource Center of American Airlines, and Caring Friends, as well as many local churches and interviews on Christian Radio several times, local News Stations, Cable TV shows, and has been in several magazines and some noted authors published books. The “Fountain of Tears”, a statue of Mary holding Jesus atop a beautiful fountain was an ongoing but finally completed project that Autumn had worked on for 4 years for A Hole in My Heart Ministry, and is placed in Praise Pavilion which is located in Weatherford, Texas and is an open year round sanctuary for all to see. The beautiful tear streaks on Mary’s face were not done by any human hand but what we believe to be an anointed gift from God and how appropriate for this particular tribute. A Hole in My Heart has become Autumn’s passion as she serves other mothers whose hearts are broken from the loss of a child or children with healing by word and deed from an awesome God, and with the truth, knowledge and confidence that He walks this journey with them. Founded in 2007, Autumn’s greatest prayer is to see this ministry grow as God has ordained, to continue being a vessel for Him as He leads her in ministry and serving others. Autumn’s favorite saying is simply this… “God always has a Purpose and a Plan”
I'm Grieving, Now What?

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