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Tag: Wow Mission

November 12, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

My wife Kathy and I founded WOW 26 years ago. Our calling and vision was to mobilize African churches to transform their communities stricken by the decimating scourge of HIV and AIDS, leaving thousands of orphans and widows in its wake. We started with very little but over the past quarter century WOW has grown into a force in Jesus’ name.

In that time our African champions with their local church-based volunteers have ministered to thousands of dying and at risk patients. And at least once, sometimes twice, a year we have visited our ministry partners to encourage and inspire them in their endless work. We speak to entire villages, sometimes with as many as 2000 sitting on the ground in relentless heat to hear words of challenge and encouragement. Then, as always, we walk from these gatherings to the humble dwellings of those in need of prayer.

We’ve prayed for hundreds personally over the years but from time to time there are patients who linger in our memory.

One such patient is a 65 year old Malawian by the name of Luciano. He was/is suffering from HIV and AIDS complications, as many do, but also from an affliction that I can recall in none that I’ve ever prayed for: leprosy(!).

As he lay on the ground outside his mud brick home I was struck not only by his vulnerability but by the stigma and discrimination that has historically accompanied this frightful affliction. I remembered that Jesus resisted the cultural rejection of lepers and against all wisdom actually touched them physically as they came to him for healing. I felt I could do no less. So I bent down and laid my hand on his fevered head as I prayed. I could hardly find words to speak.

It occurred to me that the old adage applied: “There but for the grace of God go I”. Sooner or later we will all be lying on a bed of affliction. We are all mortal. How important then to commit ourselves to the mercy and love of God. To hear him welcome us home with “Well done” is the goal.

Oct 29, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

When Kathy and I travel dusty rutted roads to remote rural villages in Africa, we’re often reminded that what to us is third world is not necessarily so for the inhabitants, especially those being cared for by our WOW partners. The pic above is a good example.

Here’s a single mom, obviously proud of and enjoying her young son. Both are healthy. Both are happy.

And, both are benefiting from WOW’s comprehensive Home Based Care (HBC) ministry, in this case “Somebody Cares Malawi”. We have been in partnership with SCM for 24 years and have seen thousands of dying orphans and widows lovingly ministered to with weekly HBC visits.

The opportunistic diseases that plague HIV infected patients are numerous. Everything from oral thrush to dysentery, bed sores, dehydration, diabetes, various kinds of tuberculosis, and occasional leprosy(!) challenge our godly volunteers relentlessly. Yet they faithfully soldier on, their hearts motivated by love of God and neighbour.

Again and again over the years we have witnessed the recovery and renewed vitality of many patients who were at death’s door but are now happy and healthy like the young woman in the picture. Their joy is both physical and spiritual. They sing and dance in gratitude to the Lord. They have no sense of deprivation. They are content.

This is why we always return to North America humbled and inspired, our African friends constantly reminding us that regardless of outward abundance or lack, the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Oct 15, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Recently in Malawi Africa, Kathy and I spent a few days with our team of volunteers visiting and praying for dying villagers. The dusty ox cart trails between the villages and the oppressive heat exacerbated our awareness of the adversities these precious people face every day. Over the past 25 years we’ve prayed for countless patients under the care of local church based volunteers, true angels of mercy.

In the picture you see us praying for a noble looking 65yr old man who is HIV positive and has leprosy. As I prayed, I recalled how Jesus healed many lepers and, against cultural convention, touched them as he ministered. I felt I could do no less. So I placed my hand on his head and held him up before the Lord.

In the picture, you also see our dedicated volunteers reaching out in fervent, compassionate prayer. Over the past 25 yrs of WOW’s ministry, several hundreds of these ministering angels have faithfully provided Home Based Care for “the least of these” as Jesus put it in his name. They are true heroes sometimes spending an entire day walking to and from the care of their patients. Their dedication is humbling and inspiring.

It’s an honour to partner with them.

Oct 1, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Many times over the years Kathy and I have visited remote African villages where our local church volunteers are compassionately providing home-based care (HBC) for afflicted and/or dying orphans and widows. In the dust, heat, and adversities of disease and soul stressing poverty, these indomitable volunteers provide the loving extension of Jesus’ hands to “the least of these”, as he put it. They are truly agents of healing and hope.

