Rescuing Widows In Their Distress

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world — James 1:27 (Darby)

This is the second time I have used this verse as the basis for a WordJourney article, a habit I don’t usually make. But, given that it is critical for Christians to fully grasp what their role in this world is, I think it needs to be repeated. Frequently too.

Distressing News, But Glad That I Was Moved

Yesterday, while perusing my copy of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), I came across an article that truly distressed me. And you know what? I’m glad that it did.

In, “Older Borrowers, Out in the Cold,” the WSJ highlighted the travails of several senior citizens, each of whom lives in California, the state where the real estate crunch is at its worst. In the Golden State many homeowners are still facing foreclosure with tens of thousands having already lost their homes.

Yes, I am aware that some borrowers made foolish choices and purchased homes they clearly could not afford, but I also know that mortgage fraud has been uncovered across that state, indeed throughout the entire country. Especially notable is mortgage fraud that targets senior citizens who are often the most vulnerable to being ripped off.

Approved For Loans They Could Not Afford To Repay

In each case presented by the WSJ, senior borrowers were approved for loans, often with documentation that was forged or changed by the mortgage lender. In order to qualify for certain loans, lenders would misstate income levels or claim that borrowers had jobs when they were actually retired.

As a result of submitting false paperwork that was approved for new loans, homeowners soon found out that they owed much more on their homes than they had thought and, in many cases, weren’t able to meet their higher monthly payments. Soon, lenders began to foreclosure, forcing seniors to find other housing, losing one of their few worldly assets in the process.

Couple Befriended By Someone Through Church

One particularly distressing account featured an elderly couple who eventually lost their home because of someone they met at church. It turns out that this person was a friend of the couple’s pastor who directed the lender, Melissa Villegas, to them. The couple, John and Vernice Green, had thought that they had agreed to a reverse mortgage when, in fact, they were saddled with an adjustable rate loan that cost more than their original loan.

When their interest rate jumped from 6.25% to 11.4%, which increased their m0nthly payments by more than $1300 a month, the Greens defaulted on their loan. We later learn that Mrs. Green was cognitively impaired and couldn’t read the loan paperwork while Mr. Green was busy trying to take care of her, despite having two amputated feet. Neither one had finished school.

Home and Lives Lost

The Greens soon lost their home and Mr. Green was subsequently hospitalized, dying in February 2008.  Months later, an advocate for California seniors was able to get the loan rate reduced to 7% interest, but Mrs. Green died a few days later of kidney failure.

I don’t know the entire details of the Green case, but I was reminded of the following verse when I heard that they were robbed by someone within the church body:

They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment — Mark 12:40 (GWT)

According to the WSJ article, the pastor of the Greens’ church defended Ms. Villegas as a friend stating that “…the people who know the truth are me, Melissa and God…” While I’m not here to pass judgment on this pastor, his involvement in the matter is curious to say the least.

Looking Out For Widows

The verse in James I initially referenced speaks of both orphans and widows. Yes, I am familiar with the Biblical application of who a “real” widow is and what sort of help this person should receive from the church, but I can’t help think that we Christians can do our part by looking out for our elderly neighbors regardless of whether they attend our churches or not.

The most vulnerable among us are easy targets by the enemy of our souls whether they are young, old or incapacitated. I like to think that we Christians possess the fortitude to intercede on behalf of the afflicted, in prayer as well as in deed.

Photo Credit: Carol Garbiano

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