According to Scripture, God has a deep love for widows, widowers and single parents. Therefore, Christians should too. Here are 10 ways to make widows, widowers and single parents feel special.
1. Learn who they are and remember their names.
I’ve often said, “You can’t love someone you don’t know.” Make it a goal to learn who their widowed and single parents are in your church. Learn their names and greet them every time you see them. For many, church is their only social interaction, and the hour after church is their loneliest hour of the week. Widows, widowers and single parents need to know that they are known.
2. Tell them you’re praying for them and do it.
Support widows, widowers and single parents with your prayers and let them know you are praying for them.
3. Assign them a team.
Of course, the core of New Commandment’s ministry to their widowed and single parents is men’s team ministry. Assigning them a team will go a long way to proving your church’s commitment to them and love for them.
4. Celebrate their birthday.
Commemorate their birthday with a card or special mention in your church bulletin.
5. Befriend them on Facebook.
Facebook or other social media are great ways to keep in touch with the widowed and single parents.
6. Take them to breakfast.
Sometimes teams take a service day off and take their care receiver out to breakfast. A time of fellowship like this creates lasting memories for adults who live alone.
7. Shovel their snow.
Elderly care receivers will need help with snow shoveling. Showing up after a snow storm reminds the elderly that they have not been forgotten.
8. Take the children of single parents to a ball game.
You will give your single parent care receiver needed time off and create a special memory for his or her children by taking them to a sporting event. Or, if his or her children play sports and you have the time, attend their games.
9. Invite them to your home for holidays.
Many care receivers are isolated. Find out if they have a place to go for upcoming holidays. If not, consider inviting them over to your home.
10. Treat them like family.
Your family is special. So are widows, widowers and single parents. Treat your widow as if she were your mother or your single mom as if she were your sister. They are, after all, part of the family of God. And that is the only family that lasts forever.
How have you, your team and/or your church made their widowed and single parents in your congregation feel special?
This post originally appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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Learn how to form teams of men for every widow, single mom
and fatherless child in your church at NewCommandment.org.
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2 thoughts on “10 Ways to Make Widows, Widowers and Single Parents Feel Special”
Thanks Herb for all that you do! This is very good advice.
Very nice ideas, some of which we are already doing.
Thank you,