Every Tuesday at 9 a.m., the Caregivers Quilting Group meets at Sharon Dale’s home to put together quilts.

But these quilts, adorned with handwritten Bible verses, will provide more than warmth to their recipients. Each quilt is given to someone in treatment for cancer, and the seven ladies who craft them pray over the growing list of recipients — there are more than 50 now — every week.

The women in the group, who are all members at First Baptist Church of Foley, began their ministry last January after Linda Besselman was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. She received a quilt from a group in Nevada, and her friends decided to begin making quilts for other cancer patients in her honor.

“God has his purpose,” said Sharon Dale, the group’s organizer. “At 70 years old, I finally learned what God had for me to do in life. To help other people and to make other people feel better, it’s such a blessing. I think sometimes we get more out of it than they do. We’re the ones helping, but it means an awful lot to all of us.”

People who know about the group contact one of its members and tell them about a friend or family member who would benefit from a quilt. The women spend a few hours making each quilt, and then they allow the patient’s friend to deliver the quilt, along with a card.

Many of the recipients don’t want the quilt at first, Besselman said.

“The ones who don’t want quilts, and with me also having cancer, you go through denial,” she said. “It’s a part of the grieving process, because we have lost parts of our bodies. You go through that grieving thing where you’re angry, you deny and then finally you give into it and make your peace with God.”

And when that moment of realization hits, the patients are always thankful for the quilts, Besselman said, referencing several friends with whom she has gone through chemotherapy.

“God never promised us we wouldn’t have trouble here on this earth,” said Marinell Bodkin, another member of the group. “God allows things to happen here, because it helps us renew our faith and draw closer to him. Some people would never know him if they didn’t have some trouble, but when they get in trouble, they call on him.”

Bodkin said the quilts are there for when people need that spiritual comfort.

“That’s the reason we make the quilts,” she said. “Our purpose is to wrap those in need in the word of God. This may be the only witness they have, so that’s why we do it — this is our witness.”

Rhonda Nale, the pastor’s wife at First Baptist Foley, knows firsthand about receiving a quilt.

“I had first seen the quilts when they were introduced at church, and I thought they were beautiful quilts, not ever thinking I would need one,” she said. “You don’t expect it to happen to you. But when you get the shock of being diagnosed with cancer, getting the quilt is so comforting.”

Nale said knowing she is being prayed for weekly is the most encouraging aspect of the ministry.

“That means a tremendous amount, knowing the people who put their handiwork into that are praying for you,” she said. “It gives me comfort, because I believe in the power of prayer. It’s very encouraging.”

Although their first priority is ministering to others, the women said gathering together for a time of fellowship has blessed them, too. They have formed a sisterhood that runs deeper than friendship, Bodkin said.

“I think we’re sort of soul mates, because we all have sort of the same heart,” she said. “We just have so much fun, and we’ll get to laughing sometimes. That’s why I love it.”

Not all of the women knew how to quilt before they began meeting, but Dale has served as a teacher. They have learned quickly, and now, it only takes them a few hours to make a quilt.

“It’s kind of like each of us have a job,” Dale said. “Bobbie is the one who arranges them, we have a lady that does the writing on the squares, Marinell is our official cutter, Renee is an all-around, whatever you ask her to do it, she does it person.”

The group buys most of the supplies to make the quilts themselves, but donations are always appreciated, Dale said.

Anyone who is interested in joining the group on Tuesdays is welcome, and no quilting experience is required. Contact Sharon Dale at 251-955-1793 for more information about joining or to request a quilt.