At Johns Creek Baptist Church, the Hook & Needle Guild has become far more than a crafting group. It is a place where creativity becomes ministry, where fellowship becomes healing, and where love is stitched into every blanket, shawl, scarf, and tiny hat.
For Donna Bowlick, the Guild represents “opportunities to create, opportunities to belong, opportunities to care for others.” Donna learned to crochet more than fifty years ago under her grandmother’s watchful eye. She shared, “Crochet has become something that I do. It’s fun to choose patterns and yarns and make something useful. What’s the saying? ‘Busy hands, quiet mind.’ It gives me time to think and time to rest.”
Her crafting journey has always carried a sense of purpose. Years ago, Donna made prayer shawls and NICU hats in Douglasville. Later, when her mother was in memory care, she crocheted lap blankets for residents—just when a friend “happened” to give her bags of yarn. When she encountered the Guild through Loletta Boutwell, she felt immediately at home. “What an incredible group of ladies!” Donna says. “It’s good to belong, to be missed when I can’t be there, and to be loved when I’m there.”
“This mission has given me a way to fulfill God’s desire for people in need.”
Merry Romo shares a similar story of rediscovery. For many years she longed quietly to learn knitting, but caregiving left little space for personal pursuits. After her husband’s passing, she found the Hook & Needle Guild, where Janette Dorris patiently taught her the basics. “What began as a skill I hoped to learn,” Merry writes, “has become something far more meaningful. Knitting has met a deep need in my life and has surrounded me with uplifting fellowship among Christian women.”
The knitters affectionately call themselves “Knit & Nibble,” gathering with yarn, treats, coffee, and conversation. They create gifts for loved ones, but also work together on projects that bless others. Recently, they knitted scarves and hats for mothers connected to the Christmas for Kids ministry. “A small way of offering comfort and kindness during the holiday season,” Merry says.
For Sarah Durham, knitting is a gift restored. She first learned the craft more than fifty years ago and made handmade garments for her daughter as a baby. But the skill faded—until she joined JCBC. “After all this time I had forgotten how to knit,” she writes. “I prayed God would restore this wonderful talent, and in short order He convinced me I could redevelop the art of knitting.”
“It’s good to belong, to be missed when I’m not there, and to be loved when I am.”
Sarah quickly learned how her revived gift could serve others. “We were made aware our products could be offered to the sick, chemo patients, babies, and even the Christmas Kids,” she says. The mission took on new energy. “During the summer our group made 50 items—warm hats and scarves. Our deadline was Nov. 18th. They will be given to the JCBC Christmas Kids in December.”
Across generations and life experiences, these women have discovered that the Hook & Needle Guild is a place where God uses gifted hands and willing hearts to meet needs both seen and unseen.
Donna summarizes the spirit of the guild beautifully:
“Each member uses her talents to create different gifts… It makes it fun to serve and easy to serve.”
And Merry echoes that sentiment:
“Knitting has become something far more meaningful.”
Sarah completes the picture:
“This mission has given me a resource to fulfill God’s desire for people in need.”
Together, their stories reveal a ministry stitched with love, compassion, laughter, craftsmanship, and community—a testimony to how God can use simple threads to weave grace into the lives of others.
“Each member uses her talents to cheer, comfort, and care.”
