Making Disciples of All Nations

Stebbins, Alaska

Have you ever been too shy or scared to ask a question?  Like me, are you afraid that the answer will be no?

I met a friend at a Bible Study group a couple of years ago and I was able to share a little about the Prom Closet and what God was doing through it.  A few years later, when her daughters were attending prom, the Closet was ready for them.

She said, "We love your ministry and the blessing it has provided my family. We were able to serve our Lord and still allow the girls to go to prom.”

For the last few years they have visited the Prom Closet and found the perfect dresses.  That doesn't seem out of the ordinary but God always has something up His sleeve that I just love!!

As many of you know, Prom is becoming more expensive.  People can spend at least $1,000 on the dress, shoes, hair, makeup, prom tickets, dinner, valet, and more!

So where do we go from here?  Malawi Africa!!   Yep… you read that right Africa!!

My friend said, "Last year our family went to Malawi, Africa.  Getting the prom dresses last year for both of my daughters was a blessing and helped us put our money towards our mission trip."

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..."Matthew 28:19a

But God is not done yet!  This year one of the daughters will be heading to Delaware:
“Again, the prom closet has blessed our family” she said.  “We are able to save money, but still have the Prom experience.  My girls were treated with such kindness and they cherish the experience."

God has endless blessings up His sleeve.  Last week we even got a chance to bless girls in Alaska! Twenty-nine prom dresses will be heading to Stebbins, Alaska, a remote Yupik village.   The amazing lady who came to pick up the dresses will be taking a mission trip there and bringing the prom experience to the beautiful girls in Alaska!

It gives me chills to think that we played a small part in God's Kingdom as these families go to wherever God has called them to be in the world and "make disciples of all nations."

Have you ever thought that God could take six prom dresses stored in my garage next to the oil and paint cans and do this?

Last year the prom closet took its first mission trip to South Carolina and Africa. This year South Carolina, Delaware, and Alaska.

What next? I am afraid to ask…

Blessings
Aileen

I think that is the dress. What do you think?

Hi everyone!

It has been an awesome season so far and God is just getting started!

Have you ever listened to our "prom song?"  Check out "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman.
I bet you didn't know we had a “song” did you?!

“She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of her dress
She says,
"Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

In our nine years of service, moms have always been a huge part of daughters picking out a prom dress but there is something special when dads come and approve the dress!

As you know, dads are not allowed in the dressing room area so they patiently wait out in the hallway… waiting and waiting… (on the average it takes about an hour to find the perfect dress!) 

Recently one such father-daughter couple visited the Prom Closet.  After each one she tried on, the daughter said "I like this dress, but I need my dad to approve"

Everything that sweet girl tried on looked amazing but with each one she would say "I need my dad to approve."

Every time she showed off her newest find dad would look at his little girl and say "You look beautiful." 

You should have seen her face beam with delight! 

As she went back to the dressing room to try on “THE dress” I could tell that she couldn't wait to get in it.  After putting the dress on she came out of the dressing room with a huge smile and twirled in it!

"I think dad will approve" she said and wasted no time showing him. 

"I think that is the dress.  What do you think?" he asked.

Her smile said it all! Cinderella had found her dress.  Now all she has to do is practice her dancing.  Dad are you ready? 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that is what we are!.." 1 John 3:1

Love & Blessings,

Aileen

Armor that Sparkles

Can the armor of God look like a prom dress?? 

When I think of armor, I think of metal plates on your body that protect you from harm in war.
Heavy and cold, this type of armor is not as cute as a prom dress and it definitely does not go with heels!

Last week at the Prom Closet I looked around we had volunteers and people all over the place.   It seemed that I was always bumping into Prom Squad peeps!  Some were welcoming families as they came in, others were holding dresses, zipping up dresses, and helping girls choose jewelry and shoes.

Let’s just say God pull me aside and whispered “look.”  Our Prom Squad was helping girls and their families feel His love.  While I stood outside the jewelry room and saw Mrs. Perry helping a young girl with her shoes, all I could think of was the armor of God and what it looks like for us at the Prom Closet.

Is God awesome sauce or what?!

We get the privilege to dress these girls in the armor of God and it has sparkles!

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:11‬ ‭

Love and Blessings,
Aileen

Through the Rear-View Mirror

Have you ever just sat in your car and stared through the rear-view mirror?  I have to admit, it is sometimes easier for me to see where I have been than where I am going.

The more I think about last prom season and all the amazing things God did through each of us, the more questions I come up with:
What is God going to do this year?  Will He let me know before hand? What will He allow us to see and experience?  How will we pray for people?

What a huge difference from what I see and what God sees!  I realize that I see things through the rear-view mirror and God sees things through the windshield.  Usually it is a blessing that God doesn’t answer all my questions at once but it doesn’t stop me from wondering.  And watching…

Hebrews 12:2 New International Version (NIV)
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Tomorrow we open from 9 a.m. to Noon.

And I can’t wait to look in the rear-view mirror and remember all that He has done this season!

Love and Blessings,
Aileen

Be careful, we are contagious...

When we visited 96 last weekend the meaning of the word GIVE became more and more clear to me.

As most of you know, the goal of the Prom Closet is to give what is sometimes least expected.  Each young person comes with the mindset that they will be getting a new dress or suit to wear for their special occasion.  Little do they know what is in store for them…

As we set up in SC we had 220 dresses – 206 that we had brought and 14 donated from there.  As Prom Closet SC started, I noticed an unusual thing.  Girls were coming and bringing their dresses!  It made me stop in my tracks and send up a quick prayer “God what is this all about?  I think you are doing it all wrong.  Our purpose is to GIVE dresses not GET them.”

