History
Founded by Jill Dannenberg in 2010, Living Threads is a faith-based 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to “share the love of Jesus by providing memory quilts for those who are grieving, purposeful community for volunteers, and meet the spiritual and physical needs of impoverished children.”
The conception of this new ministry began with a prayer of surrendering any talents God created within Jill Dannenberg for His Kingdom purposes. Little did Jill know that this simple but powerful prayer would ignite a new calling and passion within her purposed by God.
Jill owned and worked in a commercial embroidery shop she called, “Sew Fine Embroidery” at the time of this prayer. Not long after this prayer, God placed upon Jill’s heart to sell the embroidery business. Not knowing why, Jill moved forward with God’s leading and sold her business that she owned and operated for many years. Once the business sold, God started to reveal His plan and Jill began to journal. The concept of this new ministry began to grow on paper and in Jill’s heart to follow God’s leading. God eventually gave Jill the name, “Living Threads” and the idea for the logo. The ministry launched on September 8, 2010.
Living Threads began in a garage at Jill’s home, where the embroidery shop was previously housed. The previous embroidery shop was transformed into a new, small ministry center. Weekly, three volunteers, (Jill Dannenberg, Kathy Kempema, and Marge DeYoung) met to serve and create memory quilts for new clients. On their one year anniversary, Living Threads moved and held a service of dedication in their new ministry center location at City on a Hill in Zeeland, MI. They have grown from their initial one room space to multiple rooms now occupying almost a full hall of City on a Hill.
God has provided and guided Living Threads in “sew” many miraculous ways over the years. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us.” We have lived and experienced first hand God doing more than we could have ever imagined from 2010 until now. He continues to lead and our Board of Directors is committed to following a “Kingdom Path” seeking God’s will, direction and leading through the Holy Spirit.
God has called many faithful followers to be a part of Living Threads to serve His Kingdom purposes. He continues to use the ordinary to do the extraordinary things in His name. We continue to “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7), as we seek His leading and direction.
To God be all the glory, honor, and praise!!
To hear the full miraculous story of God’s creation and provision of Living Threads Ministry, please watch our Legacy Video by clicking on the link below.