A Pastoral Theology of Widowhood for the Word of Life Baptist Church in Mutale, Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

Widows in the Bible were frequently placed alongside similar people in need such as the stranger and the fatherless (e.g., Exodus 22:21–22; Deuteronomy 24:17–21). As we all know, we live in a fallen world where death destroys earthly friendships and relationships. The ministry of the present-day church is limiting its impact because it does not see widows as God sees them. This is why this study is important. This study is an examination of widows in the local church which reveals a growing percentage of widows in many churches today. It signifies a significant ministry need for widows in the church. Some widows sitting in churches, are not only suffering the grief and loneliness from their loss. Some have also lost their only income and sometimes feel neglected or a burden to others. It is a biblical mandate and it is imperative that the church, pastors, and counsellors take heed to the biblical command of ministering to the comfortlessness and insecurity many widows are facing in their churches. The objective of this study is to establish a biblical paradigm that would enable the researcher to propose pastoral theological strategies to assist the Word of Life Baptist Church (WOLBC) in Mutale, Limpopo, South Africa to care for its widows during and after the burial practices. The outcome of a small-scale research and the discussion on the following Scriptures helped the researcher to design contextualised strategies for caring for the widows of the WOLBC. The following Scriptures formed the core of the study: Exodus 22:22–23; Deuteronomy 10:18, 14:29, 27:19; Psalm 68:5, 146:9; Luke 2:36–37; and 1 Timothy 5:1–14. The findings from this study should encourage and promote a strong ministry for the widows in local churches. The work and motivation to establish ministries for widows, is at the discretion of the pastors of the churches. The pastoral theological strategies to care for the widows of the WOLBC were informed by Masenya’s concept of Bosadi (Womanhood) and Oduyoye’s understanding of African Womanhood. The strategies covered the Biblical basis for designing such strategies, establishing a WOLBC benevolence team to focus on the task of caring for these widows and suggesting ways to implement the strategies in the ten branches of the WOLBC.

Widows in the Bible were frequently placed alongside similar people in need such as the stranger and the fatherless (e.g., Exodus 22:21–22; Deuteronomy 24:17–21). As we all know, we live in a fallen world where death destroys earthly friendships and relationships. The ministry of the present-day church is limiting its impact because it does not see widows as God sees them. This is why this study is important. This study is an examination of widows in the local church which reveals a growing percentage of widows in many churches today. It signifies a significant ministry need for widows in the church. Some widows sitting in churches, are not only suffering the grief and loneliness from their loss. Some have also lost their only income and sometimes feel neglected or a burden to others. It is a biblical mandate and it is imperative that the church, pastors, and counsellors take heed to the biblical command of ministering to the comfortlessness and insecurity many widows are facing in their churches. The objective of this study is to establish a biblical paradigm that would enable the researcher to propose pastoral theological strategies to assist the Word of Life Baptist Church (WOLBC) in Mutale, Limpopo, South Africa to care for its widows during and after the burial practices. The outcome of a small-scale research and the discussion on the following Scriptures helped the researcher to design contextualised strategies for caring for the widows of the WOLBC. The following Scriptures formed the core of the study: Exodus 22:22–23; Deuteronomy 10:18, 14:29, 27:19; Psalm 68:5, 146:9; Luke 2:36–37; and 1 Timothy 5:1–14. The findings from this study should encourage and promote a strong ministry for the widows in local churches. The work and motivation to establish ministries for widows, is at the discretion of the pastors of the churches. The pastoral theological strategies to care for the widows of the WOLBC were informed by Masenya’s concept of Bosadi (Womanhood) and Oduyoye’s understanding of African Womanhood. The strategies covered the Biblical basis for designing such strategies, establishing a WOLBC benevolence team to focus on the task of caring for these widows and suggesting ways to implement the strategies in the ten branches of the WOLBC.