The Family of Faith – God’s Precious Gift!

A Reflection From a Sister in the Family of Faith

“Lord, let them see You in how we love one another.”

This was our prayer for the Mini-Visitation that happened last May 30-June 1, 2025. And God heard our prayer: God’s love was indeed tangible that weekend not only to the Visitation Team but to us as well, as we felt loved by the members of the team: David Williamson, Jeff and Jeanne Smith, Jim DeSpelder, and Mary Margaret Molnar in that short time with them. And the Family of Faith (FOF), on its 32nd year, became a full member of the Sword of the Spirit Community!

This led me to reflect on how The Family of Faith is God’s precious gift in so many ways.

Family of Faith is God’s precious gift to us within the community. We have seen the love of God concretely poured out on us through each other. We have an abundance of perceptible love in the form of food, joy, laughter, fun being together, free childcare, out-of-the-way car rides, practical help, moving-to-another-house assistance, etc. We have a steady supply of love in the form of emotional support, knowing that we will be taken care of when the need arises. Above all, we treasure the love we get through prayers and the spiritual guidance that help us along this journey.

Family of Faith is God’s precious gift to the people outside of it. With God’s grace, people around us feel at peace and joyful when they come to our events. They express to us how they feel welcome and feel refreshed when they are with us. Thus, we realize that during this time of isolation and loneliness, FOF as a bulwark serves its purpose in this part of the world. As Christ-bearers, Christ uses us as we go out to our respective spheres of influence and social circles to spread His love. 

Family of Faith is God’s precious gift to our children and the next generation. One of our greatest sources of encouragement and hope is the beauty of our children deciding to be affiliate members of our community. God has been merciful to us to allow us to serve alongside our adult children now. I praise God for giving us leaders in the past and in the present who have always been willing to lay down their lives for the community. God, in His goodness, has granted our next generation, and their friends, and the people that God will send their way, a community that will support them, guide them and make God’s love concrete. And this part of New Jersey will have the light of God burning even when the original members are long gone.

And now that we are full members of the Sword of the Spirit, the Visitation Team urged us that it is time we give back, to support and encourage our other brothers and sisters not only in North America but outside as well. God has been so good to the Family of Faith by leading us all this time. Now it is our turn to be His instrument as we go out of our community to share what God has shown us oh so kindly and oh so patiently. 

“Dear Lord, thank You for the precious gift of this way of life, for the Family of Faith, for the gift of being in the Sword of the Spirit Community!“