 The quilt is comprised of 81 blocks, plus settings and borders,
pieced from 12 fabrics of the Stonehenge collection by the Northcott
company: 11 on the face of the quilt and one additional that is used
only for the backing. The basic block is "Stars and Rails" set on
point and embroidered with Scripture references related to
evangelism, discipleship and living the Christian life.Around the
inner borders are the names of the men and women who have served as
full-time professors over the history of what is now Lincoln
Christian University, from the school's inception to June 2010.
Across the top border are the names of the school's presidents and
significant sayings.
The half-inch "broken glass" border was pieced from the scraps
cut away to create the stars, so even the scraps were not wasted,
presenting a message that the Lord uses small, seemingly
insignificant things in people's lives to accomplish his purpose.
The fabric for the quilt was selected the weekend of November
2009; machine-piecing was completed Memorial Day weekend 2010; and
hand-quilting began immediately thereafter, as well as plotting of
the names around the borders. The embroidery of the Scripture
references was finished July 10, followed by embroidery of the
professors' names, which were completed Oct. 1. The final border
stitching and securing of the binding was finalized on Oct. 10.
Ventura-Bycroft and her husband of 40 years, Dick, reside in
Joplin, Mo., where she has been employed by the Empire District
Electric Co. for the past 23 years as an accountant.
She graduated from Lincoln Christian College in 1970 with a
bachelor's degree in sacred music. She served as graduate assistant
in the LCC Music Department intermittently from 1970 to 1974 and on
the staff of Ozark Christian College from 1982 to 1986, as well as
teaching privately. She was a member of the Kirk Ringers handbell
choir in Neosho, Mo., for five years, and she and her husband are
presently active with the College Heights Christian Church in
Joplin, Mo., where she plays cello in the church orchestra.
She has quilted for several years, generally machine-piecing and
hand-quilting her projects.
The source idea of the quilt
Miss Graham, the inspiration for the quilt, had no earthly
children of her own, but she considered her students to be her
spiritual children. She prayed consistently for each of them over
the years, updated a journal regularly regarding events in their
lives and families, and spoke of her "second harvest" through their
ministries. Just as the
Apostle Paul told Timothy to teach faithful men who could teach
others and so bring him joy, she believed that as her students
faithfully served the Lord, the fruit of their ministries would also
return to her as a second harvest in joy and blessing.
In her last days, she spoke to Flora often of how the Lord had
richly blessed her through her teaching, but also how he had given
her a second harvest of blessing through her students' faithful
ministries.
Flora Ventura-Bycroft gives her thoughts and grateful thanks on
the quilt's journey to completion:
As creator of the
"Second Harvest" quilt, my first harvest will be the blessing of the
quilt being sold for the benefit of IDES; my second harvest will be
the blessing of knowing that the Gospel will be shared and that His
Word never returns to Him void. As purchaser of the quilt, your
first harvest will be the blessing of the administration of the
proceeds in the Name of the Lord to those in need. Your second
harvest... you will discover.
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Acknowledgements:
("Thanks" is hardly an adequate word.)
Teri Garner, owner
and operator of Country Store Quilts in Carthage, Mo., had pieced a
"Stars and Rails" block in Stonehenge and had it on display. She
helped me select the fabrics that I ultimately used and generously
allowed me to help her in the shop several weekends to defray some
of the expense of the fabric.
Tom Tanner and Lynn
Laughlin helped me compile the professors' names. My daughter,
Carissa Bycroft-Kutz, was my "idea person." Her artistic eye helped
me again and again, placing the blocks for best color balance and
selecting the borders. Her ongoing encouragement to meet the date
deadlines I had set for myself was invaluable.
Pam Braeckel, my
dear friend, fellow quilter and co-worker at Empire, almost
single-handedly stitched the final border and machine-secured the
binding while I was waylaid with some unexpected family matters and
unavoidable personal business. She would not accept payment for her
labor and blesses me with her appreciation of the art form. I value
her opinion highly.
My sister, Juanita
Ventura-Mabie, and her husband, Jim, encouraged me to keep on
keeping on and opened their home so I could escape the concerns of
home for a couple of very valuable days and devote myself
exclusively to working on the quilt.
My dear husband,
Dick, allowed me to push him into the background for periods of time
so I could stay on schedule. He is delighted to have the project
done so he can "have his wife back."
Special thanks
belongs to Lincoln Christian Church for being my home church while I
was in college, for giving our daughter a place to serve the Lord
with her heart, and for allowing our family to participate in the
Harvest of Talents these past several years. It is a privilege to
share my sewing "talent" for the benefit of IDES, anticipating the
"second harvest" that will be produced through their ministry.
[Text from file received; LDN]
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