Sewing Seeds of God’s Love
Sheila Speight
Sherry Bartlett
After sharing the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said, “Go and do likewise”. This is the mission statement of Samaritan’s Purse; to follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel. This is the Ministry of Sewing Seeds.
Sewing Seeds of God’s Love is a ministry to sew and provide clothing for children in need around the world, which is distributed by Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission Teams, located in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
Shirley Marsh, an extraordinary woman from Land Harbor, North Carolina, founded Sewing Seeds of God’s Love on January 7, 2019. Following the specifications of Samaritan’s Purse, Shirley designed patterns and guidelines to make simple dresses and shorts. Shirley established monthly workshops at the Land Harbor Activity Center. There, she grew the ministry into a productive, ministry-sponsored organization.
Amazingly, we were introduced to this ministry through a series of God-ordained circumstances.
We were invited to the workshop in Land Harbor on May 12, 2022. We met some of the ladies, and we sewed our first dress. Approximately three months later, the Ministry of Sewing Seeds was transferred to us, due to Shirley’s health issues.
Our home church, Bear Creek Baptist Church in Ledger, North Carolina, became the main location for our sewing workshops, storage for supplies, and the collection of children’s clothing which are sewn by our members.
We were so excited to present this wonderful ministry to our church. By the next week, donations were coming in abundantly, including colorful buttons, thread, ribbon, and cotton fabric. Shortly afterward, we received seven new and three gently used sewing machines.
Wes Brewer, a local owner of a jeans factory, heard about the sewing ministry. He contacted us and asked if he could donate denim and cotton fabric. We gladly accepted! Our God does not make plans that just so happen!
The Holy Spirit nudged; people listened and obeyed.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20
Our first workshop was held August 15, 2022. As the 15 ladies arrived, the workshop came alive with the hum of sewing machines and ringing laughter as we came together for one purpose…to pray as we sewed. We prayed that each child would feel the love of Jesus and respond to the Good News, which is presented to them by Samaritan’s Purse, to become a child of God.
As the medical teams treat the children’s physical needs, they offer a dress or shorts to them.
We believe with all our hearts that each garment will go to just the right child for whom we sewed and prayed, from the time we cut out the dresses and shorts until we ironed and folded the finished offering to take to the Samaritan’s Purse warehouse.
Sewing Seed’s monthly workshops are held on the second Saturday from 10a to 12p and the third Tuesday from 10a to 12p, followed by lunch and devotion. We have recently added an after-school and beginner’s workshop from 3 to 5p, followed by the evening workshop, from 6 to 8p.
There are many tasks to do other than sewing, such as cutting patterns for garments, cutting fabric for sewing kits, and matching tee shirts with shorts. The most fun is the day we size the garments and pack them for delivery.
Sewing Seeds also provides a sewing opportunity for the residents of Never2Scarred/Hope House, a local substance abuse recovery ministry. This has been one of the greatest forms of outreach of our ministry. The girls not only learn to sew but develop Basic Life Skills, taught by Carolyn McKinney. Their accomplishments are a way to give back to others in need.
It isn’t all about Sewing Seeds of God’s Love; it is about Sowing Seeds of God’s Love.
We now have over 40 members. We have sewn and delivered over 1600 articles of clothing to Samaritan’s Purse since August 2022 to be dispersed to needy children around the world.
In addition to Mitchell County, we also have members from Avery, Burke, Watauga, and Yancey Counties, along with Erwin, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Florida.
Please join our band of Sewing Seed’s Sisters for a workshop at Bear Creek Baptist Church.
Bear Creek Baptist Church…a little church, in a little rural area, became a small hub of an international ministry.
“And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40
Sherry Bartlett (sherrybartlett@icloud.com) 828-766-5916
Sheila Speight (sheila.speight14@gmail.com) 828-385-0501
