Lydie’s faith inspires legal advocacy for widows in West Africa

By Susan Akyeampong and Lydie | West Africa

SIM’s Dorcas Widows ministry is making a real difference in the lives of widows across West Africa, offering emotional, spiritual, and practical support. Their work is rooted in the belief that everyone matters deeply to God. While widows are often overlooked in their communities, Dorcas is there to remind them that they are seen, loved, and valued. Beyond meeting the practical needs of widows, Dorcas is working to create a lasting impact by supporting children of widows with scholarships so they can pursue careers that help others and their wider community. 

Lydie, a law student and scholarship recipient, had to put her studies on hold due to financial challenges. She is now however, able to return to school and is working toward her master’s degree in law. Guided by her faith and commitment to justice, Lydie is already putting her skills to work helping widows with legal needs.

In this Q&A, she opens up about her journey, her faith, and how God is guiding her life and career.

How has your Christian faith influenced your choice to study law, and how do you plan to use it to help widows?

At first, I thought that the law conflicted with my faith. Judges and lawyers pass judgments, which seemed to go against the teachings of the Bible.  

Matthew 7:1 says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged," and Matthew 7:2, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

I knew I wanted to be a lawyer but I had to make sure it aligned with my faith. I sought advice from my brother-in-law, a Pastor, and I thank God for the spiritual guidance he gave me.

He explained to me, through scripture, that we are justified by grace through Jesus Christ, our greatest advocate, who continues to intercede for us with the Father (Romans 5:8).

He also pointed out that in the Bible, God appointed judges to Israel to maintain order, and these judges were honored by God and the people. An example that stood out to me was Deborah, a woman who was both a prophetess and a judge in Israel.

Through these teachings, I found peace in my decision to study law. I realised that law is not against my faith, as some in my community had said. In fact, God is our advocate, and when he returns, he will judge us fairly.

My decision was also shaped by my personal experiences, particularly the hardships my mother faced after my father passed away. Due to her lack of education at the time, she couldn’t defend herself legally.

My father’s family rejected her and took everything from her, leaving her to raise us on her own. I grew up with a strong sense of justice, especially for my mother and us, the children left behind.

At Dorcas, we help widows in similar situations by providing legal advice and helping them get the representation they need to fight for their rights and the rights of their children.

Can you tell us about a time during your court experience that made you more committed to helping widows with your legal skills?

I noticed the Dorcas group leaders were concerned about some children who, sadly, had legal issues and had been sentenced. It has become far too common to see young children struggle and get into trouble after losing one or both parents.

They’re often not looked after by surviving family members, many of whom also end up in prison. It's heartbreaking.

So, whenever I meet with these children, I try, with the judge's support, to offer guidance and support.

How do you manage being a student, church leader, wife, and mother while working towards your goal of helping widows and Christians in Niger?

I thank the Lord for His grace, because without his help, I wouldn't be able to do all of this. I'm a student and, by God's grace, I passed my year with amazing results.

I'm also an apprentice choirmaster, and involved in both the women's and youth groups at church. On top of that, I'm a mother to a wonderful little girl, a wife, and a trainee at the Niamey Court of First Instance.

To achieve your goals, it's important to stay disciplined, organised, and strive for excellence in everything you do. For me, God's work remains a top priority, and he continues to help me meet my personal goals.

It's amazing, but I can honestly say I don't feel overwhelmed. I manage to coordinate everything, and when things do get hectic, I can always count on my mother and husband for support.

My support for the widows through Dorcas is still somewhat limited, but I hope to do more whenever the opportunity arises, whether through training, raising awareness, or helping women understand their rights.

What are your main hopes and goals for using your law degree and faith in your future work?

I hope to pass my bar exam and become a lawyer, while continuing to serve Jesus with the same zeal. I won't stop counselling the defendants I meet either, it's a way of evangelising.

As a lawyer, I’ll have the flexibility to work with a wide range of clients, companies, associations, and organisations. It’s important for me to achieve my professional goals, as I plan to pursue a doctorate in the coming years with God’s grace.

Through my career, I want to encourage orphan children, that while growing up as an orphan, especially in poverty, can be tough. However, they should dare to dream and strive to achieve their goals through hard work and faith in God.

Prayer

• - Prayer for the nation of Niger, that the Lord saves multitudes of people.
• - That the Lord further extends the ministry of Dorcas.
• - The salvation and future of the orphans of Dorcas in positions of responsibility.
• - The Salvation of the widows of Dorcas who have not yet accepted Christ.
• - Pray for Lydie so that she achieves her goals and that the Lord grants her work.