The Scripture repeatedly declares the sacred importance of caring for widows, who were more abased than widowers in Bible times. This is still a vital ministry, not to be left to chance but coordinated and organized so that no one gets left behind or neglected.
Most painful for widows and widowers is the experience of suddenly becoming “invisible” and feeling unwelcome as a single individual in a crowd of couples. Those left to raise kids alone will appreciate friends and church members who step up to aid fill in the vents and serve as extended family.
Widowers and widows need to stay involved in and with life, and the Church can help them. If the Church fails them and is left to seek meaning and companionship elsewhere, they will have experienced a double loss: their church family and mates. Widowers and widows may initially reject invitations to join group activities, but their healing will likely be developed over participation in activities of interest and continued engagement with others. Keep your door open while respecting the mourner’s path to recovery and unique needs.
Simple Steps To Consider When Starting A Widows Ministry
Today, how can churches respond to the widow? The problem is complicated for many reasons. Recognizing that the following considerations must be adapted to the individual Church, here are some suggestions.
Pray. Ask God to direct you as you start taking steps to begin reaching and connecting widows in your community. The Lord loves widows. The Bible shows that God’s heart is for them: Psalm 68:5 says that God is the “Defender of widows,” and Psalm 146:9 writes, “God cares for the widows and orphans.”
Get Help. Do not be scared to ask for wisdom from your pastors. If you are with a church, you must meet with your pastor to get their full support and implement a plan. Another group you want to involve is a few of your windows. Convene with them to discuss where you can meet and what day, time, and regularity of your meetings.
Promote. There are a lot of great tools online to help get the word out. Social media can be a fantastic tool for promoting and staying connected with your widowers and widows. If you are working within the Church, ensure you work with your pastors to promote it as much as they let you, whether in service, slides on PowerPoint, or even printed materials. Get the word out about your meeting, no matter the avenue.
Other Resources. There are other resources, such as books, that many have found very helpful and even programs that churches can use to direct the specific needs of widowers and widows. One must-read is Jamie Pulos-Fry’s Widow’s Cry, a book for widow ministries. This is a book to help people understand what widows need to encourage them when we visit them, call or have church events for them as a person or church member. This book was published in April 2020 and is perfect for widows finding their way amidst grief and solitude. The 80-page book aims to help people understand widows and how to comfort, encourage, and inspire them.
Who Is Jamie Pulos-Fry?
Jamie Pulos-Fry is a published author and a member of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California. She is proud to have a servant’s heart. Jamie has dedicated her life to service by serving in the Music Ministry, volunteering in many areas of the Church, and for the West Coast Baptist College. Her first book is the inspirational memoir Encouraging A Friend With Our Trials.
As she represents Jamie’s Bookshelf, Jamie Pulos-Fry participated in the recently concluded American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. The largest and oldest book fair for libraries took place last June 23 to 28, 2022, held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC, United States.
To learn more about Jamie’s Bookshelf, its products, and its monthly events, visit their website at https://two4avalon.com/.