Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY018088A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:11 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn, 01:13 and we welcome you once again to 3ABN Today, 01:16 and we just always. 01:18 Please don't think that when we say this, 01:21 what I'm getting ready to say, 01:23 that this is rote because it's not, 01:25 we thank you from the bottom of our hearts 01:28 for your love, and your prayers, 01:30 and your financial support of 3ABN 01:33 because frankly, 01:34 we couldn't be ministering around the world 01:36 without you. 01:38 If you didn't partner with us, we couldn't afford to do this 01:42 and nobody would be blessed. 01:44 But I'm so excited about our special guest today 01:47 because this is something 01:49 I was explaining to one of the guests, 01:53 she's been here several times before, 01:55 that you do so many interviews, 01:57 you don't always remember the story, 01:59 as you meet somebody for about 15 minutes, 02:02 and you think, "I'll never forget that story," 02:04 but you do. 02:06 Her ministry is one that was so unique 02:09 that it really did touch my heart, 02:12 and it's going to touch yours, 02:14 and I remembered it as soon as I saw her, 02:16 I remembered dear Barbara Neher. 02:20 Barbara, we're so glad you're back again. 02:22 Well, I'm glad to have you as my interviewer too. 02:25 Oh, well... 02:26 We've made some good friends here. 02:28 Yes, and you're a very special lady, 02:31 you're the National Director for It's My Very Own. 02:34 Yes. 02:36 And we're going to explain actually in a nutshell 02:40 what you do is provide a bag for children 02:46 who, you know, get opioid crisis is so bad, 02:53 and what happens is when people find, 02:56 and we had it here in our own area recently 03:00 where somebody had a meth lab in their home 03:03 and DCS and the police show up, 03:05 and here you are in the middle of the night 03:07 grabbing some little child away from their parents. 03:11 And this is the only security, they know, 03:14 and they are being taken away with strangers. 03:17 Well, It's My Very Own provides a bag, 03:20 and it's not just any bag and a homemade quilt, 03:23 and all kinds of goodies that we'll tell you about. 03:25 And it has some very far reach... 03:29 It has a far-reaching impact... Yes, it does. 03:31 And so we're very excited about that. 03:34 But you've brought someone else special with you this time. 03:37 And this is Susan Schnell's first time at 3ABN. 03:42 And you're the International Director 03:45 for It's My Very Own. 03:46 Yes. 03:48 How long have you been serving in that position? 03:50 Since February but... 03:52 Okay. Yes. 03:53 All right, so we are very excited 03:55 to hear this story. 03:57 And they've got some amazing personal stories 04:00 just how the Lord has led. 04:02 I know you will be blessed by this interview 04:05 so please stay with us. 04:07 But first, we have a special friend of mine. 04:09 And I love her, she's from Australia, 04:12 she's a sweet, sweet sister in the Lord. 04:15 And I love her voice, her name is Sandra Entermann. 04:19 I don't know if you know her. 04:21 The first time I heard her sing, 04:24 she controls her vibrato, 04:26 there is no vibrato to the very end, 04:29 and then all of a sudden it comes in like a slow wave, 04:33 and it's just beautiful but when she sings, 04:37 she sings from the heart 04:39 because she has such a close relationship with the Lord. 04:43 And she is going to sing for us "That's The Day." 05:06 There are burdens that I carry every day 05:14 Sometimes they make me want to cry 05:22 Hopeless feelings hobbled deep inside my heart 05:28 And I find it hard to hold my head up high 05:37 But in the middle of the darkness in my life 05:45 I find the strength to carry on 05:52 'Cause I'm holding to a promise Jesus made 05:59 And I know it won't be long till we'll be gone 06:08 In a while we'll be gone 06:15 And we won't have to cry anymore 06:24 All our sorrows left behind 06:32 That's the day that I am waiting for 06:40 And that's the day that I am longing for 06:52 And if you feel there is no meaning in life 07:00 And it seems you've lost your way 07:08 Listen closely to the voices deep inside 07:14 And remember what the Savior has to say 07:23 In a while we'll be gone 07:30 We won't have to cry anymore 07:39 All our sorrows are left behind 07:47 That's the day that I am waiting for 07:55 And that's the day that I am longing for 08:14 Jesus comes to take me home 08:26 You know, we just want 08:27 to thank Sandra Entermann so much 08:29 and that was Kristie Sipec that was singing with her 08:32 and they're dear friends and wonderful Christian women. 08:37 Well, if you are just joining us a little late, 08:40 our special guests today 08:41 are Barbara Neher and Susan Schnell, 08:44 and they have an amazing ministry. 08:47 But before we jump off into the story of the ministry, 08:51 tell us a little bit about you. 08:54 Barbara, did you grow up in a Christian home? 08:56 Actually I did. 08:59 But when I was 18, I married out of the church 09:04 and walked away, I wasn't mad at God, 09:06 I wasn't mad at anything in the church, 09:09 I just married out of the faith. 09:11 And my father tried to talk me out of it, 09:14 and he told me what would happen, 09:16 and he was right, everything he said, 09:18 that's what I did. 09:20 And it took me over 40 years to come back, but here I am. 09:24 Amen. 09:25 And when you came back, 09:29 what was it in your personal life 09:33 that got you interested in helping children, 09:37 particularly children, who are, 09:41 I guess you could say whose parents are drug addicts? 