Teresa Sewing Center Graduation!
We’re living in very exciting times in the building of God’s glorious kingdom!
If you’re connected to pioneer missions, it is a time of great harvest! After a lifetime of sowing, watering, and managing, we are witnessing what Jesus spoke about to His disciples, “the fields are white unto harvest.”
The Lord, in His grace and mercy, has kept us alive and well to witness the fruits of our labors over the years. Programs started in faith, such as Teresa’s Sewing Centers in Pakistan, now bearing, “MUCH FRUIT” John 15:8.
In the beginning, it was just an idea—a vision we wrote down. We opened our first center in Pakistan one year after we started our “Set the Captives FREE” Program, not knowing that these centers would be used by God in such a significant way.
Our first slave family was set free in December 2014, and our first graduation was in December 2015. This marks the tenth anniversary of the Teresa Sewing Centers.
The Teresa Sewing Centers program has been featured in newspapers across the nation, receiving commendations from government leaders.
Our mission is to help women who have been in Brickmaker prisons to find honor and dignity in their lives and a vocation trade for life.
Most of these women were born in prison and have lived lives filled with toil, agony, and disgrace. When we set them free, many hang their heads in shame for various reasons. Some are victims of sex slavery, while others are widows, fatherless, or brotherless because family members lost their lives defending them.
However, the Teresa Sewing Center offers new hope, fellowship, and a vocational skill for life.
These ladies are proudly wearing the clothes that they made in class!
From making bricks under the brick master’s rule, to making beautiful garments for the glory of God!
Teresa and I were up all night celebrating the graduation of our 27 NEW graduates.
Over 80% of our ladies secure jobs making pillows in their homes even before graduation. What made this graduation particularly special was that Teresa met with the women in Pakistan just months ago. She spent significant time with them, and when she got online for the graduation, they were all very happy to see her. The live stream was crystal clear, one of the finest broadcasts we’ve ever had.
Our graduation ceremony included a message from Teresa, followed by the awarding of certificates and sewing machines.
For the first time in their lives, these women were honored. It was moving for me to watch as tears fell when I thought about how they have been treated in the past, and now they are happy and recognized.
My mind often goes back to when we first saw them in prison and later just after their release, leading up to this graduation. It’s a miracle of God’s grace. Please pray for us as we work on plans to expand the Teresa Sewing Centers in Pakistan.
The photos below are ladies from Brick Kiln #24. They were released from prison in June of 2024. We were able to visit them in October. Now they are businesswomen!
The Teresa Sewing Centers are in need of your prayers.
We want to expand, as many former slave women desire to learn the art of sewing, giving them a vocational trade for life.
For ten years, we kept the cost at $100 per student covering the cost of one sewing machine at graduation.
Current costs will now cover training as we pay our two sewing instructors at two locations full time wages.
$100 extra for four months, per student helps with the little overhead we currently have. We are also seeking to add more classes.
Still the costs are basically the cost of a meal for a family and friends at an average restaurant.
$200 is a bargain for the gift that keeps on giving!
We urgently need your help as we are currently adding new ladies as we write.
These precious ones, abused all their lives, are NOW FREE! They had a dream to be a seamstress at the Teresa Sewing Center. Please make it possible for them. We have 40 women currently ready to start.
The ladies at the Teresa Sewing Centers have provided 7,000-10,000 garments each year for the children and families at the Brickmaker Prisons!
