They go to those who feel invisible, show them God’s love through fellowship and encouragement and press a small, hand-stitched angel into each person’s hand as they say goodbye.
What started as four women from Iron City Baptist Church, Anniston, making lap blankets for the homebound in the church’s old fellowship hall in 2005 has grown into about 20 women and a few men meeting every Monday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the old Methodist church across the street. Iron City Baptist bought its Angel Mission Ministry (AMM) the building when it continued to grow and expand its ministry reach.
“My husband wants to say that we have a playhouse,” Joyce Vaughn said with a laugh. Vaughn was one of the founders of AMM. “But we are fellowshipping with God’s people.”
Some of the group’s most frequently visited places are nursing homes. AMM has ministered to almost every nursing home in the area, but the group doesn’t stop with the residents. The staff members and nurses also receive goodie bags, angels and whatever AMM members are handing out that particular day — acts of kindness that are appreciated because no one ever recognizes them, Vaughn said.
For Brenda Sevelius this aspect of AMM holds a special place in her heart. Sevelius’ mother was a recipient of several angels from AMM before passing away more than a year ago.
“My mother had been in a nursing home three years and I was in a loss,” Sevelius said.
“Joyce knew I was in a bad place” and asked her to come be a secretary for AMM. “This place has filled a void in my life,” she said.
One of Sevelius’ duties is to keep track of the birthdays of more than 90 shut-ins and make sure AMM sends a birthday card to each person.
Rosa Pickard, AMM member for eight years, said, “It’s very important to minister to those who can’t get out or the ones who are confined in a nursing home because they don’t have families and we try our best to make things and bring smiles on their birthdays and at Christmastime.”
Started by necessity
Pickard started sewing her daughter’s clothes out of necessity but has learned to love the skill that allows her to “bring cheer” to others.
But AMM isn’t just a ministry for those who can sew, stressed Sylvia Brooks, also one of the founders of the ministry. From organizational skills to a willingness to deliver angels and cards, AMM is always open to new faces and skillsets.
That’s why the group hosted an open house May 31 — “to get people to see what we do and we have,” Brooks said.
“We hoped to show people that we have places for them,” she said.
With Iron City’s support, AMM has made backpacks, dresses and quilts for children and families in the coal mining area of Lotts Creek, Ky.; lightweight blankets for people in Haiti; drain tube bags and heart-shaped pillows for breast cancer patients; dresses for girls in Swaziland, Africa; and the list goes on and on.
“When you start looking, there are so many needs,” Brooks said. “Ours is a ministry for encouragement … we try to uplift and encourage everyone that we can. That’s how we started out and that’s how we’ll continue.”
Share with others: