The Handkerchief Ministry
The Handkerchief Ministry
Whenever our church had a baby shower, or a special dinner or celebration that involved food, Helen Simon was the lady to see. If anyone ever had a gift of decorating and setting a beautiful table worthy of a Kodak Moment, it was Sis. Helen Simon.
She had been a member of Christ Temple Church for over 50 years. There are some people that would do anything to help the church and their pastor. That was Sis. Simon! She was a pastor’s friend.
Every special event found her involved. She worked long hours so that others could enjoy the occasion. On many such occasions, she brought her own “Old Country Roses” china from home, her own crystal goblets and cloth napkins with matching napkin holders and silverware. She spared no personal expense.
Diabetes was not kind to her. An emergency hospital trip provided the horrible news of the need to amputate her leg. Unthinkable, yet necessary!
Even though she was a senior, she was not happy about spending her remaining days in a wheel chair. But that seemed to be her lot.
Now her mobility was limited. There was no access to the basement fellowship hall. She couldn’t navigate the 2 flights of stairs. Her decorating days seemed over.
Not one to mope around in despair, she looked for something else she could do in the church that would be a blessing. What could she do? It was a process, just getting to church!
Finally one day she got it. She realized what she could do and be a blessing. She sent her husband Victor, down town to an expensive men’s store to buy several dozen of their best handkerchiefs. Then she washed them, and carefully ironed them. She folded them into a nice stack. Before church started she had her husband take them up to the platform and put them in the pulpit.
She said, “I might not be able to do much, but at least I can help my pastor when he preaches. If he ever needs a hanky, I’ll have one there for him. That way, I can help my pastor preach!”
What a Lady! Thank You!
I don’t know where all of the Helen Simons in our Pentecostal churches have gone today.
(They just don’t make them like the use to!)
Every pastor needs a Helen Simon!
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 
I did not know that! She truly was a precious lady. I still have a gorgeous bowl she bought me when I got married. I loved going to her house because she had so many different beautiful things there….and because I was friends w/her daughter!! I remember loving her bath towels as she had them stacked in two alternating colors. I thought that was so cool back then!!
Carlene
March 27, 2010 at 7:30 am
I LOVED this post, Elder Ballestero!
I take men’s hankies, new of course, 🙂 and sew lace on them and give them to my special lady friends, hoping really that they will never have to use them.
I, too, have purchased hankies for my pastor and put them in a nice decorative box up at the pulpit.
My pastor would be horrified if I threw him a lace hankie. LOL
I love my pastor and his wife so much. They are my best friends and I wouldn’t want them to even be without a hankie. 🙂
Lani Ellingsworth
March 27, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Elder you have an incredible way of catching a moment and then immortalizing the action it teaches. What a gift! You are a blessing to all God’s people across this nation!
kennethbow
March 27, 2010 at 3:05 pm
You are too kind and give me too much credit. But, thank you so much!
mballestero
March 29, 2010 at 9:03 am
Marty this is a beautiful story. We still have this wonderful sincere ladies in our churches. I’m sure that God is pleased with the lives of these women.
Marian June Davis
March 27, 2010 at 4:05 pm