It was the late 1970s, and college professor Martha Pullen finally had a little girl. After four boys, Pullen was thrilled by the opportunity to resume the sewing she had enjoyed earlier in life.
“I had started out making clothes for my dolls when I was 5 years old and made all my clothes when I was poor and starving,” Pullen recalled. “I quit sewing when I was in graduate school. When I had Joanna, all I wanted to do was sew for her.”
As she found herself drawn more and more into heirloom sewing for her daughter, Pullen had no idea that her hobby would grow into an international business that would allow her to minister to thousands of women.
With five children at home, Pullen, now a member of Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, in Madison Baptist Association, found the commute to Athens State College (now Athens State University) and her job teaching teachers to be more than she could handle. Besides she was growing increasingly distracted by the resumption of her old hobby.
So Pullen quit her job and opened a small heirloom sewing shop in Huntsville.
From that, she built an empire that includes a nationally distributed magazine, more than 50 books, a newsletter that goes out to 26,000 people, a weekly television show and sewing schools all around the world.
Pullen sees her business as an opportunity to minister to people. Her magazine, Sew Beautiful, includes a “Dear Friends” page that gives Scripture and testimony of what the Lord is doing in her life. Her newsletter follows the same format of Scripture and personal testimony.
Pullen has taught sewing on six continents — sometimes teaching on missions trips and sometimes hosting sewing schools through her business. She also teaches through her television program, “Martha’s Sewing Room,” which airs in 79 percent of public television markets around the United States and Canada.
Although Pullen is not allowed to share her faith explicitly on the program, she is convinced that her message is getting through.
“Who you are and what you are comes through clearly. You don’t have to say a word about your faith. I prayed that God would let people see beyond the wonderful sewing that I love so much.”
But Pullen has not always been the vibrant Christian she is now. Soon after she opened her business more than 25 years ago, Pullen and her husband, Joe, were confronted with a startling truth.
“A dental patient announced to Joe, ‘If you die tonight, you’re going to hell.’ That’s pretty heavy. Joe was furious,” she said.
Both of the Pullens were puzzled. Didn’t they attend church regularly? In fact, she played the piano and taught Sunday School. How could someone say they were going to hell?
Less than 10 days later, Joe Pullen was on a train with a well-known oral surgeon who brought up the question of Christianity and shocked him by agreeing with the man who had warned that he was going to hell.
“He told Joe, ‘He’s right. If you have never invited Jesus into your heart, that’s exactly where you are going,’” Martha Pullen said.
For the duration of the train ride, the surgeon witnessed to Joe Pullen, who came home and told his wife they were going to a different church the following Sunday. She was not happy with the idea.
“He dragged me kicking and screaming,” she said.
That marked a turning point for both of them.
“For the first time in my life, I really heard about this precious Jesus. I invited Him into my heart, and that was the most exciting, absolute best day of my life. My life changed instantly that day,” she said.
Later the pair visited Whitesburg Baptist and felt immediately at home.
The Pullens have attended the church for almost 25 years.
Fellow Whitesburg bus ministry worker and friend Sally Walker described Martha Pullen as having “a heart for people.”
“She is generous and willing to do whatever. About a year ago, she knew we needed help in the bus ministry, and the next thing you know, she just showed up. She hugs on the people who come on the bus and lets them know they are loved,” Walker said.
Two years ago, Martha Pullen sold her sewing business to a Christian friend, Phyllis Hoffman of Hoffman Media in Birmingham. Hoffman took over the administrative side of the business, leaving Martha Pullen free to concentrate on the creative side.
Hoffman, a member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association, sings Pullen’s praises.
“Martha combines her faith in God with her extremely wonderful ideas,” she said. “She puts God first and shares her testimony everywhere she goes.”
Martha Pullen has also begun to find time to devote to the newest phase of her ministry — speaking at women’s conferences.
“God has been so faithful,” she said. “I am absolutely positive the only reason God has let me have this business is for His glory.”
Martha Pullen can be contacted for speaking engagements at painlesspullen@aol.com or 256-509-8105.
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