The significance of blankets as a sign of comfort, warmth, love, and protection is timeless, and it is synonymous with these symbols, worldwide. Blankets are given as special gifts at the birth of a child, as wedding presents, as artwork for display in people’s homes. They are inherited as heirloom pieces from generation to generation and guarded in cedar chests as valuables. In Native American traditions, blankets were used to signify friendships and bonds with others. The actual pressure of a blanket draped around our bodies triggers our nervous systems to release serotonin, a natural chemical in our bodies that helps us feel calm. During tragedies, First Responders often provide blankets to those on-site not only for direct warmth and protection but as a form of comfort during their time of need.

SMBC’s Thursday’s Child Quilters Outreach Group meets weekly, on Thursday mornings, at 11:00. There is an open invitation for anyone to join.  Quilters bring their own supplies and equipment, and they have a wonderful time fellowshipping together as they create these beautiful blankets. Quilters are given opportunities to send their quilts to local hospitals for long-term patients who truly appreciate that gesture of something handmade and comforting; to the Palmetto Women’s Center for precious, little newborns coming into the world; as Christmas gifts to local children in need; even half-way around the world to help orphaned children in the Xhosa Gospel Mission in East London, South Africa where a dear gentleman named Hoppy Pohlmann helps rescue children of the Xhosa people, in South Africa. And quilters can always give their quilts to their own families and friends. Whatever the desire for the end result, this is a lovely group of people working to reach out with their creations in home missions and foreign missions to anyone who can use a blanket.

Jesus’ sacrifice of His life for ours serves as a blanket of atonement, covering our sins, allowing us to be presentable as pure before God. That is our strength as Christians that we are covered by the saving grace of His blood sacrifice for us. The righteousness of Christ draped over us pictures Christians as wearing perfectly clean, new garments of white; the opposite of the filthy garments we have made by our own works. These quilts are not only made with love to keep people warm and bring them physical comfort, but they are also a symbol of God’s grace.

Core Values

• We uphold the foundational principles of the priesthood of every believer and the autonomy and uniqueness of each local church in carrying out the Great Commission. 

• We embrace the strategic role of prayer and giving for missionaries and missions needs. We recognize the role of the family in discipleship and mission development. 

• We recognize the giftedness of women and girls and accept the responsibility to help them use their gifts in serving Christ.

• We accept the responsibility for nurturing preschoolers, children, youth, and adults in missions.

• We accept the responsibility for developing and equipping mission leaders. 

• We accept the biblical mandate to respond to human needs with actions modeled by Jesus Christ and with the message of God’s redemptive plan. 

• We partner with other Great Commission Christians to lead a lost world to Christ. 

• We believe that Jesus Christ, Son of God, gave His life a sacrifice for the salvation of all the people of the world, fulfilling God’s plan for the ages as revealed in the Bible, God’s holy word.

WMU supports the following organizations through age-appropriate magazines and/or products:

• Women on Mission, for women 18 and up

• Adults on Mission, for men and women 18 and up

• Acteens, for girls grades 7-12

• Youth on Mission, for boys and girls grades 7-12

• Girls in Action, for girls grades 1-6

• Children in Action, for boys and girls grades 1-6

• Mission Friends, for preschool girls and boys, birth through pre-first.

WMU offers ministry opportunities through:

• Baptist Nursing Fellowship

• Christian Women’s Job Corps and Christian Men's Job Corps

• Project: HELP

• Pure Water Pure Love

• Volunteer Connection

• WorldCrafts

WMU offers short-term volunteer missions opportunities through:

• Volunteer Connection

• Acteens Activators/Acteens Activators Abroad

• Acteens Interns

• Women on Mission Enterprisers

The Missions Focus of Woman’s Missionary Union:

• Pray for and give to missions.

• Do missions.

• Learn about missions.

• Develop spiritually toward a mission’s lifestyle.

• Participate in the work of the church and denomination.