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Teaching sewing skills and the gospel
Immanuel Chapel's members used their talents to develop a ministry for their local community...
Beverly Easterling has always had a knack for sewing, and her friends often had encouraged her to make sewing a part of her career. However Beverly felt that the Lord was calling her to give her talents for His work and as she said, “Sewing was my talent.”
Beverly is a long-time member of Immanuel Chapel, a church that serves a diverse economic community in Largo, Fla. While the outlying areas of the county are predominately affluent, Immanuel Chapel is located in a more underprivileged area made up of several mobile home parks and low-income housing.
In the spring of 2001, Beverly and another member of Immanuel Chapel decided to use their talent to develop a ministry for their local community. Using the skills and systems from a local consulting organization, Magic Fit Patterns, the two began the first “Sewing Hope” class that September, seeking students within their church as well as in the community.
The class meets two times a week and runs year-round. Each class is designed to allow students to work at their own pace, which makes the class accessible to a variety of people.
Originally, the purpose of the ministry was to provide a skill for young mothers so they would be able to work from home. But as it has grown the ministry has taken on many more purposes. Besides young mothers, Beverly said that she has had several people with disabilities attend her class. To someone who is disabled, “learning a skill like sewing can offer a lot of hope,” Beverly said.
In addition, Sewing Hope has attracted businessmen and women who come because their job is stressful, and the sewing classes offer an opportunity to relax and learn something productive.
The church allocates space for sewing equipment and opens its doors to everyone in the community. The congregation and generous individuals have purchased sewing machines and other equipment. The ministry has also received donations of used machines, as well as financial grants to help support the ministry.
Classes can hold up to eight people at a time, and require the assistance of Beverly along with another volunteer. Instead of being taught in a lecture style, the classes are self-directed, and students help each other along. Beverly often will model different steps along the way, but most of the time she is just there for support.
“I get to be a counselor,” she said.
The classes offer a therapeutic and peaceful environment for students. They also create a sense of community and allow the opportunity for open discussion about life and faith. Beverly said she has noticed that some students come just to have other people to talk to.
While many students attend the class for the emotional support, there is a fiscal opportunity that is created with acquiring the sewing skills from the class. Some students have used their skills to create an income.
One of the first students to attend was a young immigrant from Vietnam. She has since used her skills to open a bridal shop in the area.
Beverly noted that this model of ministry has been spread throughout the world. She has had the opportunity to teach women sewing skills in both Ecuador and Vietnam, and has assisted others in initiating a similar model to communities in Sudan. She said the impact of this type of ministry offers hope to people from all cultures and walks of life.
Church Information:
Immanuel Chapel
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