WWW arkcity.net

Photo by Donita Clausen click image to enlarge

Quilt ministry warms bodies and souls

By ANGEL PERRYMAN
Traveler Correspondent

A small group of ladies from a local church have been making a big difference in some people's lives that really need it. People suffering from illness, parents who have lost a child, soldiers, and recently even college students have been blessed by a simple gift that's covered in prayers.

The First Baptist Church at 220 E. Central has been the home of a "Prayers and Squares" chapter for over a year now.

"Prayers and Squares" is an interfaith outreach ministry that makes prayer quilts for people who are experiencing either a physical, spiritual, or emotional crisis in their lives.

Pam Broce is credited for bringing the program to her church. In June 2006. She had sought a way to be a blessing and to provide her a forum to share her faith with others.

A short time later, her mother brought her an article about "Prayers and Squares" and Pam felt as if this was the answer to her prayer.

She approached the congregation with the idea and they began making quilts a short time later.There are only two rules or guidelines that are followed in deciding who receives a quilt. First, the person who will be receiving the quilt must be asked ahead of time. No surprises. The second guideline is that the receivers are asked what specifically they would like the prayers to be for.

After hearing from the recipient the ladies present the quilt and prayer request information to church members who in turn say a prayer as they tie a knot in the strings of the quilt. They are quick to point out that their motto is, "It's not about the quilt, it's about the prayers." Broce said "the quilt is just a tangible sign of prayer."

Their ministry is supported entirely on donations. The ladies attending this weeks session said they have had so much given to them that the church built them large new cabinets to keep all their scraps and supplies in. Church members and others have donated fabric, ironing boards, and sewing machines.

The quilting group meets every Thursday at 1 and 6:30 pm. On the second Thursday of the month they meet at 6:30 only, and conduct a small business meeting before they begin to quilt.

The group has presented 61 quilts to date, and will be presenting four more during the next two Sundays. The ladies would like to invite the public to a fall event at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 20 at the church which will be followed by a chicken and noodle dinner.

Above: Donna Reynolds of Winfield, and Arkansas City residents JoAnn Baker and Phyllis Bradfield work on a quilt pattern called "Heavenly Psalms." They make the quilts to give to people who are sick or otherwise suffering.