“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” – James 1:27
The loss of a loved one, especially the loss of a husband, impacts every aspect of a person’s existence. In addition to inconceivable grief and loneliness, many widows also face a loss of income, peace of mind, and security in care for the practical needs of everyday living. According to the U.S. Census Bureau nearly 700,000 women are widowed each year and will remain widows for an average of 14 years affirming their needs are ongoing. Many widows’ support system diminishes significantly for various reasons including the loss of couple friends, isolation while grieving, family dynamics, etc., making them more susceptible to being taken advantage of as well as leaving many needs unmet.
God’s love and concern for widows is made abundantly clear throughout scripture, and He encourages us to practice pure and undefiled religion by caring for widows and orphans in their distress (James 1:27). Just as Tabitha was full of good works and charitable deeds toward the widows (Acts 9:36-42), we must not neglect to do good and to share what we have – our time, talents, and treasures – for we trust such sacrifices are pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:16).
In response to God’s heart towards widows’ care, Beauty by Fire endeavors to minister to the widows’ spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. We will minister to widows and encourage them in their faith through our Comfort & Prayer Packages, widows will have the opportunity to come together with other like-minded women through our Widows’ Walk Small Groups, and our Widows’ Care Communitieswill serve to provide practicalsupport to help meet their ongoing needs.
For more information or to get involved in any area of our Caring for Widows’ Ministry, please contact us.
