Christian Care Ministry International

(CCMI) Widows Rights  

Women of faith are a small group of (WIDOWS) based in Nigeria, nonprofit, non-governmental organization founded in March 2005 by Rev Nathaniel Ezeh.

 

... Wherever they are, irrespective of their religion and culture, a common feature of widowhood is the violence perpetrated against them at the hands of near relatives and condoned by the inaction of governments. Many widows are hounded from their homes and denied access to essential resources such as shelter and land to grow food. They are also subject to degrading and life threatening traditional practices. They have no status and often they are figures of shame and ridicule. This neglect of millions of widows has irrevocable long term implications for the future well-being and sustainable development of all our societies.

 

 

 

 Women of faith aims and objectives

 

• To sensitize the general public on the plight of widows
• To bring about change in the social status of widows
• To create awareness on the rights of widows and other women in the areas of basic education, legal awareness, income generating activities (small scale industries, trading arts and crafts), health and population, agriculture and environment
• To encourage educational support programmes for children of widows
• To provide counseling and support centre
• To source for funds and mobilize resources for the organization

Widow help widows in the following ways:

·        It assists widows to obtain legal protection or redress when they have been dispossessed of their belongings and inheritance

·        It enables them to hire lawyers and negotiate with their relatives

·        It creates an avenue to facilitate negotiations with the extended families

·        It provides training for support groups in Advocacy and Campaigning

• It has set up the Vanguard Team which engages in mediation efforts with the husband’s relatives. Team members also make appearances in court and attend the husband’s burial if it has not already taken place
  

WHO AND WHY OF WIDOWHOOD

Exodus 22:22-24. 

The Bible is the world’s best book on every subject or matter. It has a lot to say on this matter of “Widowhood”. But many people that are in this category are almost neglected in the society. We cannot deny the fact that there are widows around us both within and without the church.

1. WHO IS A WIDOW?

A widow is a woman who had married and been enjoying marital life but suddenly and unfortunately lost her husband as a result of death.

 

1. WHY THEY BECOME WIDOWS

No woman becomes a widow from birth. There are certain conditions that warrant her widowhood.

 

1. CAUSES OF WIDOHOOD:

1. PREMATURE DEATH: This is rampant in this part of the world. Many husbands who should have lived longer have died due to one reason or the other.

 

1. VIOLENCE: Many people have died as a result of violence. Tribal and intertribal wars had ruined many people’s lives and homes. The wives of these men who died in such violence automatically become widows

 

1. DRUKENESS: Most of the accidents on our roads are caused by this and this people lost their lives in it.

 

1. HIRED ASSASSINS: Many who don’t have forgiving spirit, will like to retaliate for being cheated in business transaction or taking other men’s wives etc. they retaliate by taking the lives of those who offended them, hereby making their wives and children widows and orphans respectively.

 

1. CURSE: This is casting spells or curses on a person through evil powers especially from occultist people

 

1. DISEASE: Many are afflicted with sickness and after sometime the man dies, thereby making his wife widow

 

1. DEMONIC ATTACK: This is death caused by witches or wizards

 

1. WICKED / EVIL MEN: This death caused by robbery attack or poison

 

1. NATURAL DEATH: This kind of death occurs naturally while one sleeps or working in the office without any previous complain of aliment.

 

WHY THEY REMAIN WIDOWS

Exodus 22:22-24.

 

A.     v Age Palaver: Peradventure she is about 60 years of age

v Being Negative About Marriage: Sometimes confess negatively about being married again; and this serves as their personal stronghold

v Ignorance: This is another reason why widows remain unmarried. Some of them who wanted to marry don’t know how to go about it.

v Character Defects: This is when the attitude and behavior of a widow is bad.

 

b.         DANGERS TO AVOID AS A WIDOW

1. Self pity
2. Laziness, if you are lazy, you will be at the mercy of others
3. Prostitution; some widows have become harlots for this reason
4. Leaning on your own understanding, – Pro. 3:3-5
5. Carnal and unforgiving spirit you might know that somebody killed your husband and there is tendency to be critical and unforgiving. This attitude may hinder your prayers and progress in life
6. Moving away from God remember that God is your helper. Drifting away from him will not help you.
7. Keeping bad company some of your friends may pose as if they want to help you but they want to put you into more bondage.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITES TO WIDOWS (1)

ACTS 6:1 

Basically speaking, widows should be honoured and relieved – Exo. 22:22 and they are especially under God’s protection. Some of these widows on the other hand have failed to obtain their blessings and provision made by God for them due principally to ignorance.

This ministry is out to support and strengthening the widows in the area of passing necessary information to them, which invariably will make them grow to their full potentials and also fulfill their destiny.

 

1.      WIDOWS AS GOD’S EYES

Deut. 10:18; Exodus. 22:2; Ps146:9, Isaiah 1:17 Ps. 68:5 James 1:27 Christians are charged in the Bible to take care of widows and orphans.

