Quilts: Making Something from nothing
Abraham’s dependence on Jehovah was indeed special but even more unique was God’s promise to spread his faith to al the peoples around the world!
“… in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:3”
The world is on God’s heart and it his plan to bring blessing to those who have put their faith in Him. This same faith, the faith of Abraham, continues in many lives touched through the 70 years of ministry at the Virginia Beach Community Chapel. We share in the faith of Abraham and in the grace-filled redemptive plan and purposes of our faithful God. The thrill of sharing faith in Jesus with our friends in Hampton Roads and the joy of sending missionaries around the world with the Gospel has been our privilege and joy! This is the focus of our worship and thanksgiving this Fall. He is worthy of our praise—what a plan!
The introductory painting following was created by the Esperat and Southerland as a celebration of the faith of Abraham that is going into the whole world with the wonderful news of Gospel. It displays the connection between one man’s faith, our Father Abraham, and the unfolding and extension of God’s plan to bring renewal and hope to the world through the faith in Jesus Christ.
Artist Comments
I heard about the Lord at the age of 9 through my piano instructor, and then at 10 years old, I attended VBS at the Community Chapel. When Sonny and I were married we met with Dick and Ginny Woodward, and in 1970 I started coming to the church. I attended a Sunday School class with Don Gregory and he talked bout John 3:16, and he told the class to take out “world” and put their name in its place and that is when I understood the salvation message.
The first quilting class I attended was at the Chapel during a Wednesday morning Ladies Class. Frances Sennet and Phyllis Wright guided the class in the late 1980s. Most of the quilts I make are given as gifts or used as class samples. Maybe because my parents were children of the Great Depression era, we were taught not to waste anything; so, I can hardly throw away a scrap of fabric, and this is where many of my materials come from. John 6:12 states it well after Jesus fed the 5,000 — “now gather the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.” Recently, Crisis Pregnancy Center sent out a request for “baby boy” quilts. Finding a few unfinished tops, I decided to complete them and donate them to snuggle someone’s sweet baby boy in. This is my art and heart.
