Submitted by philip on
By Karen L. Willoughby, Managing Editor
[img_assist|nid=8176|title=Prayer Quilt|desc=Mary Ray, Betty Lloyd and Alice Dixon are among several women from New Hope Baptist Church in Elmer who sew, hand-tie and pray over each knot in every lap-size prayer quilt they make to comfort the afflicted.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=480]Elmer – Women from New Hope Baptist Church use their sewing skills as one way of ministering to people in their rural Rapides Parish community.
They also crochet caps “for anyone who needs them,” reports Debbie Merlan. Merlan is a social worker with Christus Cabrini Hospice, which has received several items from the women’s missions endeavors.
“We are so humbled by this church’s generosity and with the opportunity to present these to our patients,” Merlan wrote in an email to the Baptist Message. The daughter of a WMU director, she knows what New Hope Elmer’s women are doing is a testament to their commitment to be Jesus’ hands and feet and arms of service, Merlan wrote.
“In our visits to the home [of one of our patients] it was obvious that this church family is a missions-minded congregation,” Merlan wrote. “They also participate in missions activities in Mexico.”
On each quilt is sewn a message: “This quilt was made for you as an expression of Hope and Jesus’ Love for you. Each knot represents a prayer that was prayed for you. When life gets tough, wrap yourself in this quilt and remember you are covered with our prayers. WMU Ladies, New Hope Baptist Church, Elmer La.”