Meet Our Retreat Guides
Daniel Brooker
Daniel became a widower after his late wife, Lyndsie, went home to Heaven in 2015 after a 10 year battle with cancer. Daniel was left with two small children who were counting on him figure out how to grieve well. Daniel remarried to Brittany, a widow with three small boys and they joined together as a family of seven in 2017. Four years later, they welcomed a baby girl into the beautiful chaos, making them a family of eight.
As he led his family through the unique challenges that come with the loss of a spouse, grief, remarriage, and blending families, the desire to help other widowers navigate their own grief journey grew stronger. After searching for a faith-based widower ministry to partner with, it became clear that there wasn’t one, and in the fall of 2020, Refuge Widowers was launched.
Daniel and Brittany live outside of Atlanta, GA and spend most of their time corralling their children, teaching them how to show up for others, and reminding others that God’s love and power can shine through even the hardest stories. Daniel is passionate about walking alongside other widowers and helping them respond to their loss in meaningful and purposeful ways.
Davey Blackburn
In November 2015 Davey’s wife of 7 years, Amanda Grace, was tragically murdered in a home invasion. Davey was left to pastor their church as a single dad of their 15 month old son, Weston. 2 years later Davey remarried and God’s redemption story began to unfold. Davey and his new wife, Kristi, have devoted their lives to helping people through their valleys in life and teach them that when following Jesus, Nothing is Wasted. Davey and Kristi live in Indianapolis, IN with their three kids, Natalia, Weston, and Cohen. They founded Nothing is Wasted Ministries to help people find purpose in their pain.
Jason McLeod
Jason and Daniel have been close family friends for many years, and have walked through the hardest of seasons together. Jason and his wife Meagan have 5 children and currently serve in ministry full-time in North Carolina. After all He and Daniel have walked through and learned together personally, he is passionate about seeing families thrive after setback and tragedy in masterfully displayed redemption stories for God’s glory.
Robby Lewis
Robby and his wife Cecily had the privilege to walk alongside a widow, Brittany, who lost her husband at the age of 30. There is no doubt that God aligned their move back to Georgia just weeks before the passing of Brittany’s late husband, Patrick. Robby and Cecily have had a front row seat to this redemption story for the Glory of God. A couple of years after Patrick’s passing, Brittany met Daniel and God began to write their story. Robby and Daniel’s friendship was forged with the foundation of Jesus through the avenue of tragedy. Robby is passionate about seeing those who are far from God, draw near to Him; so that they can flourish for the glory of God. Robby and Cecily have 4 children and currently serve in ministry in Florida.
Kyle Emerson
Kyle became a widower and single father to 3 kids after the unexpected loss of his wife after 18 years of marriage. God blessed Kyle with his new wife, CiCi, a widow of 2 kids, joining their families in 2014. Now a family of 7, Kyle and CiCi love to use their story to point others back to the truth that our Sovereign God truly makes no mistakes, and all that happens is meant for our good and for His glory. They are actively involved in their local church in Roswell, GA through leading a Bible study centered around strengthening marriages, hosting a small group, and counseling. Kyle and CiCi see how God uses the story He wrote for them to come alongside others in a compassionate way.
Jim Ravella
Jim was a colonel in the Air Force and flew fighter jets his whole career. His wife of 24 years, Andrea, died from a 4 year battle with breast cancer in 2007. Jim became a widower and single parent of two sons. He remarried a widow, Ginger, whose husband was also a fighter pilot and had been killed in combat. Jim adopted her five children and is now a father to seven. Jim and Ginger live in Franklin, TN and spend most of their time continuing to serve those in need. Jim works for the Gary Sinise Foundation, overseeing programmatic support to Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Ginger serves as an Ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation and a Director of Retreats for Never Alone ministries and Widows of Heroes. Together they authored the book Hope Found, a telling of their stories and how God‘s faithfulness brings hope into the darkest days. Jim’s passion is serving others, to support widowers and those in need. He attributes his steadfast faith to God’s lifelong pursuit of him, and how the Hope of Christ has always been the anchor for his soul.