Prayer Quilt Ministry

News: HOKSBA
Saturday, September 1, 2007

On February 25th, 2007, several ladies from Arkansas City came to Newton to Immanuel Baptist Church to share about a ministry they have going in their church. As we sat and listened to these ladies share and watched the video they had to show, ideas of a new ministry at Immanuel began to grow. By the following Sunday, March 4th, we had requests for three quilts and our first one was completed and delivered on March 7th. Since that time we have completed and delivered 30 quilts. Many of the recipients are not connected to Immanuel other than by a friend and some of the recipients, prior to being contacted about a quilt, did not even know anyone from Immanuel.

So, what is a Prayer Quilt Ministry?

There are three basic rules for this ministry: first, you have to ask the recipient if they are willing to accept the quilt; second, the recipient must give specific prayer requests; and third, a prayer quilt may not be purchased.

We have ladies that meet twice a month to work on the quilts at the church, but a large part of the work is done in their homes between meetings. There are many different jobs to working with these quilts: washing the fabric, ironing, cutting, piecing, putting the batting and back on the quilt, putting the binding on, putting the ties in the quilt and putting on the label. And then the most important part is the prayer. Each quilt is brought before the church and the church is asked to pray for the recipient of the quilt. We have cards, listing the specific prayer requests, so that we can pray specifically for what the recipient has asked. As each person says a prayer for this person, they tie a knot in the quilt so we can tell the recipient these knots were tied with prayer.

This is a ministry that not only reaches out to those we give the quilt to but also it ministers to those working on the quilts. You do not need to be a lady to work with the quilt ministry. There are many areas the men can help if they are interested. Everyone in the church can be a part of this ministry whether it is doing one of the hands-on parts, giving financially for the materials or praying.

The quilt symbolizes that they are covered in prayer. We do not claim any magic from the quilts, all we promise the recipients is they have been prayed for and we will continue to pray for their specific needs.

If you think your church would be interested in starting a prayer quilt ministry, please contact Terena Ronan at Immanuel Baptist church 316-283-6200.