09:45 Well, my youngest daughter was into drugs 09:50 for better than 25 years. 09:53 She wanted to out, she tried, and I tried to help her, 09:57 but she just couldn't do it. 10:01 And she had children, 10:02 and we did take the children from her 10:06 not on a permanent basis but just to help her 10:09 get her act together. 10:12 It's two little boys, right? 10:14 Then later on, she had two more, 10:17 the two little boys. 10:19 At this time, she was so involved into the drugs 10:23 that the entire time that she was pregnant, 10:27 she was drugged, 10:28 and when the baby was born he was addicted to drugs. 10:33 And it has a lasting effect on the baby. 10:36 Yes, it does. 10:37 And the Child Protective Services 10:41 removed the children from her, 10:44 and they gave her 18 months to get her act together, 10:48 and she could have the children back. 10:51 But she wouldn't even show up, and she apologized to me later, 10:55 she says, "I am so sorry 10:57 that I chose the drugs over my children." 11:01 And it wasn't long after, we got the children 11:07 that we had to argue with the Child Protective Services 11:11 in the state that she was in 11:12 because they didn't want to adopt them out of the state. 11:18 And I told them, I said, 11:19 "I don't care what your rules are, 11:21 they're my grandchildren, and I want them." 11:24 And so they eventually saw it my way, 11:27 and they allowed us to bring the children down, 11:31 and the father signed the children away, 11:35 and my daughter was able to legally adopt them. 11:38 And six months after that I was watching... 11:43 While I was actually working at the computer, 11:45 and I had the TV on 11:47 and listening to the 10 o'clock news, 11:50 and this news anchor came on and she was talking about, 11:56 I wasn't paying any attention, 11:57 you know, how you're listening, but you're not, 12:00 and she mentioned 'meth orphans' 12:03 and that got my attention immediately, 12:05 and I turned, and I looked at that, 12:06 and I started listening. 12:08 And it was a drug bust. 12:11 And I was watching it, 12:14 they were taking the parents out in handcuffs, 12:18 and the reporter went over to the window, 12:21 the children were still in the house. 12:24 Terrified? 12:25 Terrified. They were just sobbing. 12:27 I mean, they weren't just crying or screaming, 12:29 they were sobbing and that hit me really hard. 12:34 And I had told Jack, I said, "You know, 12:37 there should be something that can be done." 12:40 And the amazing thing is 12:44 that the Lord was starting to work on my heart. 12:49 Just before that I had been praying, 12:51 "Lord, I want to work for You, 12:53 but I don't know what You want me to do." 12:55 And that's when the idea for the bags happened. 13:02 And my daughter called me, my oldest daughter, 13:05 and she says, "Mom, 13:08 I just had this idea what we should do." 13:12 At the very same time, well, I had called her, 13:15 but she was going to call me, 13:17 and this is how it actually started growing, 13:23 and this was like at Thanksgiving time, 13:29 and it was amazing, 13:34 we sat down, we put it together, 13:37 we had prayed, 13:38 and the results is what you see here. 13:43 We immediately went out 13:44 and started buying toys and such 13:47 that were on sale because that's after, 13:49 you know, Thanksgiving, and so on. 13:53 So let me just stop for just a second 13:55 because we're kind of dancing around this. 13:57 The idea was to, you know, 14:01 you will see these little children 14:04 when they are being ripped apart from their parents, 14:07 parents being taken off in handcuffs, 14:09 and often these little kids they grab maybe a garbage bag 14:15 and put something in the garbage bag, 14:17 and the little children are being taken away 14:19 without anything. 14:21 And so what they've done here... 14:24 I'm going to grab this one. 14:26 But what this ministry does is 14:30 since they don't have a suitcase, 14:32 you make them a really pretty bag to carry. 14:35 Yes. 14:37 And I love this one over here for the little boy 14:39 if we can get a shot of that one. 14:41 But you make a bag and in this bag, 14:46 to me the most amazing thing, is a handmade quilt. 14:50 Yes. 14:51 And so you sew and make a handmade quilt. 14:55 You can see here, 14:57 we've got the contents of one of the bags here. 15:00 And this is such a cute one, 15:02 this is E is for elephant, G is for giraffe, 15:06 got the little matching pillow, 15:07 and this is for age three and under, right? 15:09 Yes. 15:11 And you have a hedgehog, a hedgehog book, you've got... 15:16 Tell us all you've got the... 15:18 We have pacifiers, we put a bottle in, 15:21 and a sippy cup depending on what they need, 15:24 and we put toys, a few little toys, 15:27 and then hygiene products or personal care items, 15:30 toothbrush, a brush for their hair, 15:33 and so, you know, the baby wash, and baby lotion. 15:37 Now, actually 15:41 what did DCF tell you about these bags 15:45 and as far as making it easier to place? 15:48 Well, one caseworker told me, 15:50 she said, "I would not have had 15:52 a successful placement for this child 15:54 if it wasn't for your bags." 15:55 She said, "Because you covered all the bases 15:58 we had no supplies, 16:00 and the foster care parents didn't have any either." 