She was a friend to everyone. She spent her life pouring love, hope, encouragement, and blessings into everyone she met. Thousands of people received cards from her. The cards always included something—a hanky, a picture, a tea bag, a bookmark. She wrote words and sent thoughtful blessings with each of the one hundred thousand cards she wrote in her lifetime.
She saw things in people that they didn’t see in themselves. When she saw it, she took action. She invited them to participate in the many areas of ministry she led. She believed in them. She set up opportunities to minister. Then she encouraged them—week after week. She reassured them, expressed her love, and prayed for them. I was one of those people. I have dear friends who traveled the world ministering and she was the one who gave them their first opportunity.
Giving was at the core of her being. She gave herself and her resources to love and encourage others. Shirley Henson was truly a great woman of God—a thoroughbred, dyed-in-the-wool, genuine Christian.
On two different occasions, cancer tried to take her down. She prayed, believed, fought valiantly, and got back up. When the third bout arrived, even though the doctors said it had spread through her entire body and there was nothing medical science could do, she determined to fight it and believe for a miracle. She wouldn’t give up. In the last few days of her life, she stood behind the pulpit and petitioned for foreign Bible school student support. It was her passion and her love. She raised thousands of dollars over the years to help sponsor students.
She determined that cancer would not stop her. Until…God showed her what awaited her on the other side. When she saw a glimpse of the heavenly land, she could only say, “It’s so beautiful!” Then she was ready to bid farewell and go to the place she had dreamed of all her life. Shirley went home. She laid down the pen of encouragement. Her voice was still, but her words live on in our hearts and minds.
We are certain that no one can ever take her place. But what if we were determined to keep the ministry of Shirley Henson alive? So many of us knew her, loved her, and received blessings from her.
If one thousand women were to write two notes, make two phone calls, or send two text messages every week for a year, we could replicate Shirley’s lifetime work. One hundred thousand messages of encouragement in honor of Shirley Henson—every year!
What effect would we have on eternity? Only God knows. We know one person, Shirley Henson, who influenced thousands of lives. What can one thousand women of God do if we continue Shirley’s gift of encouragement together?
Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” We are blessed to be part of a great fellowship of believers. I challenge us, the ladies of the United Pentecostal Church International. Pick up a pen. Pick up a phone. Speak a word to encourage someone.
A physician may report that the spread of cancer through an earthly body is unstoppable. Similarly, could the spread of encouragement through the body of Christ deliver a death blow to the enemy, leaving him powerless to stop it? Let’s begin spreading encouragement to one another and let the legacy of our beloved friend, Shirley Henson, continue until Jesus comes!