 

2.      CARING:

We should not neglect them any longer. Christians should plan how o take care of them adequately. The command that we must not afflict them – Exodus 22:22-23. The caring we are talking about includes food, clothing, shelter, school fees. Etc, and support them against intimidating  in – laws.

 

CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES TO WIDOWS (2)

 

Any life without Christ is full of crises. God is capable of changing the life of widows for better when they draw closer to him. God is the helper of the widows and the fatherless. Widows will be fine when they are connected to the vine. Evangelism can be focused on love, caring, and friendship; introduce Jesus to them.

 

WAYS OF HELPING THEM

 

a.      Point them to Christ

b.      Praying for and with them: What prayer can do, demons cannot do it, with power of prayers they could be delivered from whatever bondage they found themselves.

c.       Scholarship for their children: This could be done individually or corporately to ease the burden of the widows. The church also, within her capacity should rise to meet their needs.

d.      Giving them some money to set up a small – scale business : Your little amount can go along way to improve their condition

e.      Visit widows and Orphans – Jam. 1:27. This is considered a complete service for Christians. Get involved in the widows forum today, support the vision with your money, foodstuff, clothing, shelter etc. (Matt. 7:12).

f.        Defend them against intimidation and ungodly punishment: Some culture or traditions are hostile against widows, don’t support such ungodly behaviours.

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR WIDOWS

God is a conditional God, He is jealous of widows, He is their defense and hope, yet there are conditions the widows must fulfill in order to enjoy the blessings of God. Below are commandments for widows.

A

 

1.      Thou must submit yourself totally unto God.

2.      Thou must familiarize yourself with God’s promises

3.      Thou must be prayerful – e.g. Anna the prophetess (Luke 2. 36)

4.      Thou must be diligent and hardworking

5.      Thou must train your children in the way of the Lord

6.      Thou must be fervent in the Lord

7.      Thou must abstain from all appearance of evil

8.      Thou must trust the Lord with all your heart

9.      Thou must avoid wrong company and bad friends

10.  You must be committed and dedicated to the things of God in your local assembly

 

B OPTIONS FOR WIDOWS

 

1. Remarry – Younger widows are advised to marry because of the nature of the body. Let them seek the face of God in prayers for a husband. To decide against re – marriage when you are still young could be jeopardy – Tim. 5:14-15

 

1. Restitute: - If they have taken anything or defrauded their late husband in anyway, they should make their wrongs right if not, their prayers could be hindered.

 

1. Work: - Widowhood is not a hideout for indolent people. Nothing works except widow’s work themselves. You can start a small business to help yourself and since the way to the top is from the bottom, if you are dedicated to your work, it can become a great one. Despise not your humble beginning, for little is much if God is in it.
2. Prayer and intercession: - (Luke 2:26) you can chose to dedicate your entire life unto God by supporting your pastor in prayers for growth of the church. Intercessors are greatly needed in the church today – Isaiah 59:16

 

1. Set up a ministry: - (Luke 2:36) May be the reason you passed through that experience is so that you can be of help to those who are in the same situation. Having prayed and have received heavenly green light, go ahead and God will support you. Find out from God what he wants you to do (Acts 9:6)

 

HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE WIDOWS

DEUT. 27:19; 14:27-29.

 

Discouragement is one of the greatest tools of Satan. Many people will bring out the best in them if only they can find the Barnabas of our days. Widows need encouragement; else they won’t be their best for God.

 

BELOW IS HOW ONE CAN ENCOURAGE THEM

1. Seminars: - This, can be arranged for them to discover the potentials of God in them.

 

1. Training:- While seminar is just passing out the necessary information; training is practically teaching them on what and how to do something

 

1. Counseling: - Christian leaders can encourage them through this means. Some of them easily get discouraged. With right counseling; they will know the right step to take

 

1. Dig a well for her: - By this we mean, don’t only give them help, show them the helper – Jesus. Point them to the saviour. Do not only give some money, help and encourage them to start a business, no matter how small.   Visit their help page  http://tcmi4christ.tripod.com/id19.html

WHAT SCRIPTURE TEACH ON WIDOWS

I Tim. 5:9-14.

1. They should marry if they are not up to sixty years of age
2. Full of good works – I Tim. 5:10
3. Hospitable and care for children – I Tim. 5:10
4. To work and meet the needs of saints – I Tim. 5:10
5. To relieve the afflicted
6. They shouldn’t be idle, wandering from house to house as busy body – 1 Tim. 5:13
7. They should be prayerful – Luke 2:36

STUDY ON – THE NOBLE WIDOW

Widowhood is not synonymous to suffering, sorrowing, beggarly living and life long mourning.

Though your husband is dead, your God is still alive. He is your husband and the father of your children. He is more than enough – Isaiah 54:4, 5. Though, a widow, you can be noble, commanding honour before God and men .1 Tim. 5:3.