16:04 And she said, "You covered all the bases with this, 16:07 and we were able to have 16:09 a successful placement for a child." 16:11 And, you know, you think about something so simple, 16:13 I remember the story that you told 16:15 from the very first time you were here, Barbara, 16:18 or the first time I interviewed you at least. 16:21 You told the story of a little boy 16:23 who was holding on to his bag 16:26 in the back of the police car and feeling around, 16:29 reaching the pocket, what happened? 16:32 Well, he was actually 12 years old, 16:35 and he and his sister had been removed, 16:37 and they were taking him to their foster home, 16:40 and he was hugging the bag, 16:42 and he was feeling in the front, 16:44 where the pocket is, where the personal care is, 16:46 and he reached into it and he pulled out a toothbrush, 16:49 and he says, "Oh, great, I got my own toothbrush, 16:52 I don't have to share anymore." 16:54 Oh! 16:55 See, we just can't even imagine what these children go through 16:59 but this is so precious. 17:02 Especially, the quilts, 17:04 tell us how these quilts are made? 17:09 Okay, this was what the Lord required. 17:15 When I asked Him, you know, I wanted to do something, 17:18 and when He started laying this out, 17:21 He laid it out, this isn't our own idea. 17:24 And He just asked, 17:26 "What do you have in your hands?" 17:28 Well, I had a lot of fabric, I used to teach sewing, 17:32 and I had a fabric store, and so I had a lot of fabric. 17:35 And I said, "That's what I have." 17:38 He says, "We'll start there." 17:40 And I said, "But I don't know how to make quilts." 17:43 Well, He says, "You have a book." 17:44 And He told me exactly where to find it. 17:47 And we had moved so much, I had no idea where was that, 17:51 and I went there and there it was, 17:53 and it was this pattern. 17:56 And so I went and started digging fabrics out to do it, 18:02 but He said that He wanted quilts, 18:04 we could use fleece, but they don't have the love. 18:09 When these quilts are made as we're putting it together, 18:12 we obviously don't ever get to see the children, 18:16 but you're thinking about the child 18:18 that's going to receive that quilt. 18:20 And there is love in that quilt, 18:22 there's prayers in that quilt, 18:24 and it shows when they get it, they see the love 18:27 and that somebody really does care for me. 18:31 Amen. 18:33 And so that is the important thing, 18:36 to me, is that quilt. 18:38 And I always put it in the bottom of the bag 18:41 because that's where the prize is. 18:44 Yes. 18:45 And they pull that out, they're not meant for bedding, 18:48 they are a comfort blanket. 18:51 And when they're picked up, 18:53 a lot of times they don't have a foster home ready for them, 18:57 and they take them to the office, 18:58 and there they're left sitting, 18:59 you know, while the adults are running around 19:02 doing other stuff, and they're terrified. 19:04 Surely. 19:06 But they have this bag, 19:07 and it's just the right size for them 19:08 to bring it up around them and to take the bear. 19:13 Yeah. 19:15 We always put a large stuffed animal in there, 19:16 and it gives them something to hold 19:19 and to listen to them, it listens to their problems, 19:22 they cry into it, it's their new best friend. 19:26 And with that blanket and that large stuffed animal, 19:29 it comforts them, 19:31 and they generally will go to sleep 19:32 until they're taken and put where they need to be. 19:36 Please share the story 19:37 that you shared with me, previously, 19:39 about the little girl who was found in the closet? 19:44 That one breaks my heart. 19:46 It's really hard to tell that story 19:50 because you can't imagine 19:52 people treating their children this way. 19:55 But they did a drug bust on this home, 19:59 and it was filth, it always is filth, 20:03 and they thought they had everything, 20:05 and they heard a baby crying, and the baby was in the closet, 20:11 and it had nothing, 20:13 it was just laying in the closet 20:14 like so much garbage. 20:16 And it had been so battered and abused, 20:20 they had slapped her around... 20:22 It's a little girl? 20:24 It's a little girl, she was about 13 months old. 20:26 And her hearing was affected and her eyesight was affected. 20:31 And whenever they touch her she'd start screaming. 20:34 And one of the caseworkers 20:37 had one of these bags in her trunk, 20:40 and she went and got the quilt out of there 20:43 and brought it in and wrapped the baby up in it 20:46 and soon as she was wrapped up in the blanket 20:48 she stopped crying. 20:50 When they got her to the hospital, 20:52 they took the blanket away, 20:54 you know, 'cause they needed to examine her, 20:55 and she just started screaming again. 20:57 So the doctor asked them to bring the blanket in. 21:00 As soon as that blanket touched her, 21:02 she stopped crying, 21:04 and they were able to work with her. 21:06 And he said, 21:07 "That blanket goes with that baby 21:09 every place she goes." 21:14 I'm just given a thumbnail of the whole thing, 21:16 you can get the full story online 21:19 on our website. 21:22 It's called the 'Blanket Story' 21:24 and this was down in Texas that this took place. 21:27 And it just... 21:30 I always know when Jack is reading that story 21:33 because I hear him sniffing. 21:35 Yeah. 21:36 Because it is one that just really, 21:38 it breaks your heart. 21:40 It is heartbreaking to think about 21:41 how these children are abused and neglected. 