Congratulations and Celebrations

Congratulations and Celebrations

These go to the Leesburg Baptist Community Church Evangeline Ministries class of July 2011. Eleven women received their sewing machines, Bibles and certificates in what was the best class since Evangeline Ministries began this skills ministry in 2006. The sewing machines for this class were donated by the Leesburg Baptist Community Church in Virginia. Almost all of these ladies excelled in the English, Computer and Sewing classes they did for the past six months. They danced and sang and could not stop showing just how happy they were when they received their awards. They twirled and posed in their stunning outfits and I was impressed that one woman made a three piece suit rather than a traditional dress. I noted too that for the first time some of the husbands attended and this is a breakthrough since, in the past, it was rare to find one who had come to support his wife . Our speaker for the packed out graduation ceremony was Bishop Eric Pike, born in the Eastern Cape, former home of all of these ladies. He urged them to remember at all times and in all circumstances that they are "made in the image of God." This too is my prayer because everything around these women tell them the opposite and believing this will make all the difference in their ability to succeed.

The next step now is for them to find work , either generated by EM or themselves. Already one friend of mine has contracted with one of the women to have her do the computer work for her business and sew things to sell . We need so many more like her. I am also encouraged that people are calling constantly asking about EM's graduates for work, and however small the start, we are so thankful for this business for these ladies. We move on now to the next class that will graduate in December and we will build on all the things we have learned in this class to do even better in the days ahead.