Quilting as Ministry

One of the most fulfilling things I've done as a quilter, is head our church Prayer Quilt Ministry for the last ten years. We are a small congregation in a rural area (it's a Town, not a City), but we have been able to create and bless and deliver over 520 quilts to people who need a little more prayer in their lives. We may not know the trials they are going through...we often do not know the people who receive our quilts. The quilts have gone out to many states across the country; requested by someone who did know their need.

One recipient draped her quilt over herself in her hospital bed. Her own church was so impressed that a church she had never been to, and people she had never met, were all praying for her recovery. They decided right then and there to start their own prayer quilt ministry.

It is a great joy to teach the ladies in how to construct the quilts, as many of them were not quilters in the first place. Great praying people, those ladies are, but they needed a little instruction in construction!

I discovered that most of them are rather scared of the rotary cutter, so I cut kits for them out the boxes of donated fabric. That kicked up their enthusiasm! They get to pick the kit of their choice and get right down to the sewing.

Our quilts are tied with yarn, with the ties left rather long. As each prayer is said for the person, a knot is tied. When they receive their quilts, they can place them across their lap, and are literally covered in prayer. How can that not warm the heart of the most needy person. Yes, I am blessed to be a part of this wonderful ministry.