Piece by piece, author Donna Partow is seeking to build a fabric of peaceful relations between Christian and Muslim women.
Partow first felt God's call to open the eyes of Christian women to the needs of their Muslin sisters on a trip to Haran, Turkey. It was from this very city that Abraham set out by faith, not knowing where God would lead.
"We are all women," said Partow, who is the bestselling author of numerous books, including Let Your Life Count.
"We have families we love and need to care for. When our families suffer, we suffer. The tears of a Muslim woman are the same tears we shed. We hope that by creating opportunities for Christian and Muslim women to connect, simply as women, we can promote understanding one woman at a time."
Now Partow has launched Pieces4Peace, a ministry that collects fabric donations for use in development projects in Muslim-majority countries around the world.
The Lydia Project identifies existing skills and trains women to share abilities with each other to raise the standard of living for people in a region of North Africa.
An old-fashioned quilting bee allows an opportunity for women to come together as women, to fulfill their emotional need for connection while creating something beautiful and generating additional income.
Another project, known informally as Garbage City Girls, trains young girls who have spent their entire lives in the city garbage dump. The girls learn to sew and create unique clothing and decor from pieces of material-old ties, discarded clothes, fabric scraps, etc. These handmade pieces are then sold in a unique retail shop created by the project directors.
"The Garbage City project, of course, can use old clothes...but the girls are thrilled not to have to sort through garbage to obtain their fabric," said Partow.
Partow and her husband recently delivered 400 pounds of fabric to North Africa and their daughter spent the summer working at the largest Christian orphanage in the Middle East.
"Our children have really caught the vision for this," said Partow. "We've been greatly encouraged by the number of individuals and churches getting on board, but of course, we want to see it grow. Even the postal workers are supportive when the boxes of fabric come in from all over the United States-once we explain what it's all about!"
For details on the fabric being sought and where to send the donations, visit www.donnapartow.com/pieces4peace.
Partow's latest book is Becoming a Vessel of God's Power (WaterBrook Press, July 17, 2007).
Drawing on Scripture, church history, personal and contemporary examples, this month-long program-also suitable for weekly group study-guides readers through spiritual disciplines that lead to a richer experience of the power of God.
Including a leader's guide and cards to copy or cut-out with key verses and principles sentences, Becoming a Vessel of God's Power invites readers to know the life-changing power that only God can give.
Partow is also a compelling speaker, touching women around the world with her uncommon transparency and passion for Christ. She and her family live near Phoenix, Arizona.
By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service