Prayer Warrior celebrates her 100th birthday

Lena Maud Wisdom, a founding member of the New Testament Church of God (NTCG) in Stafford, recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

The centenarian, described as a prayer warrior by many, attended three events to celebrate this landmark birthday: a special church service; a community celebration; and a separate celebration with family.

Lena is excited about being 100. She said: “I feel good. And I’m just giving God thanks for letting me reach this age.”

She believes it’s God’s grace on her life that has enabled her to live so long. “I trust God, I give Him thanks and praise all the time, and I don’t have any wicked ways in my heart. If I see a sinner, I love them; if they are hungry, I feed them; and I have no wicked ways in my heart to say I don’t like this one or that.”

Although she gets support from carers, Lena retains her independence and still cooks for herself.

Over the years Lena has served her church in many capacities. She supported the Sunday school; cleaned venues where the congregation met for worship; hosted students from NTCG’s Ebenezer Bible school; and provided hospitality for pastors who visited the church. The NTCG UK’s first National Overseer, Rev Dr Oliver A Lyseight and his wife, Rose, became her lifelong friends.

Born in Jamaica to a Christian family, Lena is the third of seven children. By the time she was 14, both parents had died, and she went to live with her aunt and cousins in Kingston, where she washed and ironed clothes for a living. She also had her first child, Roy. She met her husband, Roger Wisdom, at a funeral and they were married in 1957. He died in 1995.

Lena followed 15 months later, because missing him so much had affected her health. They settled in Stafford, where Lena has remained, even following her husband’s death.

Lena has five children, 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Lena became a Christian after her husband Roger had surrendered his life to Christ in his bedroom. Roger came to Britain in the 1960s.

She remains determined to continue serving her Lord until He calls her home.