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Autor: Kleber Lora
Fecha: 10.10.2010
Category: Evangelismo entre Niños
The orphan and the Widow – More present today than ever!
The orphan, the widow and the alien! All three are in the heart of our merciful God. That is how is captured his purpose that we also become we become merciful as He is. The vulnerable is defined by the Word as these three faces.
When I think about the widow, I know that today is not necessarily the woman that lost the husband in the war to conquer or defend their land. That was possible the more frequent scenario of the Old Testament. But today, you see the virtual widow: The women abandoned by the husband. The role of the father/husband is absent from home.
I joined Compassion International ministry in Dominican Republic 5 years ago. At the beginning of my time as a servant in the ministry, I remember I was in Shore of Ozama River in Santo Domingo. At least 1 million people in extreme poverty and violence are living in that shores.
I asked the pastor of a children ministry what are their main challenge. Her answer was “The children are raised only by the mother. The figure and support of the father is absent”. This situation makes even worst the poverty they already have. The mothers need to work outside of home all day and their Children spend the day alone, taking care of one another in neighborhoods full of risks!
This pastor runs a project that receives around 300 children at a church facility during the week, providing care and love for their spiritual, physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development. This model is also replicated by a network of 170 churches in Dominican Republic, reaching more than 40 thousand children and youth.
The mandate of God to minister to the poor is more present and prophetic than ever. This children and mothers are the virtual widow and orphan of our days. They are in communities where poverty wants to rule, but the ministry of the church can be the difference by the power and mercy of our God!
Opiniones: 4454
Comentarios: 4
Recomendaciones: 1
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Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
I completely agree with you. The fatherless children are becoming a major concern. I’m currently in seminary in the States and we have discussed this growing issue in one of my counseling classes. One thing that we agreed would help this problem is a stronger emphasis on marriage counseling. We, the church, has allowed walking out of a marriage and divorce to become an acceptable solution to a unhappy situation (note: divorce can be a solution in situations where the marriage is mentality, physically or spiritually detrimental to one in the relationship). As ministers, we need to take pre-marital counseling more seriously (I myself have very little!) and be more willing to hold our parishioners more accountable for their actions and behaviors. Also we need to be willing to educate our youth on the consequences that can result from their actions instead of avoiding the tough conversations. Hopefully this will help cut down on the number of young, single mothers. Lastly, I personally believe in the power of mentoring. Merely being there as a strong, Christian mentor to a high risk child can make a world of difference. This is why I think the project mentioned above is awesome! It illustrates how reaching out can influence many!
20.11.2011
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
We are faced with some of the same problem here in America among African American Fathers who leave the responsiblities up to mother to raise the child, not all but a great number. Its a sad case.
31.10.2011
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica
Single moms often times struggle in the United States as well. But we also have dads who are caring for their children without the help of a mother. To answer Jim’s question, I believe the church should offer marriage enrichment oportunities to help strenghten marriages. Having said that, I also believe we should do all we can to support and encourage the single moms and dads and their children. We can offer to provide child care, shopping trips, yard work, etc. for the single parent. Thanks for raising the issue.
05.04.2011
Kenia
This point seems to be about - how to get men to take their responsibilities seriously? Why are we getting absent fathers? I certainly agree - that the participation of the father is VITAL for a home. What is putting them off? This issue must be resolved?!
12.10.2010
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