Pastors Encouraged to “Honor Their Widows” During June
They are a part of the fast growing demographic in the United States. They are targeted by new-home builders, surveyed by designers, invited to dinners by financial planners and are a lucrative niche for health and beauty products. Annually, 800,000 join their ranks.
Who are they? They are the invisible among you–they are widows.
Research reveals widows lose as much as 75 percent of their friendship network after losing their spouse. Sixty percent experience serious health issues in the first year. One third meet the criteria for clinical depression in the first month after their spouse’s death, and half of these remain clinically depressed a year later. Most experience financial decline. One pastor described them by saying they moved from the front row of church to the back, and then out the door. They moved from singing and serving, to solitude and silent sobbing.
The first Sunday of Summer has been set aside by the International Church of God as “Honoring Widows’ Sunday”. A day to show our respect to these women that God has called to be prayer warriors and matriarchs to our churches. The question needing to be asked is, “Do we take the time to acknowledge these women that often feel invisible and as though the church doesn’t need them anymore?”
Many of you have widows in your lives that have spent hours in prayer for the needs of your families. By making it a priority to take the time to acknowledge and thank them publicly would deeply honor them.
This is what the Bible calls “pure religion.” The Iris B. Vest Widows Ministry Center is urging all churches to take a moment in June to specifically honor these mighty woman of God. Let your church congregation bless the widows.
Click here to watch a short video we hope will bless you and give you some ideas as you take a moment to “Honor the Widows.”
The Iris B. Vest Widows Ministry Center is a resource for ideas and ways you can honor your widows. Please contact us at 865-453-7707 or email us WMCDirector1@aol.com.