21:45 But no matter, how abused and neglected a child might be, 21:50 it is a traumatic thing to be separated 21:52 from their familiarity of their parents. 21:55 Yes. 21:57 I mean, kids are going to love their parents 21:58 one way or the other. 21:59 So when a little child is separated and suddenly, 22:04 probably has never had anything this nice 22:07 to have their very own bag, 22:09 a handmade quilt, that's been prayed over, 22:13 as you said, it's just a comfort for them 22:16 to put around their shoulders or on their lap, 22:19 have some a new best friend, a teddy bear or these things, 22:24 and the personal products that they need. 22:27 That is so special. 22:29 Now I want to... 22:32 We want to, Susan, get you in on her. 22:34 But first, before, you tell how you join this. 22:38 Give us a little background on Susan Schnell. 22:41 I can say it Susan Schnell. How did you grow up? 22:45 Did you grow up in a Christian home? 22:46 I did. I grew up... 22:48 Actually, my... Sorry. 22:51 My father was a pastor, 22:53 so I grew up in an Adventist church. 22:55 You're a PK. Yes, I am a PK. 22:57 And we moved around a lot, but and then, 23:01 I met my husband at Union College, 23:05 and he was a theology student, so I married a pastor as well. 23:12 So you went from one pastor to another... 23:14 That's right. 23:15 Pastor's home to another pastor's home. 23:17 That's right. Yes. 23:18 So how did you become involved? 23:22 How did you even learn about this ministry? 23:24 Well, I learned about it initially at a women's retreat, 23:28 Barbara was there, and she was one of the people 23:31 that they interviewed about her ministry. 23:35 And originally, I thought what a great ministry, 23:38 but I don't know how to sew. 23:40 And so I just sort of put it behind me 23:42 and didn't really think much about it 23:44 because I thought, 23:45 "Oh, I can't really do anything with that." 23:48 And then it wasn't long after I moved to Maine, 23:50 and one of our members of our church there was... 23:55 She had a chapter, and she was doing this program. 23:58 And so I started buying toys for the bags 24:01 and started helping her put some of the bags together. 24:05 And so that's initially how I got involved, 24:08 and I was just so excited about it. 24:10 And then we moved again, moved to Tennessee, 24:13 and there I was talking with one of our church members, 24:16 and she was telling about how she sewed 24:18 and different things, and I thought, 24:20 "You know, this can be a good partnership, 24:23 I don't know how to sew, but I can work with her, 24:27 and we can start a chapter here." 24:31 So she and I started the chapter there, 24:34 we served seven counties, 24:36 we still, she still is, I've moved again, 24:39 but she still is serving seven counties there. 24:41 Praise God. Yes. 24:42 And so, you know, with that partnership, 24:46 so I had the organizational skills, 24:49 and I was able to do some speaking 24:51 to Kiwanis Clubs and different civic groups 24:56 to raise some funds, 24:58 and so I did that part of it, and she sewed the quilts. 25:01 Amen. 25:02 And we also worked with quilting guilds as well, 25:06 and they provided us with quilts also. 25:10 So it's a nice outreach, not just for the children, 25:14 although that's our main focus, 25:16 but also for other people to become involved. 25:20 Community involvement. Yes. Absolutely. 25:22 So obviously, 25:24 you began this ministry in 2004, Barbara, 25:27 when God gave you 25:29 and your daughter simultaneously the same idea... 25:30 Yes, it's awesome. 25:32 And that's a lot of years that you put into this. 25:37 But it didn't just stop with you... 25:40 No. 25:41 I'm going to have to put down to her. 25:43 I want to hold on to me, isn't that funny, 25:45 even as an adult we do that. 25:47 But it didn't just stop with you 25:50 is what I should say. 25:51 No. 25:53 It was a God idea, 25:54 He planted the seeds within your heart, 25:56 but then you began sharing about this. 25:59 How many states now have It's My Very Own chapters? 26:06 Well, the last count we had was 42 States, 26:10 but I must add that 3ABN is responsible for this as well 26:17 because after our first interview, 26:21 I'll tell you people have huge hearts, 26:25 and they care about children 26:28 and don't like to see them abused, 26:31 and this did hit home on a lot of people, 26:36 and the phone began to ring, 26:38 and it kept me really busy for a while 26:42 after the interview. 26:44 And it was so touching to hear that people call, 26:49 and they would give me 26:50 a bit of a life story on their own 26:54 and why they wanted to do it, and how could they do it. 26:58 And that was my part to play in it. 27:01 And so I've had the privilege 27:04 of talking to almost every one of these people. 27:07 And the way the Lord has set it up 27:11 is that each person that signs this up 27:14 and a chapter started 27:16 that's an individual, they do not answer, 27:19 you know, to lack of a better word, 27:23 the head office. 27:24 I don't like that but anyway 27:25 that's the only way I can explain it. 27:29 They have to do their own fundraising, 27:32 they go out and do everything themselves, 27:34 they get into the community. 27:37 And we had the most delightful experience 27:40 when we first did it, 27:43 the Lord was pulling us through, 27:44 you know, all you have to do 27:46 is just hang on to His shirttail, 27:47 and He'll take you where He wants you. 27:49 Amen. 27:50 And there was a community meeting 27:53 that they had once a month, 27:55 and it was all the different organizations 27:57 would come together, 27:59 and they would tell what they were doing, 28:00 and they always invited a speaker. 