How is the family of God serving a world in need?
During September and October, as we all prepare our hearts and minds for our annual Synod gathering, the women of our Diocese will share stories about serving a world in need. As a women’s ministry team, we will focus on ways women serve inside and outside our churches.
One Woman’s Heart
Earlier this year, in preparation for a women’s retreat I would teach at for another Diocese, I had an opportunity to meet a fantastic woman named Canon Julie Crunk-Russel. She and her husband had served overseas for years as missionaries, but during Covid, they found themselves grounded, unable to help people they had grown to love.
Canon Julie prayed about how she could continue to show God’s love to the women she had been ministering to when she learned that one of them was expecting a baby. This particular woman lived so impoverished that having anything for her newborn would not be impossible. Canon Julie, an avid knitter, decided to knit a cap for the baby and send it to this woman. The idea for this young woman to have even one brand new and prayed-over item for her newborn filled Canon Julie with joy.
Hats from the Heart
This tiny seed of an idea, given up to the Lord for His tending, has now grown into an international ministry called Hats from the Heart. Canon Julie recruits knitters from across our Province to knit and crochet hats. This summer, I introduced Julie to a group of women in our Diocese who regularly gather to knit and crochet. They were thrilled to take on the opportunity to make hats that are now being sent worldwide.
One woman’s faithfulness to a vision God gave her has led to many people being blessed. While the ministry began with an emphasis on baby hats, it has expanded in unexpected ways. Recently, Canon Julie received a request for hats to be knitted for refugees fleeing Ukraine. Imagine, for a moment, people fleeing their homeland with virtually nothing left. Someone provides a prayed-over, warm, knitted, or crocheted hat. How much kingdom impact could such a small gesture of generosity offer?
In the summer, Canon Julie got word from a woman who would be happy to knit hats but could not afford supplies. As a retirement community resident, her budget could not accommodate extra expenses. A few days later, another woman contacted Julie, offering to donate funds to purchase yarn and needles for any talented creative who might be willing to make these much-needed hats. A match was made, and a gift card was rapidly delivered.
During my time at the women’s retreat in Wisconsin, I also had a chance to meet a woman who has been teaching her teenage daughter to knit these hats. What a powerful way this family is now serving together!
If you would like to learn more about Hats from the Heart or if you have a serving story you would like to share with us, please email our team at:
Anthea Kotlan
Women’s Ministry Team Lead
Hats from the Heart - Canon Julie Crunk-Russell
