By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
PERRY HALL, Md.—New Day Church member Donna Marshall loves to sew. Her grandmother, mother and aunt passed on their sewing heritage to Donna, who offered her talents to God. Marshall started “Sew the Word,” a ministry that is now sponsored by New Day.
Sew the Word
Once a month over 25 ladies, from New Day and White Marsh Church, their friends and others in the community meet at White Marsh Church where they fellowship, pray and sew pillows and quilts for children at hospitals, cancer patients and others who just need some comfort.
Marshall began the program seven years ago with a few friends.
“I felt God leading me to do it. Sewing is my gift,” she said.
The ladies began by making hats and scarves and giving them to the homeless in the fall. God blessed and more women became involved and the program expanded. Marshall, the voice recognition administrator/transcription supervisor in the Imaging Department at Franklin Square Hospital, where New Day Church meets on Sundays, saw a need for sewing pillows for hospitalized children and was pleased at the children and their families’ responses when they received them. Now the ladies give away 50 pillows each month. They also make quilts for cancer patients and others who “just need comfort,” Marshall said.
Nurses working with Marshall began wanting to get involved and soon many of them joined the sewing group. Some of the ladies began bringing friends. The ministry has grown through word of mouth.
“We begin with a devotional time and prayer. If people have given away a quilt they let us know about the person who got it. We also read cards from those who have sent them to us,” Marshall explained. The group also asks God to bless their hands and use them for His glory and they pray for the past and future recipients of the pillows and quilts.
New Day supports the ministry. Local businesses have also donated money and supplies.
The group has a website that tells about the ministry, its projects and meetings and about New Day Church. One of the links is titled; “Do you ever wonder about life and death?” that tells the plan of salvation.
“It’s definitely a seed-planting ministry,” Marshall said. Many women who are participating and have no church affiliation are beginning to attend churches. Some who have been away are coming back and others are getting more involved in ministry. The ladies also enjoy time to chat and relax with other women. Some ladies bring their children and the kids help stuff the pillows.
Marshall invites anyone who wants to be involved to come to the meetings.
“If you can use scissors you can help,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ll teach you the rest.”
She’s also willing to show churches how to begin their own Sew the Word ministry.
For more information, see http://sewtheword.org or email Marshall, info@sewtheword.org.