In recent years, RBI has seen a growing number of requests for assistance and a decline in the number of churches who participate in the Christmas Offering. RBI relief director Bob Clarke expressed his concern over the waning support.

“The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.” 1 Timothy 5:5

Answering the prayer of the widow is the focus of this year’s PCA Retirement & Benefits (RBI) Christmas Offering. The annual Christmas Offering funds RBI’s Ministerial Relief Fund—which provides financial relief for widows and retired and disabled pastors and missionaries within the PCA.

One widow credits RBI’s Ministerial Relief Fund with enabling her to survive financially after her husband died. “I am reminded every month of God’s care for us when I receive the check,” she said. “Grieving is a long and painful process by itself without wondering how I am going to pay the bills. I love how the body of Christ is a family that takes care of each other in good times and bad.”

Many of the widows of PCA teaching elders helped by the Christmas Offering are in their 80s and 90s and have simply outlived their retirement savings. Nearly half have incomes well below the federal poverty level of $903 a month. Without financial assistance they are unable to afford even basic needs.

Read More: http://byfaithonline.com/page/pca-news/answering-the-widows-prayer

[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced in this article is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]