Many of them are widows themselves living on the edge. Some are living with HIV, their viral load managed by medication, and all are poor. But WOW, through our local champion pastors, makes sure they have food and medical care to enable them in their selfless work. WOW also provides bicycles enabling them to travel the long rutted roads to their patients in a third of the time it would take to walk.

I see them as ministering angels.

What has impressed and humbled us over and over these past 25 years is their total gratitude for our help. What’s more they see our support as a gift from God and they give him the glory with guileless child like enthusiasm. Even the elderly widows sing and dance for joy.

I’m always aware that our work is supported by the Lord and his people. It truly is a team effort. And we praise the Lord with our African brothers and sisters for his steadfast love and faithfulness.

Sept 17, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

One of WOW’s ministry countries is Malawi in Southern Africa. It is the 4th poorest nation in that massive continent. Like most other African nations, over 50% of the population is under 30 yrs of age. Under educated and under employed, this huge number of young adults are an explosion waiting to happen, especially now in that a general election is about to take place. During the last election hundreds of young adults demonstrated against what they saw as a rigged process with stone throwing, burning tires on the roadways, and threatening unwary drivers with violence. We were caught in one of those uprisings with our ministry team but escaped unharmed. Scary nonetheless.

Election tensions in combination with food shortages, electrical “brown outs”, ongoing HIV and AIDS crises, opportunistic diseases, a massive fuel shortage, and the stresses of ongoing poverty are some of the heavy burdens Malawians have to bear. Malawi is broken.

But there is hope. WOW’s champion partner “Somebody Cares” is lighting a candle in the darkness. Caring for thousands of orphans and widows in the name of Jesus they are without doubt “salt and light”. We’ve been working together for 23 years seamlessly and redemptively. Many of the young orphans we cared for two decades ago are now proactive young adults making a saving impact on the nation.

The scriptures say that the Lord knows them that are His. There’s no doubt that His known ones are present and hard at work bringing hope to “the least of these”. Malawi may be down but by God’s grace they’re not out.

Sept 03, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Without doubt Jesus captured the essence of the prophetic message of the Old Testament when he responded to a young lawyer’s inquiry: what does God expect of us? Jesus said, “Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31).

First of all, Jesus declares there is one God. This was/is light to the idolatrous nations surrounding Israel whose gods were numerous. Then he says that the love of God and of neighbor fulfills God’s expectation that we be both righteous and just. There is no call to religious fervour or legalistic dogma but a command that we love God and neighbor with our intellect (soul/mind), emotion (heart), and will (strength). These summarize all that God requires of us.

Sounds fairly succinct but it encompasses all of life. Indeed it engages us every day.

This is why in our ministry we stress both gospel teaching (Jim Cantelon Today TV) and gospel living (Working for Orphans & Widows). Righteousness and justice. It’s our mandate. By God’s grace we march to the beat of that heavenly drum.

July 23, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

In the gospel of Mark there is an interesting anecdote about children. Let me quote my comments on this passage from my book, Cantelon’s Casual Commentary:

Jesus had a high view of [children], as he did of women…Mark tells us about Jesus and the little children. He mentions that Jesus and the disciples were “in the house”. He doesn’t tell us whose it was or where it was. Regardless, a crowd gathered and began to press in with their children hoping Jesus “would place his hands on them” in order to bless them. The guard-dog disciples tried to push them back, but Jesus, “indignant” at his disciples and compassionate towards the children, opened his arms and said,” Let the little children come to me.” These youngsters were the ones to whom “the kingdom of God belongs.” He took each one in his arms and blessed them. I’d love to read the story of what those blessed children became.

[Then] Jesus gave another blunt teaching when he said,” anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Adult doubts, skepticism, and second thoughts can sabotage faith. Only those with the childlike capacity to throw oneself into Jesus’ arms, as it were, will ever enter into the Lord’s eternal presence. The guileless child has the imagination and trust to act on simple belief. “Jesus loves me? Great! I’m his.”

I remember this always as we at WOW minister to children at risk in Africa and India. The kingdom of heaven is theirs.