28:03 And so I heard about all this, and so I invited myself, 28:08 and asked them if they needed somebody to speak, 28:11 and they said, "Oh, yes." 28:13 Well, then I went with my display. 28:15 And the one thing I did and that was another thing 28:19 that was whispered in my ear by the Lord, 28:22 He said, "Get the news. 28:23 Get a newspaper reporter in there," which I did. 28:28 And the newspaper reporter was so engrossed in this 28:34 and so taken by it 28:38 that when she gave her report in the newspaper, 28:41 we only have a once a week newspaper in our town, 28:45 and I got better than three-fourths of a page 28:49 in the newspaper 28:51 talking about this with telephone number 28:54 and all of the necessary information. 28:59 And our town just opened their hearts up, 29:04 and I was getting all kinds of donations 29:07 of things like this. 29:09 I mean, we kind of depend on our community 29:13 to keep us supplied, 29:15 none of this is bought, 29:17 it's all supplied from our community, 29:22 and there were people volunteering to do things 29:25 because they realized the necessity. 29:28 And the beautiful part about having it, 29:32 the chapters being separate 29:34 is because they can say 29:36 all of the things that are donated, 29:39 any monies that are donated 29:41 goes right back into the community 29:43 to the children 29:45 that nobody in that chapter gets anything out of it. 29:48 It's all volunteered. Amen. 29:50 And it's just amazing how people respond. 29:53 And that's why, I say, 29:55 "I have seen people open their hearts up so wide." 29:59 And it's a real delight to work for the Lord, I'll tell you. 30:04 Amen. It is. 30:05 But, you know, I have to say this, 30:07 it is simplistic in nature 30:11 as far as starting a ministry, 30:15 it is such a simple sweet idea, yet it has such an impact. 30:21 And I think the fact that 30:24 as these quilts are being handmade, 30:28 they're being prayed over every stitch, 30:31 and the little child to whom this is going, 30:33 they're thinking about that. 30:35 And so when that blanket, 30:38 when a child wraps that blanket around them, 30:40 it's just like those prayers are there with them. 30:43 Now I love your story, Susan, when you said, 30:48 you heard Barbara tell this moving story, 30:51 and you think, "That's a wonderful ministry, 30:52 but I don't sew." 30:54 See, this is something 30:55 that we all have to realize is that 30:58 sometimes you see something, and you think, 31:00 "Oh, I can't do that," but go ahead and ask, 31:03 "What can I do, Lord, to help that ministry," 31:05 because the synergy when God brings people together 31:10 who have organization, one can sew, one can organize, 31:14 or one can go out and speak, this is what it's all about. 31:17 Yes. Right? 31:18 Yeah. 31:19 So when you began a chapter, 31:22 was there a manual for you to go by, 31:24 tell us a little more about how chapters can begin? 31:28 Okay. Yes, there is a manual. 31:30 Barbara developed this manual early on, 31:33 it's an amazing piece of work actually that she did, 31:37 and she describes, you know, everything step by step 31:41 of how to start a group, 31:42 she also has quilt patterns in there, 31:46 and step-by-step how to make a quilt, 31:49 how to make the bag, and sew, 31:51 and that can be found on our website at IMVO.org. 31:55 IMVO, It's My Very Own. 31:58 Correct. Yes. Okay. 31:59 And so the manual is on the website, 32:01 and it can be downloaded. 32:03 So that describes, you know, really everything 32:06 that you need to know to how to do it. 32:08 And there's also forms on the website, 32:11 thank you notes, letters for the child, 32:14 many things are on the website 32:16 that you can just download and start your program. 32:18 So how do you... What do you do? 32:20 Just go to DCSF and say, "Hey, I want..." 32:24 And that's the Department 32:25 of Child Protective Services, right? 32:28 Just say, "We want to provide bags 32:31 for your social workers to take out 32:33 so that the children have something." 32:34 How do you make that connection? 32:36 It's actually best to take a bag with you, 32:38 have a demonstration bag because they can't resist that. 32:42 Sure. 32:44 So, but, yes, you just go 'cause I found, I tried calling 32:47 and trying to get an appointment, 32:48 it just doesn't work. 32:50 So I just walked in and took a number 32:52 and sat until they called my number 32:54 and asked to speak with the social worker, 32:57 and I had my bag with me and described it to them. 33:01 And, you know, they just can't turn you down. 33:04 So it's such a wonderful program 33:06 because it's completely freeded them, 33:09 it's made so easy for them, 33:12 and it gives them a chance to have something 33:15 to give to a child 33:17 that is under traumatic circumstance. 33:19 And how do you this? 33:21 Because, obviously, 33:22 it's a little different for boys, 33:24 a little different for girls, you've got various age ranges, 33:27 you've mentioned the 12-year-old boy 33:28 who was so excited about his toothbrush, 33:31 but also the little baby 33:33 that needed the comfort of the quilt. 33:35 Yes. 33:36 Do you tell us how that system works? 33:39 We do have several categories of age groups. 33:43 So we have 0 to 3, 4 to 7, 33:47 8 to 12, and 13 to 17, 33:50 and sometimes, some groups do an infant by themselves 33:54 rather than 0 to 3. 