Shine Sewing Project

This post is written by Chipo Changara. She is married to our Zimbabwe campus pastor, Dixon Changara. Chipo has fostered Sisterhood in Zimbabwe and oversees the women of all the Zimbabwe campuses. She also played a vital role in bringing Shine to Zimbabwe, which happened just this year in June!

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Shine conference 2008 in Jacksonville made a difference in the lives of women in Zimbabwe who live in a suburb called Sauerstown, Bulawayo.

Through the Love In Action initiative, the women at Celebration Church Jacksonville were able to raise enough money to buy 8 domestic sewing machines and 10 industrial sewing machines. They also raised funds to train 40 women in dress making.

Celebration Church has been feeding children since 2007 in the same location. The women in the community would take turns to cook for the children. They would volunteer of their time and come just to serve. The first 20 women who were trained came from these volunteers. They were chosen because of their faithfulness in cooking for the children.

It was such a joy to see these women graduating with a skill that would bring transformation to their lives.

During the training the women were taught how to make garments and also how to apply God’s word in their lives. The following scriptures became real to these ladies, Proverbs 12:24 says, “Diligent hands will rule,” and Proverbs 13:4 says, “The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

So, not only did they graduate with a skill, but they grew in their relationship with God as well.

The second group of 20 came from Celebration Church Zimbabwe. We picked women who were less fortunate than others; among these were widows and single mothers.

After the training, some of the ladies became part of the Shine Sewing Project. The project got its name from the Shine Conference where the funds for the machines and training had come from. Some of the products that the project is making include safari shirts, aprons, t-shirts, place mats, cushion covers, school uniforms, handbags and purses. God has indeed blessed the work of our hands as He says in Deuteronomy 28:12.

Our biggest market has been Shine Conference both in Jacksonville and Zimbabwe, teams who visit us from USA and schools. God has been opening doors for the women. A big door to supply uniforms has been opened through Child Sponsorship.

The women use the money they receive from the sewing project to provide for their families. They say in Zimbabwe, “If you empower a woman, you empower the whole family.” Now they can send their children to school, put food on the table and clothe their children.

And so we give a big thank you to Shine Jacksonville and Celebration Sisterhood.

Thank you Pastor Kerri!!!!

-Chipo

Friend Chipo on Facebook — Chipo Changara
Follow Chipo’s husband (Dixon) on Twitter — http://twitter.com/dixonchangara