May 28, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I’ve been asked over the past 25 years why we do what we do with WOW. The short answer is that it’s clear from scripture that we should care for orphans and widows in their distress. The long answer is that one hears and obeys the Lord’s calling to service over one’s entire lifetime. Sometimes that “hearing and calling” comes via an “epiphany”. In a book I’m currently writing, I reference the Apostle Paul’s conversion from Saul, the rabidly anti-christian rabbi, to Paul, the first missionary to the Gentiles and author of most of the New Testament’s theology:
“Blinded by the intense heavenly light Saul fell from his horse and hitting the ground called out, ’What should I do Lord?’ In this immediate response Saul knew with whom he was dealing. This was his enemy, Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified and resurrected one, but he was enemy no more- now he was ‘Lord’. There is no explanation for this instant recognition of the Lord other than this encounter was both vision and epiphany, a manifestation of the divine. It was focused on the solitary Saul. The others with him ‘saw the light’ but did not hear the voice. It was the moment this single soul became a ‘witness unto all men’ of the deity of the risen Christ.”
So, vision in combination with calling can produce unexpected and life changing outcomes. One needs to hear and obey the heavenly voice.

January 08, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

The new year has come. Who knew we’d see 2025? I remember the prophets of doom warning that the 21st century might never come to pass. Now we’ve already lived a quarter century in this millennium. And, even though there are crises of magnitude everywhere, our world is still turning and there is hope. Nevertheless many of us saw/see room for improvement in our personal lives. Thus the ubiquitous “new years resolutions”, great intentions that soon are lost as we pick up where we left off in 2024.

Perhaps the proven words of the book of Proverbs might encourage us:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
(Prov. 3:5,6).

Ultimately our lives are in the Lord’s hands. We may have short term resolutions but He has long term plans for us. He is omniscient, provident, and sovereign. Better to put our trust in his lordship rather than our good intentions.

May your 2025 be blessed.

November 27, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

There’s a lot to be said in terms of this era of the internet in which we live. Information, communication, and interaction globally is literally at our fingertips, our computers and smartphones connecting us instantly to the world. Indeed no generation in history has been so connected.

The downside, of course, is that we’re also connected with a world in chaos with war, famine, and sorrow on sorrow. Little wonder we sometimes lie awake at night praying for peace.

I often turn to the Psalms where King David, who authored many of them, reached out to the Lord for comfort. Psalm 91 is one of my favorites:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers and under his wings you shall take refuge; his truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.”

These words are comfort in difficult days no?

October 30, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I think most of us have read of remarkable people who have accomplished a lot in the face of adversity. Usually that adversity is from without. But there are those who have battled challenges from both without and within.

I blogged last time about the adversity our WOW champions are facing in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and India. Drought in Africa, floods in India, food insecurity, disease, and huge gaps in the electrical grid in Zambia and Malawi, and on and on. All adversities from without.

But one of our champions is facing chronic adversity from within. He has come close to death twice in the last three years from major surgeries and massive blood clots, all the while suffering a tumour on his spine. He is in pain all the time.

Nevertheless he soldiers on, ministering to severely abused and abandoned orphans and providing care to 3000 desperately impoverished households. He oversees a paid and volunteer staff of 30 even as he gives loving time and care to his young family. He doesn’t complain. I’ve never heard him demand anything. He just trusts and obeys the Lord.

I’ve told him he reminds me of great saints of God who had every reason to yield to their afflictions but chose to stay faithful. They’re the subject of many books and even the occasional movie. We admire them. They are heroes.

I’m humbled by the calling, character, and tenacity of this WOW champion. He’s one of the key reasons I do my best to raise awareness and funding for WOW.

We’re working with saints.

October 16, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Kathy and I had no idea when we founded WOW 25 years ago that one day we’d be engaged with two of the five most needy counties in Sub Saharan Africa. Zambia and Malawi are in crisis with severe electricity and food shortages.

WOW has a significant footprint in both countries where we’re involved in the care of thousands of widows, orphans, and others at risk of starvation and/ or death from disease and opportunistic infections. With 2-3 hours of electricity a day, and sometimes none for a couple of days at a time Zambia especially is suffering. Malawi at least has hydro. Added to that is the doubling of food costs because of drought and crop failure. There is sorrow on every hand. Indeed the WHO says that 21 million children are potential victims of famine. The UN says, “Southern Africa is enduring its worst hunger crisis in decades due to El Niño.”

Rather than “curse the darkness” WOW continues to faithfully “light a candle”. It is daunting for sure but the faithfulness of compassionate donors is stemming the tide of sorrow for thousands.

We are so grateful for these friends who see their support as “the hands and feet of Jesus”. Together we’re ministering hope in a very dark place.