In the last year, Women’s Bible Study has partnered with Warm Streets to help deliver baskets to women moving out of Miriam’s House in Lynchburg. The baskets offer a way to provide necessities while also sharing Christ’s love.

Here are four stories of how God has used this ministry:

Barbara Lofland
Our lady's name is Anita. When we arrived, Sue Deveney carried the basket and I had the broom. Anita was thrilled to get a broom. Her apartment was neat and clean, however, she didn't have much.

I told her we were not there to get into her personal business. We were the hands and feet of Jesus and just wanted to bless her with something she may need. We got a list of some things she may needed. One was a bed, as she was sleeping on an air mattress that would lose air during the night.

We prayed with her before leaving. She had a Bible from Miriam's House and daily devotionals she was reading. We left blessed that she was so nice and appreciated our visit.

I thought a lot about the broom and how happy she got. I use a broom and don't even think about it. God was using this to show me I needed to appreciate what He has given me.

I shared the experience with our small group. They wound up donating money for a microwave and some other ladies provided a bed, a coffee maker and a crock pot.

I called Anita and set up a time for our next visit and to deliver the bed. She had no idea we had a microwave, when she saw it she let out a scream. She was thrilled.

This started out as a Welcome Basket delivery, but it has turned out as a God story. Not just how we can see His hand in the whole thing but how He is changing me. I am learning to appreciate His blessings on me more and more each day. Especially not to take the little things, like a broom, for granted.

I set out to deliver a basket, but I am the one who was blessed.

Becky Glass
I want to share my experience delivering a Welcome Basket to a lady who had just moved out of Miriam’s House and into her own apartment. I did this alone.

I bought items to fill a basket, and was nervous going alone. You see, I'm shy and I feel so much more comfortable doing something like this with someone else. My shyness made my heart pound heavy as I drove to Daisy's apartment. I began praying and asking God to calm my fears, "Lord, I don't know anything about this lady, the apartment complex she lives in has a bad reputation for crime, please keep me safe, make my heart stay in my chest and not beat so hard that she can see it beating, calm my fear of being so shy, and please make the words that come out of my mouth YOUR words and not my words. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

I got to her apartment building, walk down the steps to her door, and as I knocked on the door I felt a calmness come over my whole body. My heart wasn't pounding anymore! Daisy opened the door with a smile on her face. She welcomed me in, thanking me for such nice thoughtful gifts, and told me she lived alone.

As I asked her what other things she needed I felt the Lord’s presence, which calmed my fear of being shy. We had a very pleasant conversation; she does not attend church, so I began telling her about Blue Ridge and the church's website. I told her to call me if she would like to go with us and she said she would. I just could not stop talking during my visit! She made me feel like I was a friend she hadn't seen or talked to in years.

Daisy had literally nothing but a bed, one loveseat sofa, a small cooking pot, and her own personal items such as toilet paper, etc. She mentioned that Warm Streets would be bringing more things to her soon. Since my visit I have gone over to deliver kitchen items she needed and several cooking necessities. She always seems so appreciative of my visits. I feel I am the one that was on the receiving end of this new friend I now have.

God has blessed me and has taken care of my shyness as I stepped out of my comfort zone that day to deliver this Welcome Basket.

Denise Stroud
Barbara Lofland and I delivered a basket to a very sweet woman, her teenage daughter and two boys. The family is living in a two-bedroom walk-up apartment very close to downtown Lynchburg.

When we arrived and met the family, I glanced around the apartment and observed the lack of everything. It made me think of my younger years and how I started out with nothing. This women is not 18, she is in her 40s and starting all over again.

But the people who receive are not the ones who are blessed, it is those who deliver who are blessed!

Barbara and I prayed before we went into the apartment and we had a good visit. Before I left my house, I grabbed some flowers in a vase, some books and a new candle. When she saw the flowers, she said, "Purple is my favorite color." Who knew? God did!

Joanna Luper
Amber and I were able to deliver a basket and now we have developed a relationship with Angela, the lady we helped. We are going to help move furniture for her on Thursday and we are going to help collect school supplies for her three kids. Hopefully they will join us for church on Sunday Mornings!

Melonie and I were able to help with the Salvation Army Store on Saturday and got to know some of the other ladies there. It was a great time, and it felt great to serve again.

During the current session of Women’s Bible Study, the table groups are partnering with the Salvation Army. Let’s pray that God would also guide and direct this outreach.