33:55 But there's many ways you can do it, 33:58 but we have all these different categories and gender. 34:01 We do some for girls in those categories 34:04 and some for boys. 34:05 Amen and amen. 34:07 Now you said that our sweet Susan here 34:13 came to you straight from the Lord, 34:15 tell us the story of how Susan got connected 34:18 because... 34:20 Do you want to say your age? 34:22 I don't mind. You don't mind at all. 34:24 You're 81 years old. Yes. 34:26 So you knew that it was kind of the Lord was impressing you 34:29 with your husband's health, 34:31 and Jack is a handful, I'm going to tell you. 34:36 He's a sweetheart, but he is so cute. 34:39 So your husband isn't in the best health, 34:43 and you realized, 34:44 it's time to kind of pass the baton to someone else, 34:49 but you were dragging your feet. 34:50 Tell us how Susan came to you? 34:52 Well, we hadn't even asked the Lord, 34:55 you know, what to do, 34:57 He knows everything, you know that. 34:58 Absolutely. And we were talking about it. 35:01 And I said, "You know, we need freshness," 35:06 because I felt that the view 35:11 was getting old like me. 35:14 And we needed... 35:16 We needed some fresh ideas, and I did not want to... 35:20 I wanted to stop because of all these reasons, 35:24 but I didn't want to just stop it and forget it 35:28 because it isn't my ministry, it's God's. 35:31 Amen. 35:33 And I wanted somebody in there that would be committed, 35:37 and it mean as much to her or him, I didn't specify, 35:43 that's what we were hoping for. 35:46 Well, you couldn't just put an ad out there 35:48 and say, "I need somebody that can answer to this." 35:50 Who wants to volunteer and do this? 35:51 And so we were talking about it, 35:54 and the Lord decided that we were talking too long 35:57 and no action so, he says, "Get a grip and let's do it." 36:01 And right at the same time, as this was going on, 36:06 Susan sends me an email wanting to buy a manual 36:10 because she was going to start a chapter, 36:14 and then she just put a little almost PS on it, 36:17 you know, "If you ever need any spokesperson, 36:20 well, I'd be glad to do it." 36:22 And when I read that, I said, "Aha!" 36:26 The Lord says, "She's your girl." 36:30 She'd put her phone number on there, 36:32 so I called her up. 36:34 And I'm a bottom-liner, I don't beat around the bush, 36:38 and I offered her the job but she wasn't thinking that. 36:43 And I said, "Well, you talk it over with your husband, 36:46 and if you are in agreement, then let's talk." 36:51 And it wasn't about an hour or two later, 36:54 and she calls me, and she says, 36:55 "Well, I think I'd like to do it." 36:58 Amen. And so it's really... 37:03 I was very pleased, and I have no qualms 37:07 about passing the baton on to her 37:10 because it is His, and I wanted it to continue 37:14 the way He laid it out. 37:16 And she is doing, she's following right along 37:19 with what the Lord laid out, 37:21 and it's like having a child, you know, 37:25 and some more grandchildren. 37:28 But it does have an effect, 37:31 the outreach possibilities is so marvelous 37:36 because you can go to these different ones like, 37:39 now she mentioned the quilters guild, 37:41 if you don't sew, that's a good place 37:44 to find people that do. 37:46 And you tell them all about it, and the word spreads. 37:51 And if you present it in just the right way, 37:55 you have quilts made for you indefinitely. 37:59 And so God is, like I say, He is awesome. 38:04 And it's something that when we think 38:08 about the impact this is making, 38:12 God knew He couldn't just let go of this, 38:16 and He needed somebody, as you said with fresh ideas, 38:20 so when Susan came aboard, 38:23 she started doing some new things. 38:25 And you actually, your son, you updated the website 38:29 and there were so many things 38:31 that were being renewed if you will. 38:36 But this thing fascinates me because it's such a simple idea 38:40 on every bag they now put a postcard, 38:45 and on the back of this, it says, 38:46 this is from this bag, the boy, 38:48 infant to three years old. 38:50 Tell us what is the purpose of this stamped postcard? 38:55 Well, we just found that so many times 38:58 when we would deliver the bags, we would not hear from DCFS, 39:05 and we didn't know when to replace the bags. 39:10 And we would call, 39:12 and it was hard to get a hold of people, 39:13 and so I finally thought, 39:15 "You know, we need to make this easy." 39:17 And so we came up with this idea of the postcard 39:20 that we put it on the bag 39:23 and when they give the bag to the child, 39:25 they take the postcard off, 39:27 and they just stick it in the mail. 39:29 And so then we get it in the mail, 39:31 and we know exactly which bag to replace. 39:35 Amen. Well, I know after your... 39:38 I think you're second time here. 39:40 Now you've actually got... 39:44 Barbara is the National Director, 39:46 but Susan is the International Director 39:49 so that tells us this ministry 39:51 has reached beyond the United States. 39:56 What countries are you in now? 39:58 In Canada, in Australia, and New Zealand. 40:01 Okay. 40:03 Actually, there are some more too, 40:04 but they haven't been really active, 40:08 but the interest is there. 40:10 Good. 40:11 And sometimes, you can't just... 40:14 The manual isn't in their language 40:17 which makes that... 40:19 But we do have a Spanish manual 40:23 so that those that are Spanish-speaking people, 40:27 it's this exact manual. 