Easter Sacrifice
by ACT
In 2005, Mel Gibson’s $30 million movie, “The Passion of the Christ”, took the cinemas by storm. It contained one of the most graphic expressions of the sufferings of Christ during His crucifixion. It was not an abnormal scene to see viewers file out of the cinemas and movie theatres at the end in stunned silence. Some said that for many days after, they replayed some of the horrific scenes in their heads. I found myself questioning repeatedly why Jesus had to go through so much suffering and eventually one word answered it for me – “Sacrifice”
The Oxford dictionary mildly captures what Jesus did in its definition of sacrifice as “An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” Indeed, Jesus gave the most valued thing, His life, for the sake of the entire human race which He loves with His whole heart. Easter is such an opportune time for us to remind ourselves of this fact and also to think about what sacrifices we can make for the people who need it the most.
ACT is built around the ethos of sacrifice for the sake of orphans and widows in Africa. Just as Jesus has a heart for women and children, ACT does too as is evident in our work over 22 years that has impacted nearly 10,000 children and women in need in 8 African countries. ACT is educating the children and supporting the widows to generate income to sustain their families.
Many of the widows had experienced sadness and frustration seeing their children excluded from the school system because they cannot pay school fees or buy school uniforms. The situation is further compounded by the Covid 19 pandemic which has hit hard all the countries where we operate. Therefore, getting the right help to our already disadvantaged widows and their children is paramount.
“The feeling of pain is deep as your children turn against you in the wrong belief that you, their mother is the problem, or a part of it because you are unable to provide for them”.
[Neemota, ACT supported Widow]
The pains of women like Neemota in Burkina Faso are real. Carrying the burden of looking after your children all by yourself, without their father, your husband who has passed away, is great pain.
It’s great pain to be a grandmother, widowed for over 30 years and then to lose your child and have to look after your grandchild, as is the case of Sara in Zambia. Her daughter died 3 months after giving birth following birth complications. Baby Jephthah is now 8-months-old and is why we are running the Jephthah Fund Appeal.
This Easter, a little sacrifice can make a big difference in the life of a mother, grandmother, a child or grandchild. You can help to ease the burden and pain, give joy and bring hope of a better future.
With £40 you can help a widow to start an income generating activity. With £15 a month, you can sign up to sponsor a child and give them an education for life or you can donate to the Jephthah Fund Appeal. It would be an Easter Sacrifice that is meaningful and will bring you joy. To donate click here.
Happy Easter!
Easter Wishes was written by Ronke Joseph, a Supporter of ACT
