The ‘Widows Project’ of SGA emerged from the desire of the Mission to emulate the ministry of Job – ‘to cause the widow’s heart to sing for joy’ (Job 29:13). From relatively small beginnings, that provision for the needy has grown and developed, and is today a major part of our Crisis Response ministry.
SGA’s help is offered to those who have lost their marriage partners in a variety of circumstances, through death by natural causes, by conflict and war, and – in the Islamic context – by expulsion and abandonment by husband and family because of their faith in Christ. We might say that our Widows Project is a ‘one size fits all’ provision for a wide variety of circumstances and needs!
The distribution of SGA’s aid is carried out through denominational and local church leaders in the many countries we serve, bringing a dimension of personal and individual care for those in need. They see this ministry as a precious opportunity for fellowship with believers and also Gospel outreach to those who are still unsaved.
Valentina is an unbeliever, a refugee in Moldova from Eastern Ukraine. She started visiting the church in her village, where she was provided for in her desperate situation. One Sunday a church leader saw her crying throughout the whole service, and asked ‘Why are you crying?’ She answered that God touched her heart.
Opportunity was taken to explain to her the need to repent and turn to Jesus, and she promised to think about this. She had never been to any church before, but God used the war to bring her into contact with the Gospel.
Church workers tell of the many different needs of those to whom they minister. Kliment, from a church in Balti, Moldova, visited the village of Iscalau, and met a woman passing by on the street. They started talking and he discovered she was disturbed and in great need.
She has a grandson who was under one year old at that moment. He was extremely allergic to something… the doctors couldn’t figure out the reason for this allergy. They would call the ambulance day after day and receive no help. That lady was a widow. I had some money with me and just gave her whatever was in my wallet, to buy some medicine for her grandson. She is desperately poor. Her grandchildren live with her, and they are very young.
Some younger widows are in distressing situations, and are deeply grateful for help received from SGA. Ania is around 29 years old. She has three children. Three years ago, her husband drowned tragically. She was left with a small farm and a loan they had taken from the bank to buy cows and build the farm up.
Now she was alone and increasingly needy. For a year she tried to keep going, but eventually had to sell all her cows to pay off her loan. She has just one cow left for herself and her little family.
At the other end of the age spectrum is Nina, 93 years old and very lonely. Each winter is critical for her, and she asks Adrian, the church worker who visits her, how she will survive.
Every year I answer, ‘God will provide’. Every time I visit her, she shares that she survived last winter and hopes that she will survive the next winter. She is grateful that God provides for her and cares for her.
Adrian describes the desperate need of some of his other contacts.
One of the ladies works in a kindergarten. Her salary is 1800 lei, approximately 100 EUR, a month… her salary covers her bills at most, but she has no money for food…
We visited another family – a lady, Nina, and her daughter Julia… Julia had heart surgery. Because of that she is unable to have a job and to work anywhere. She always has some expense for medicines to sustain her. Their only hope is that they have some chickens and goats. That is the way they provide for themselves.
Just over the border in Suceava, Romania, the same distressing condition of widows is common. Pastor Catalin Croitor writes of visiting Laurentia.
Laurentia is 98 years old… It’s impossible to miss a widow’s house. It always looks old and in bad shape, not that the widow doesn’t want it in a better shape, but she either doesn’t have the resources… or work is done poorly… Laurentia was surprised by your (SGA’s) generosity and provision. May God reward you for giving us the possibility to visit her. Widows are always happy to receive someone to talk to and are very much appreciative of your support.