Monday, January 16, 2017

Updating FNF ~ 2017

Good morning Ladies ~ We are at the start of another new year 2017 and it is a good time to update everyone what we are doing at “Friends Needing Friends”.  

"Friends Needing Friends" is a special ministry for widows only. This ministry is a sisterhood of ladies selected by God.  I have been asked the following questions many times - "why widows only?" or "I'm divorced, why can't I come?" I will try to answer these questions as simply as I can.
When you divorce your mate, it is a human decision between two people.  The death of a mate is a decision made by God. The true reason for either loss, only God knows.

As director and founder of "FNF" I have witnessed a special compassionate bond between all the ladies.  When a newly widowed person comes to a meeting for the first time, I will introduce the widow to another widow.  Immediately, there is an expression of compassion that no other person can give nor receive. 

 Their eyes meet and in a single glance without saying a word, there is an exchange of understanding and full knowledge of their hurts and feelings.  These feelings are the true meaning of the word "sisterhood". The dictionary's definition of the word "sisterhood" is: "An organization of women with a common interest, as for social, charitable, or female members of a church".

The common interest of "FNF" is from the Bible in 2 Corinthians 1:4 - God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  Our sisterhood of women is doing exactly what God has directed it to do and who better to help at this time - you guessed it - another widow.

Our sisterhood was founded in June 1988 and has physically and financially supported several other charitable organizations. We have a Teddy Bear ministry where once again we obey God by visiting the sick and the shut-ins. Since 1995, our ladies have delivered hundreds and hundreds of Teddy Bears to the sick and have encouraged the shut-ins with God's love.
 
The past several months, God has led "FNF" to support widows from Kerusomen Gospel Ministries in India, a special Christian Foundation that supports our widow sisters who are in need of food, shelter and medicine. Today we are supporting 18 widows monthly. The past Christmas we supported a large Christmas Party for many of the widows in India and had three drivers bring some of them to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.

 As the saying goes: "Side by side, or miles apart...We are sisters, connected by the heart."

Yes, we have met the dictionary’s description of the word "sisterhood" and yes our ladies have obeyed the LORD by sharing the comfort that God has given to us.

May I further explain to you that "FNF" is a ministry available to widows only; that may or may not attend a church.  There is a desperate need in our society today regarding the widows that we come in contact with.  Our group is a Christian Interdenominational Ministry and we do not urge joining a different church or changing one's religion.
I hope that you will be able to attend our monthly meeting/brunch, which is on the third Monday of each month. We look forward to seeing you there and if you can, invite or bring a widowed friend.

Meeting place:
9301 Jog Road, Boynton Beach, Florida
Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon
And
Our New Jersey Chapter meets
The Third Monday of each month at 10:00 a.m.
Wedgwood Country Club, Turnersville, N.J.
Mary Lou Tweed is the Director

Friends Needing Friends also started a blog that goes to over 12 different countries with a total of  32,300 hits (as of today.)  Our blog address is: www.friendsneedingfriends.blogspot.com
In June 2017, we be celebrating our 29th Anniversary of FNF in New Jersey and the chapter of FNF in Florida will be celebrating 5 years, February, 2017. WOW! Time flies.

Our Bible verses for all of our meetings is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 
For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. (NLT)

God's Blessing in 2017!
Dotti Ackerman
Founder & Director of FNF
Serving the Lord since 1988






 Thank You Lord !



"He Knows My Name" by Tommy Walker