By Pat Brandenstein

James 1:27—Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their trouble….

According to one statistic, one year after their husbands die or leave due to divorce, desertion, or imprisonment, 50 percent of widows no longer attend the church they attended with their husbands. What does this say to us? We, as a church, need to focus more on widows—especially recent widows.

I often hear comments like this from recent widows returning to church for the first time:

• I feel like a bride walking down the aisle with everyone staring at me.
• Am I going to sit in the same place that my husband and I used to sit in?
• Am I going to cry?

I’ve noticed some widows skirt around this issue by arriving late, leaving before the benediction, and sitting in the back row. As the church, we need to be aware of how each widow is feeling and how we can assist her in returning to church.

Many widows appreciate a call or visit from their pastor about two weeks after the funeral. Widows say this does not have to be a lengthy visit—maybe 10 minutes. What other ways can you think of that would make this transition easier for recent widows in your congregation?

Below are additional statistics about widows. To help you put a face to each one, look at your church’s pictorial directory or think about a relative, neighbor, or co-worker who has been recently widowed.

• There are over 14 million widows in the U.S. today and an average of 40 widows per church. Who do you know who is a widow?

• In 80 percent of marriages, the wife outlives her husband by 15 years. Have you noticed in churches and care facilities that women outnumber men?

• Fifty percent of marriages today end in divorce. This includes society in general and the church. Are you picturing someone in your church, neighborhood, work, or maybe even a relative?

• Financially, many widows experience decline and surprises.

• While a widow’s needs decrease by 20 percent, her income declines by 33 percent.

• The poverty rate among widows is three to four times higher than elderly married women. Often, we don’t hear about this because many widows don’t feel comfortable sharing their financial needs.

• Emotions of grief, anger, and loneliness intensify. Women react to stress 30 percent more than men.

• Sixty percent of widows experience significant illness in the first year. Are we encouraging widows to see their physicians and to share with them information about the death, divorce, desertion, or imprisonment of their spouses?

•  Clinical depression is the most common illness. Are we accepting of mental health conditions?

• Upon the death of a spouse, a widow loses 75 percent of her support system. We live in a couple’s society. Are we attempting to include widows in social activities?

• Our family tree rearranges.

These facts and statistics help point out widows’ needs. Pray God makes you aware of widows’ needs in your church so you and other members can help address those needs.

Pat Brandenstein is co-founder of Wings of Hope Widows Ministry, a 501(3) c with chapters in Cheatham, Rutherford, and Franklin counties. Wings of Hope assists widows in forming chapters in their communities and churches to develop widowed persons ministries. For more information, contact Brandenstein at 931-636-4359 or brandensteinr@bellsouth.net. Webpage:  wingsofhopewidowsministry.com, Facebook and Instagram: Wings of Hope Widows Ministry.

This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of ENCORE Ministry Matters. To receive this free monthly enewsletter, contact emmatters@encoretnumc.org.