By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY – Adults and children coping with divorce can find hope and encouragement at DivorceCare, a ministry program at Inverness Vineyard Church.

DivorceCare is a weekly support group and seminar offered internationally. The next DivorceCare class at Inverness Vineyard Church will start Aug. 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Anyone interested in signing up for the class may attend an open house July 31 at 1:30 p.m.

Janis Teller and her husband Steve lead DivorceCare along with DeAnn DuBose at the church. Janis and Steve each went through divorces before they met and married each other more than 24 years ago, and they are trying to help others going through similar circumstances.

“I have been through divorce myself, so I understand the pain and agony people go through,” Janis said. “At this point in my life, I felt like it was time to reach out and help others.”

The Christian-based program consists of 13 sessions in which group members watch short videos, here live testimony from people who have received help and talk to each other about their experiences.

“We never make class members talk if they don’t want to,” Janis said. “You can sit with these people and, because you’ve been through it, you have compassion for them.”

Although DivorceCare is a faith-based program, Janis said it contains practical information anyone, regardless of their backgrounds, can use after a divorce.

The program touches on topics such as learning how to forgive, how not to be angry, how to help children cope with divorce and how to handle loneliness.

The program itself is free to attend. The workbook fee (about $20) is the only cost participants incur.

The July 31 open house is designed to give those interested in DivorceCare an idea of what to expect. No commitments to attend the 13-week program are required.

DivorceCare for Kids, or DC4K, is for children ages 5 to 12 and runs on the same dates and times as the adult program. Leaders are Nydia Medina and JoNell Comegys.

For more information, go to divorcecare@invernessvineyard.org or visit the DivorceCare at Inverness Vineyard Church Facebook page.

Inverness Vineyard Church is located at 4733 Valleydale Road in Birmingham.

“I feel like I have something to give them in experience,” Janis said. “We’re just here to help them along the path.”