40:30 Excuse me, and it was translated, 40:33 this is interesting, 40:34 another thing that God has done, 40:37 we were at an ASI meeting, 40:41 and I think it was down in Dallas, 40:46 I think it's when it was, but anyway, 40:48 this woman came up to me, and she had a booth, 40:52 but it was with a school on the border, 40:55 a church school, and she took that with her 41:00 and that was part of their lesson 41:03 was to translate the manual into Spanish. 41:07 Praise God. 41:09 And so we have it in Spanish 41:11 as well as in American language. 41:14 Amen. 41:15 And, you know, I'm going to say this, 41:18 it sounds strange, but it's bittersweet 41:20 that the ministry is growing as rapidly as it is, 41:24 it's bitter because the drug problem 41:27 is just pervasive around the world, 41:30 it doesn't matter, 41:31 it crosses all socioeconomic borders, 41:35 it doesn't matter the culture, 41:37 we're just seeing that it is just such a tragedy. 41:42 But what happens to the little babies 41:45 is really horrid. 41:47 And thank you for being willing to accept the baton. 41:53 So tell us a little about 41:57 how can people become involved? 42:01 What are you looking for? 42:02 There's many ways 42:04 that people can become involved. 42:06 One way is to look up and see 42:08 if there is a chapter in their area, 42:10 you can look it up on the website. 42:12 And It's My Very Own is the name of the ministry. 42:16 Yes. And it's IMVO.org. 42:20 Correct. Okay. 42:21 So they can look up online 42:23 and see if there's one in their local area, 42:25 and if so, they can ask how they can participate. 42:29 You know, they can donate items for the bags, 42:32 they can help put the bags together, 42:35 they can sew quilts if they know how to sew 42:37 or sew bags. 42:39 If not, if there's not a one in their area, 42:42 chapter in their area, they can start a chapter. 42:46 Amen, amen. 42:47 And that's a very precious thing to think about. 42:50 Now how difficult is it to start a chapter? 42:53 It's really not difficult at all 42:55 because you really just have to get a few people 42:59 that are willing to help you, and find someone to sew, 43:03 as we've talked about before but... 43:06 Find someone who doesn't mind speaking 43:08 at different civic events. 43:09 Find someone who doesn't mind speaking. 43:11 And, you know, there's also some things 43:14 people can send thank you notes 43:16 for people that have donated, 43:18 there's just a lot of things that they can do. 43:20 But it's not hard to start, you just gather the materials 43:24 and so... 43:26 You're actually 43:27 in your third different location from Maine, 43:30 to Florida, to Georgia now, right? 43:32 Yes. 43:33 And it's just something 43:36 that this is part of your DNA now, isn't that? 43:38 Yeah, it really is. I love it. 43:40 How has it changed you? 43:45 I think just... 43:47 I often would see with the opioid crisis, 43:52 and I'd see things about children 43:54 that are being neglected and abused, 43:56 and I didn't know how could I help, 43:58 it just seems so overwhelming, such a big problem. 44:00 Yes, yes. 44:02 But with this, once I got involved with this, 44:05 I thought, "This is a way, 44:07 this is a very practical but very impactful way 44:13 to help in this situation." 44:15 So it just has changed me 44:17 because it allows me to do something for the Lord 44:21 and to do something for these children. 44:23 You know, that's one thing. 44:24 And, Barbara, I know, 44:25 you and I've been around a while, we can say this, 44:28 people are looking for something. 44:31 You know, we hear it all the time, 44:32 my husband tells me every day, 44:34 he works in the pastoral department, 44:36 and on the way home, I'll say, "Well, honey, 44:38 what good calls did you have today," 44:40 and we will pray about the prayer requests that, 44:43 you know, we'll talk about it, and then we'll pray again. 44:46 But he often says, 44:48 "People are wanting to become involved, 44:50 they're looking for a ministry, 44:52 they're looking for a purpose in their life." 44:55 And you don't have to be a quilter, 44:57 you don't have to be a seamstress, 44:59 Susan can't sew a lick. 45:02 It's true. 45:04 But you can get involved and, 45:07 you know, what impresses me about this, 45:10 not only are you doing something 45:13 extremely meaningful for the child 45:17 but what a great way to introduce your church 45:21 to people in the community. 45:23 Exactly. 45:24 I mean, because this is the type of project 45:27 that can be interdenominational, 45:30 that people would jump aboard, 45:32 but they can get to know you as a Christian. 45:36 I just think it's amazing, and I'm very excited about it. 45:40 You know, I just wanted to add about the simplicity 45:42 of the sewing part. 45:46 My husband, when we started this, 45:48 he sewed all the bags, he even got his own fabric, 45:53 chose everything, he sewed them, 45:56 he did them all, and they were top quality. 46:00 And so... 46:01 See, Jack's just full of surprises. 46:05 Well, I gave him, you know, his option, I said, "Honey," 46:10 I said, "I can't do it all by myself, 46:12 I'm going to need some help." 46:14 I said, "I'll give you a choice, 46:16 you can either sew the bags or the quilts." 46:19 And all he did was just looked at me 46:21 walked out of the room, 46:23 and I thought, "Well, okay, 46:24 I'll go ahead and do it myself." 46:26 And he comes back and, he says, 46:27 "How hard will it be to make the bags?" 46:30 And from that moment on, 46:32 I showed him how to use the machine... 