ABOUT

History

The Ruth Project was birthed in 2007 out of a passion to encourage others, women especially, to be faithful friends to widows. It began in my heart almost five years ago, when my friend’s husband was diagnosed with cancer. At that time, I was unsure what she needed from me and allowed my insecurities to take over. I stopped calling, because she stopped returning calls. I didn’t visit, because I wasn’t sure she wanted me around. I didn’t make a meal, since I thought someone else probably would. The result was that she felt abandoned by me in her time of need.

Over a cup of coffee, my friend set me straight on what she needed from our friendship. I listened intently, but naively; her husband was miraculously healed at that time. A year later, while my friend was on bed-rest during her pregnancy, her husband’s cancer battle resumed. This time, I vowed to the Lord that I would serve her faithfully. In October of 2005, my friend’s husband went home to be with the Lord, and she found herself widowed and faced with the enormity of being a single mother.

Around the same time, I met a vibrant woman, who was also recently widowed. Just three years earlier, her husband died in a car accident, leaving her with a young son and baby boy on the way.

Over the past two years, I’ve had many conversations with these two precious friends about what it means to live life as a widow. I’ve learned so much as they have shared their hearts, their fears, and their hopes with me. It is from these conversations that The Ruth Project has been established, with the hope that we will pass onto others the many lessons we’ve learned, and especially so that others may be encouraged as they strive to be a faithful, loving friend to a widow desperately trying to find her new normal.

I have yet to learn how to do this myself, but I am on a mission of doing it better and helping others in the process. If you would like to know more about me, please visit my blog, Extravagant Grace.


Mission

The Ruth Project is designed to encourage and equip friends, family, and home churches of widows, with ideas and suggestions that would be a blessing to a widow during the initial loss of her husband and over the long term as they find their new normal.


Biblical Call

The Ruth Project is humbly responding to the Biblical call found in Isaiah 1:17, “...learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow...” through following the example of Ruth.


Statement of Faith

The Ruth Project has no affiliation with a particular church or denomination. However, the team supports the Statement of Faith published by the Willow Creek Association and by Christian Women Online.

If you have any questions or comments, please free free to send an email to the theruthproject (at) optonline.net.