Now I would like to say that this is the first time that God and I have had a misunderstanding but the fact is that after 9 years of the Prom Closet I am still slow to learn the lessons God has in store for me.

He reminded me:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declare the Lord" Isaiah 55:8

Tammy's niece Hannah brought her prom dress to donate and another girl saw her dress and fell in love with it!  I wish I could describe the look of joy on Hannah's face as she saw that someone who now had her dress on was feeling as beautiful as she did when she wore it!

And the generosity became contagious. 

The girl that took Hannah’s dress came back with her old prom dress to donate.  Then a foster care group came in and one of the girls fell in love with her dress and it fit her perfectly.

Now a girl searching for a new home, found an inner joy and beauty from the generosity of another.

It became clear to me what John the Baptist meant when he told the crowds who came to be baptized:

"Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same" Luke 3:11 

God gave us His best in Jesus.  It is not much to ask us to GIVE, too.

Love and Blessings,
Aileen

P.S.  Time for a little math quiz:
27 dresses were given out
25 stayed in SC
130 were donated to Night to Shine
How many do we have left?

“Who is Lydia? .... Are you Lydia?”

I love answering this question.

Every time I think about Lydia’s story the Holy Spirit stirs my emotions and sets an energy within me that shares the Gospel even when I am scared or nervous.   Lydia’s story is one I have read and told many times during the last eight years and every time I learn something new.  Lydia's story is only three powerful verses in Acts 16:

Acts 16:13-15 New International Version (NIV)
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Lydia's story takes place outside the city gates in a place Paul calls "a place of prayer (13b.)"  Often when I am at the Prom Closet I see that it is truly our "place of prayer” where women gather.  People who come to the Prom Closet might not realize it, but before we open every Saturday the Prom Squad gathers in the back room to pray for them. God knows who will be coming through our doors. He knows the needs, the hurts, the blessings, and the joy.   As volunteers we do not know these things but our prayer, much like Lydia’s, is to prepare hearts to receive not just a dress but a blessing that will have an eternal impact. 

Paul and Silas were sharing the gospel when they met Lydia.  My favorite part of her story is that "she was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message" (14b.)  Lydia had been preparing long before Paul and Silas arrived to accept the Gospel.  It challenges me to remember that as a believer I also need to prepare my heart to receive God's word and blessing.

It is clear to me now that her story is ultimately about God pursuing Lydia and her response to salvation.  Salvation not just for her but also her household. Her response brought her family to God. "When she and the members of her household were baptized..." (15a.)

Lydia story challenges me and reminds me, have I made "room" in my heart and in my home for God? or Like Lydia, Am I quick to recognize the truth and welcome it? Do I take time to prepare my heart for God?

“... she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house” and she persuaded us.” (15b.) We hope that as Lydia welcomes Paul and Silas into her home, you also feel welcome and feel God’s love as you come to the Prom Closet.

By the way, I can’t wait to share Lydia’s story with more people... 

Blessings,
Aileen

"Spiderman, Spiderman, Does whatever spider can..." Now that the song is stuck in your head you are probably wondering what Spiderman has to do with the prom closet.

We all know that spiderwebs help spiders catch their dinner. But can they capture other things?

Yes, they can!

Last Wednesday we got the honor of serving 20 special needs girls!! Talk about awesomeness!!

I almost got run over by one girl trying to find her way to the mirror!  She just could't wait to see herself in that perfect dress.  When she looked into the mirror it was like magic.  She stood there forever just looking at herself.  I couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking...

As if she heard me she turned around and smiled from ear to ear.   At that point I knew the answer.  She didn't have to say anything, I just knew!

God had touched that little girl's heart and He allowed me to experience it, too.

Trust me when I tell you there was a little chaos that day.  Can you imagine 20 girls trying on dresses?! We had another girl who starting dancing as soon as she came out of the dressing room. She didn't care who was watching - she was happy and she was letting us all know!  What a joyful time we had!

After everyone had found their dresses and left, I noticed a spiderweb on the bottom of Tammy’s black pants.   Tammy said “Oh no!  It’s OK I will clean it up once I get in the car.   I have a lint roller there."

It wasn’t long after we had all left the Prom Closet that I got a call from Tammy.  She had forgotten to clean the spiderweb off her pants!  So, what does God do?  He uses it!  God is limitless and all powerful nothing is out of His reach:

Tammy was in one of her appointments.  You all know Tammy: “she was in a corner quietly getting things ready to do her job” when one of the ladies in the office noticed the spiderweb.

Tammy, without knowing what God was getting ready to do, tells the lady why she had a spiderweb on her black pants.   “I was just at the prom closet serving" and she tells her about the Prom Closet and what we do.

The people in the office were touched and remembered several Bibles they had that they could give her.  When they opened a drawer, they found even more Bibles that they gave her for the Prom Closet.

Did you know spiderwebs are also a source of energy for the spider?  Some spiders eat it so they can gain their strength back after making that beautiful web.  Just like the spiderweb is a source of energy, the word of God is our source of energy we consume every day.

And this particular spiderweb captures Bibles!  As Tammy left with an armload of Bibles that will soon be handed to families at to the prom closet, she was reminded of a verse:

"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? Job 11:7

Blessings,
Aileen