46:34 Well, yeah, how to use the machine, 46:36 the measurements, and all of that, 46:38 and I can't begin to tell you 46:40 how many bags this man has sewn. 46:43 Praise God. 46:44 So you don't have to be a woman to be involved in this, 46:47 anybody can become involved. 46:50 Amen, amen. 46:51 And then what all is featured on your website? 46:57 It's still in progress. 46:58 But we do have, we have the story, 47:01 some of the stories and testimonials 47:03 about how these bags have been impactful to children. 47:09 We also, as we said, we have the manual, 47:11 we have some forms that people can use, 47:16 the logo is new, we have a new logo 47:20 since we've transitioned to the new website. 47:21 It's beautiful. 47:23 So we have the logo on there that people can use 47:25 in their own the brochures and that sort of thing. 47:29 The brochures are also on there as well 47:32 if people want to download a brochure, 47:34 and then they can edit it 47:35 to put their own chapter information on their, 47:39 contact information. 47:41 And I guess... 47:46 It's a turnkey operation is what you're saying. 47:48 It really is. 47:50 You've got this source of information 47:52 that you can go to. 47:53 And what we want to do right now is that, 47:55 I know we've got your address, 47:59 your web address on an address roll, 48:02 and we want you... 48:04 I just really believe that there are so many, 48:07 not just one, but there are so many people 48:10 who are saying, "I can do this, I can be part of this." 48:14 Or you may not sew, but you think, 48:17 "I know someone who can sew, I can call them about this." 48:21 And they don't even have to be a church member, 48:24 you can find other people, this is the kind of thing 48:27 that anybody that's got a heart 48:30 wants to help these little babies. 48:31 So here's how you can get in touch 48:34 with Barbara or Susan. 48:37 Children removed from their home 48:39 due to parental drug abuse and neglect 48:42 are often left with nothing. 48:44 And volunteers with It's My Very Own 48:47 try to make their lives a little brighter 48:50 with Bags of Love to care for their immediate needs. 48:53 To support their ministry, visit IMVO.org. 48:59 That's IMVO.org. 49:03 You may also call area code 423-408-3142 49:09 or write to It's My Very Own, 400 Hunt Club Road, 49:15 Saint Mary's, Georgia 31558. 49:22 That's amazing. 49:23 During the address roll, Barbara was telling me 49:26 how great this is as an icebreaker 49:29 with other Christians in other churches. 49:32 We're Seventh-day Adventist Christians, 49:34 what is your experience been? 49:36 Well, we've got, like I say, chapters all over the place, 49:41 and we are glad to take on 49:46 the different denominations to be a part of it 49:51 because we have had so much support 49:54 from the different places. 49:57 I just have to say this, at one church, 50:03 the kids wanted to have a ministry that they could do, 50:06 so it was the kids that were doing this 50:09 but, of course, you know, 50:10 parents always have to be involved, 50:12 and they decided to have a bake sale. 50:15 And the bake sale went like all bake sales, 50:18 only half a dozen people bring stuff 50:21 and there you are, and that's the amount. 50:24 Well, they were so interested in this ministry, 50:27 and the children being so interested, 50:31 one guy paid $50 for a cookie. 50:34 Oh, how precious. 50:35 And, I mean, that's the way it went, 50:36 they just donated, you know? 50:39 And I got the shock of my life, 50:42 the kids presented me the monies, 50:46 and when I looked at that check, 50:48 I almost lost my teeth, it was over $800. 50:53 Oh, praise God. That is amazing. 50:56 And, I mean, everybody has the heart 50:58 to help these children. 51:00 Amen. We're all children of God. 51:03 And you've had the opportunity 51:04 to go speak at many other 51:06 different denominations to share this. 51:07 Yes, I have. 51:08 But how important is it, everything that we see here 51:11 is top quality. 51:12 We see that everything is wrapped, 51:15 it's new, 51:17 how important is it 51:18 that things that go into this bag are special? 51:22 I always tell when a new chapter 51:24 is wanting to start up, 51:26 I always tell them that it's so important 51:28 that you put new things in, 51:31 these children probably have never had anything new. 51:35 So put new things in and not to put anything in 51:39 that you wouldn't give to your own children. 51:41 Okay. You want it to be very special. 51:43 This isn't running down at the dollar store 51:45 and getting the 10 for 1. 51:47 Right. 51:49 You want to have something that that they will know 51:52 that they are very special. 51:54 And kind of lift their self-esteem. 51:55 Yes. 51:57 You told us about one young man, 52:00 who, this was so special to him, 52:03 what did he do with his quilt? 52:04 He actually took and kept his quilt 52:08 and took his quilt to college with him. 52:11 Isn't that precious? 52:13 That tells you that the impact that that quilt had. 52:16 And if we had time, she's been telling me stories 52:19 about one little girl that ran away 52:21 from the foster care home, 52:22 and when they picked her up, 52:24 she had her stuffed animal and her quilt with her. 52:25 Yes. 52:27 Because that's It's My Very Own 52:28 that's how special it was to her. 52:30 Well, we've got to do a news break, 52:32 and then we're going to come back in just a moment 52:35 to have a final thought with Barbara and Susan. |
Revised 2023-10-10