{Pictured is Debbie, far right, with Betsy, second from the left, and others from their community group at Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA}
For the last 25 years, I have served alongside my husband, Warren, as a Community Group Leader. You don’t have to be part of Covenant Fellowship Church for very long before you experience the heart of servanthood among those who attend. Our friend, Debbie, was no exception. She was the person who stayed late to help do the dishes and clean up after Community Group was over.
When Debbie was diagnosed with an aggressive form of endometrial cancer, it was our turn to serve her as a group. She had to have surgery and chemotherapy. Everyone in our group served Debbie in some capacity. It may have been uplifting her in prayer, bringing her a meal, taking her to chemotherapy, or sending her an encouragement note. The entire time we were serving Debbie she was serving us.
As each of us would interact with Debbie while serving her, she would ask us how she could pray for us. We all learned that Debbie was a prayer warrior. She prayed for people consistently: for her friends, family, and those she just met. Her life verse was Ephesians 2: 8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boost. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
She would put the emphasis on “we are his workmanship.” Debbie never claimed to be a strong or independent person. She was dependent upon God. She prayed to receive God’s strength for whatever God called her to do.
It didn’t take long for us to find out that Debbie had a box of her favorite Bible verses. She would pull one out to read it to us or share a verse of encouragement as we served her. We learned that she hid God’s Word in her heart and leaned on the Lord and his Word to guide her in every situation.
When she was struggling with complaining, she memorized Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
When she was anxious, she leaned on Philippians 4: 6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When she was diagnosed with cancer, her new verse was Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
During Debbie’s two-year cancer journey, we were built up spiritually as a Community Group by serving her. Debbie always told us that she was so grateful for the Body of Christ. She could not have gone through her cancer journey without the care and love of her church family and Community Group. As a single person, she needed folks to gather around her and care for her during her time of need.
Ladies would text her with verses of Scripture to encourage her. A basket was given to her with practical items while undergoing her chemotherapy. When Debbie was placed on hospice and moved to my home, our group came to my house to clean, organize, and get her room ready. Since Debbie needed 24-hour care and could not be left alone, a smaller group of folks were put together to care for her around the clock. As Debbie slipped away, God in his infinite mercy and kindness gave each of us a chance to spend time with her; this is a memory we won’t forget.
By meeting Debbie’s needs, showing her kindness, and bearing her burdens, we loved her the way we love ourselves. She did the same for us. Paul writes in Galatians 5:13-14,“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” As Debbie passed on to Glory with her savior in heaven, we were all grieved, but felt so much richer for all that God had done during our time with her here on Earth. God gave us joy in our sorrow as we served her. This is the evidence of God’s saving grace through service to one another. This is what servanthood looks like.
