Todays Woman at the Well

Reaching the unreachable parent through DC4K

By Linda Alderfer a familiar story: The Woman at the Its Well (John 4). Ive met todays woman at the well. She drops off her kids at DivorceCare for Kids and leaves. Shes uncomfortable being in a church, but is willing to come, if it means that her kids can get help. She is emotionally, physically and spiritually parched. Wrong choices, indiscretions and her need to be loved are the reasons she is stuck in a dark pit. She thinks there is no way out. She truly believes she is unworthy to be at a church or to enter the DivorceCare room. Shell tell you that she does not belong there. Invariably, with tears in her eyes, she shakes her head no to the invitation to try DivorceCare, and she repeats once again, If only you can help my kids. Week after week the DC4K team prays for her to become curious about Jesus, the only One who can revive, renew and restore this broken vessel. As DC4K leaders, we follow what God has called forth. We teach her kids skills to maneuver through the rough places of divorce. We laugh, play, listen, care and build relationships. We talk to the children about Jesus and tell them stories of faith and healing. We pray with and for her children. Its invisible to the eye, but seeds of faith are being planted. Tiny sprouts are starting to grow a root system. As weeks go by, todays woman at the well is amazed that her kids get upset if they cant go to DC4K. She can see that we really care, not just for her kids, but also for her. Soon she feels safe enough to quietly share some of her burden (standing out in the hall before and after class). I am blessed with the opportunity to pray not just for her, but now with her. Weeks flow by, it might be as late as week number ten before shes willing to walk down the hall with me to check out the DivorceCare group to see if it might be a safe place for her to explore healing. We begin to see a light, a twinkle in her eye. The Living Water is soaking in and she cant keep quiet about it. There is a love and acceptance she couldnt find anywhere, but shes found it now. She is open and teachable, learning skills to maneuver through the rough places of divorce, but most of all she is experiencing the source of Living Water, as she reaches out to Jesus for healing. Todays woman, as well as the biblical woman, is experiencing transformation in Jesus, it has to do with acceptance and unconditional love. She cant wait for the next season of DivorceCare to begin. Shes told all her friends, and they are registering for the next season of classes, because they see a difference. Follow me for a moment, back into this story (John 4:2737):

The woman, using what she had (her words and feet), runs to tell others what she has discovered. Theres a mission spoken as the disciples return with food. My food [my nourishment], said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34) Jesus speaks of a harvest, I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35b)

Jesus planted a seed for harvest in the parched woman at the well, and He continues to plant today. You have been called as a leader for such a time as this. You have been uniquely wired and equipped to be a vessel used by God. Its not by accident that you are here. There is a plan and a purpose much larger than our physical eyes can see. As leaders, it is our choice to either jump into the flow of what God is doing or to work in our own strength. There are parched, spiritually thirsty people, The fields are white for harvest. There are seeds to be planted and a harvest to bring in. Todays woman at the well may not come to your DivorceCare group at first. It may be the DC4K team who initially connects with her. She may stay outside until she knows its safe to enter in. As relationships of trust and care develop, opportunities will follow. Be open to what God is calling forth, for there is a plan, a purpose and a harvest, which flows with living water. Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from his heart. (John 7:38 NLT)
MMXI by Church Initiative. All rights reserved. Reproducible only when used in conjunction with a Church Initiative ministry. For more information about DC4K or to find a group near you, go to www.dc4k.org.