Anna is in her 90s, a widow who because of the complications of her advanced diabetes is bedbound and prone to episodes of confusion.
Life for her is hard, and though she is wonderfully cared for by her daughter, she is grateful for the additional care and support she receives from Betel Church whose ministry to widows is supported by SGA.
Daniel Cioban, the pastor of the church in Medias, Romania, speaks of how important it is to support these vulnerable individuals, many of whom live alone on a small pension that is insufficient to cover even basic needs such as food, medicines, and heating. The need is even greater in more rural areas where access to services is limited and family support is often unavailable. “Many widows feel alone,” Daniel says, “and through our visits we remind them that they are not forgotten and that they are part of God’s family.”
The church in Medias visits around forty widows regularly, providing not only food and financial support but, even more importantly, the encouragement that comes through fellowship, prayer, and the hope of the Gospel.
All of which opens the door for the good news of Jesus Christ to reach the wider community as the families, neighbours, and caregivers of those visited witness these simple acts of kindness become powerful testimonies of the love of God.
Scripture tells us that God has a special concern for the vulnerable, and so the Church is called to not only preach the Gospel but demonstrate God’s love in practical ways. As Daniel explains, “When we bring care to widows, we show that the Gospel is not just something we speak, but something that we live. The message of the Gospel brings encouragement, hope, and dignity to the people who are often overlooked by others.”
SGA’s Widows Project is helping many like Anna by enabling local churches to show the love of God through seeking to meet the physical and greater spiritual needs of those often forgotten by society.