SCRIPTURE QUILT MINISTRY
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” …NAS
After many years of failing health, Jackie May’s husband Larry, was called home to be with the Lord on February 5, 2012. After much prayer regarding her future, Jackie felt the Lord calling her to an encouragement ministry to people who were experiencing serious health and other difficult life issues. Having been the recipient of several quilts made by a friend during her families’ health struggles, Jackie was led to begin making and giving the quilts herself.
In the fall of 2012, Jackie and a group of her friends from The Fellowship at MacDonald Ranch started the Scripture Quilt Ministry under the direction of two quilting instructors, meeting in her home twice a month. This has since grown to involve up to 28 ladies from 4 different churches. Currently most of the ladies meet in the fellowship hall at Green Valley Baptist Church but some even work at home. To date, some 625 quilts have been made and distributed by the quilt ministry to various locations here at home and at locations around the United States and as far away as Thailand. Jackie has many stories to share about how the quilts have been a wonderful source of comfort to the recipients.
The fabrication of the quilts is quite an endeavor. The material, all of which is donated remnants, some large and small and even some bolts of material from a generous donation by Walmart, is first ironed and cut into appropriate sized pieces. Using light boxes, bible verses are traced on white squares. Many squares are then organized into a particular design, attached to a backing with a batting in between. The quilt is finished with top stitching and a border.
Jackie reports there has never been a shortage of material, funds or friends for the assembly line and sadly there has been no shortage of people who need the encouragement of the gifted quilt.
As the quilt ministry begins its seventh year, please join the group in prayer for those who receive the quilts and for the ongoing need for supplies for many new quilts. The Lord has so far met the needs of the ministry so abundantly…. Praise The Lord! Posted December of 2018
It is our sad duty to report that shortly after the above article was written, Jackie May was called home to be with the Lord. Mercifully, she passed quickly on January 11th, 2019. What a wonderful tribute that the quilt ministry will endure and continue to provide comfort to many more individuals in the future. Even now, I can imagine Jackie enjoying many heavenly conversations with those who were recipients of the scripture quilts; those who were led to calm waters through the reading of verses they were directed to by the quilt.
