#featurefridays
Every Friday I will feature a different person or story that is inspiring to me, and hopefully encouraging to you!
Meet Anna Taylor. Founder and CEO of Judith & James and James 127 Foundation...
She is also a wonderful friend, Chi Omega sister, and sister in Christ! Anna is a perfect example of an ordinary person called by God to do extraordinary things. She saw a need and filled it. Her story captures the essence of showing every person that they are created by God with dignity and for a purpose. Judith and James foundation helps these women, who might feel like they are worthless, realize their potential and that their dignity comes from their Ultimate Designer.
Anna and I met at a 9-week summer discipleship program in college. We learned how to love Jesus with our whole heart, share Him with others, read the bible more in depth and pray. We became fast friends and continued our friendship far past that summer. I was so excited to go back to campus with Anna that next fall where she pledged Chi Omega as a sophomore apparel studies major. After that we were able to hang out a ton more. Before we met, Anna had lived with her family for several years in Kenya and went to high school there. She and her family spent several years in the Nariobi slums helping widows and orphans. In 2010, putting college on hold, she went back to Kenya and a Kenyan leader in the slums introduced Anna to a skilled unemployed seamstress, Judith (the company’s namesake).
After several months and trips to Kenya, Anna was able to get familiar with the culture and made friends with women in the slums. They became her closest friends when her family went back to Arkansas and she continued to stay in Kenya. Overwhelmed by the poverty stricken families, God laid it on her heart to stay and use the skills she had been given as an apparel studies major to set up a sewing program for those widows in the slums so they could support their families. She designed custom pieces and sold them to friends and family back in the states. When she came back to school to finish college, it was awesome listening to her stories, her trials and triumphs while there, and it was so amazing to hear the work the Lord did in her heart towards the people there. You can see the passion and love for people in everything she does.
Lets all be a part of a global movement who can be faithful in the small things. Maybe God can use you too as part of somethings WAY bigger than yourself. I pray that we will all be diligent in prayer and keep our hands and hearts wide open to what the Lord may call us to do.
If you would like more information about Judith & James and their mission, click here.
She is also a wonderful friend, Chi Omega sister, and sister in Christ! Anna is a perfect example of an ordinary person called by God to do extraordinary things. She saw a need and filled it. Her story captures the essence of showing every person that they are created by God with dignity and for a purpose. Judith and James foundation helps these women, who might feel like they are worthless, realize their potential and that their dignity comes from their Ultimate Designer.
Anna and I met at a 9-week summer discipleship program in college. We learned how to love Jesus with our whole heart, share Him with others, read the bible more in depth and pray. We became fast friends and continued our friendship far past that summer. I was so excited to go back to campus with Anna that next fall where she pledged Chi Omega as a sophomore apparel studies major. After that we were able to hang out a ton more. Before we met, Anna had lived with her family for several years in Kenya and went to high school there. She and her family spent several years in the Nariobi slums helping widows and orphans. In 2010, putting college on hold, she went back to Kenya and a Kenyan leader in the slums introduced Anna to a skilled unemployed seamstress, Judith (the company’s namesake).
Anna and I during bid day when she pledge Chi Omega at the U of A!
Tons of fun memories with Anna!
After several months and trips to Kenya, Anna was able to get familiar with the culture and made friends with women in the slums. They became her closest friends when her family went back to Arkansas and she continued to stay in Kenya. Overwhelmed by the poverty stricken families, God laid it on her heart to stay and use the skills she had been given as an apparel studies major to set up a sewing program for those widows in the slums so they could support their families. She designed custom pieces and sold them to friends and family back in the states. When she came back to school to finish college, it was awesome listening to her stories, her trials and triumphs while there, and it was so amazing to hear the work the Lord did in her heart towards the people there. You can see the passion and love for people in everything she does.
The beautiful African fabrics, leather purses and jewelry make up her clothing line called Judith and James. Judith & James is named after Judith, the first Kenyan widow employed and James 1:27 that states to care for widows and orphans in their distress. These garments were then sold in the U.S. with proceeds going directly back to the ladies to support their families. In 2012 Anna debuted 20 pieces from her collection at NWA Fashion Week. Her collection debut was a resounding success, and demand for Judith & James clothing rapidly increased. In September 2013, Anna debuted the Judith & James Spring/Summer 2014 Collection in New York Fashion Week at the Helen Mills Event Space. After completing her degree in Apparel Studies at the University of Arkansas, Anna launched Judith & James at New York Fashion Week to market high fashion produced in the Nairobi slums to the global audience.
Anna and her crew heading to NYFW. SO exciting!
A few of the looks Spring 2014 Collection:
I am just so proud of the work that Anna has been doing to help these families in poverty and be able to point them to Christ as the provider of all their needs. I love how she saw a need and filled it. God used her gifts and talents, and exposed her to the right people that opened her clothing line up to a global audience which catapulted this God given vision to something she knows is way bigger than herself. Its amazing to see what God can do through someone who is obedient in the small tasks he puts before you. "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." Luke 16:10. Anna's story is the epitome of showing every person that they are created by God with strength and dignity. Judith and James foundation helps these woman realize their unique gifts and potential and that their dignity comes from their ultimate Designer.
What small task has the Lord laid before you?
What need do you see that God can use YOU to fill?
If you would like more information about Judith & James and their mission, click here.
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