COMMENTARY
April is the perfect time to examine or even revisit the purpose of Women of the Word (WOW), our relatively new online evangelism ministry. There are a wide range of holidays and observances in April, including Autism Awareness, National Garden Month, Poetry Month, Volunteer Week, Take your Daughter and Son to Work Day, National Deep-Dish Pizza Day and Arbor Day. Nearly every day in April celebrates something with the most important being Good Friday, Easter, and Passover.
Each day WOW celebrates the Good News of Jesus Christ. The website simply states: “Our goal is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes in his salvation.” The mission is similar: “to proclaim the gospel using any medium, platform or device.” We know that God is in control, so our effort is to follow God’s leading.
A friend recently asked, “What’s your overall plan?” Initially, we were at a loss for words. Then, it hit us, it’s not what Women of the Word would want. It’s what God would want.
God’s word is clear that we are to take care of widows, the poor, orphans, strangers, and foreigners. These are the people highlighted in the Holy Bible as examples of who we are to assist. Search the Scriptures, God’s laws, and systems – his Old and New Testaments, we are commanded to “do for one of the least of these.”
Jesus demonstrated his desires in the New Testament through his miracles that resulted in healing the blind, deaf and lame. In the Old Testament, many of the Jewish laws outlined ways to support the less fortunate while harvesting, preparing for Passover, showing love to neighbors, and going about daily chores. God was – and still is – very sensitive to the needs of people.
If you look at today’s churches, the pandemic really highlighted the fact that many of these houses of worship are not following God’s model. We are not judging, just merely noticing church members who can’t pay their mortgage, can’t afford groceries each week and fall behind on bills. While members can’t afford basic daily needs, a lot of the pastors have jets, planes, luxury autos and homes.
So, Women of the Word seeks to follow God’s Word, as best we can and on a scale we can afford. Before the pandemic, we visited women in jail to offer Bible studies and words of encouragement. One Sunday each month, we visited nursery homes to share comfort and encouraging words. We spent Saturdays doing street evangelism where we offered residents on-the-spot prayers. We plan to resume our visits and planned sessions once the COVID-19 pandemic dissipates. We want to take care of those who are hungry, those who are thirsty, those who are naked because Jesus says in doing for this “for one of the least of these” we are doing for Jesus.
Two years ago, we began providing desserts for the homeless men of Baltimore at Our Daily Bread. Each month, we try to make a delivery of cookies, cupcakes, or mini cakes. We have solicited help in this effort and, thank God, our number of bakers is slowly growing so that one day, we can provide treats to EVERY man who enters the facility on the day we deliver.
God may give us other assignments in the future. We stand ready!!
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’”
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
Matthew 25:35-40 NIV
Written by COH, TMCH
