An Act of Love: Small group treats widows to Valentine's Dinner

Ruby Brown with a Valentine made for her by a student at Triad Baptist Christian Academy

By Wayne Thompson

For nearly three years, Dick and Angie Lockhart's small group has lightened each other's burdens and gladdened hearts every Thursday evening in Jesus' name.

Last Saturday night, the circle of love got a lot larger as they held their first Widows Dinner outreach for women at Triad. About 15 ladies came to an event the group hopes to make an annual tradition—treating women like Ruby Brown to a night of food, fellowship and fun.

"I like it a lot," Ruby said, inspecting one of many Valentines made by the first grade students of Triad Baptist Christian Academy teacher and small group member Whitney Anderson. "I love the laughs and the company. I usually don't do anything on Valentine's Day so this gives me something to do."

When the Lockhart's first launched their small group Bible study, Lockhart, Anderson and a group of teachers at the then-Child Enrichment Center (now the Triad Baptist Christian Academy Preschool) served as the group's core. (Anderson now teaches first grade at the Academy.)

Since then, the group has doubled in size—which the Lockhart's attribute to the group's atmosphere of transparency, openness and what-is-shared-in-the-group-stays-in-the-group trust. They meet about two hours weekly in the Lockhart's home for a potluck meal, prayer, sharing and a devotion.

The banquet was Angie's idea, and one quickly adopted by the group.

"The Lord laid it on my heart," Angie said, "and I talked about it to Dick who said, 'If you want to do it, do it.' "

And do it they did, indeed—with Valentine-decorated tables in the multipurpose room, and a dinner of stuffing-topped chicken, green beans almondine, rolls, salad, mashed potatoes and dessert. In addition to the Lockhart's, the small group members serving the tables were Andrew and Whitney Anderson, Annette and Curtis Tilley, Kent and Karen Becraft and their children Heather and Brian, Cheryl Howell and Angela Hoover and her daughter, Alicia..

The widows played Valentine bingo with conversation hearts and other games, and enjoyed flowers and treat bags filled with pens, stationery, note pads and other gifts. Howell provided the evening's special music and Andrew Anderson gave a short message on agape love and Christ's sacrificial love for us.

Marge Morrison, who recently began organizing regular lunch get-togethers for Triad's widows, helped the Lockharts promote the dinner. They meet for lunch at C&H cafeteria in Kernersville on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The next lunch is 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23. For more information, call Morrison at 993-6992.

(Left) Dick Lockhart, Andrew Anderson and other small group members serve the meal (Right) Norma Harless and Mae Bacon were among 15 women who took advantage of the special Valentine's treat.