Missions has been a driving force in Diana Lewis’ life for almost as long as she can remember.
As a member of Girls Auxiliary (now Girls in Action) during her grade school years she recalls taking Christmas to a single mom and her children who lived in an old chicken house with holes in the wall.
Diana’s later work and ministry experiences ranged from her role as a pastor’s wife and Acteens leader to being a home health social worker. She then served 20-plus years in community ministries with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and North American Mission Board.
Life took an unexpected tragic turn in 2007 when Lewis’ husband, John, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The Lewises, who had been selected the previous year as featured missionaries for that spring’s Week of Prayer for North American Missions, found out about his cancer shortly before the annual prayer emphasis.
“The day that we went to find out where else it was in his body and how bad it was, was the day that we were on the Week of Prayer,” she recounted. “That was a really hard day but … I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that one of the reasons that God lined this up the year before was so we would have people praying for us.”
New opportunities
John lived just a few months after his diagnosis.
“It’s been a difficult journey at times, but God has blessed me with wonderful friends, wonderful family who have walked with me along the way,” she said.
He also has guided her to new ministry opportunities as diverse as volunteer missions projects in Peru, helping provide leadership for a local pregnancy resource center and constructing intricate quilts for friends and acquaintances who are grieving or ill.
Reflecting on her longtime missions philosophy amid the high and lows of life Lewis said, “All that I have is God’s and that’s the only way I know to approach my life. … I really have especially learned through the loss of John way too early in life that every moment is precious and every day is a gift.”
How to Pray:
- Pray for Diana Lewis as she continues serving and sharing the gospel through her various ministries.
- Pray for those impacted by Diana Lewis and that God will open their eyes and their hearts to Him. (TAB)
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