At SHIP, we’ve been fortunate to have people in the US and El Salvador who use their God-given talents to help this ministry. We’d like to tell you about some of these artisans.
Geo Petros
From his workshop in Edge, Texas, craftsman John Lawrence turns rock and stone into art. After a number of years of working with the stone, John credits the Lord for providing him with the wisdom and understanding of what to make and how to make it, as well as the tools and materials. Over the years, local stone and granite companies have donated much of the material John uses.
In addition to supporting his family through sales of his work, a significant portion of the proceeds support SHIP’s projects in Bryan, Texas, and in El Salvador.
John’s work is sold under the name Geo Petros throughout the state of Texas. Are you looking to buy John’s work? Would you like to help support SHIP by carrying Geo Petros in your business? Please contact John Lawrence at:
Geo Petros
P.O. Box 706
Calvert, TX 77837
Email: geo-petros@att.net
Liberty + Luz
In a small room in El Salvador, dreams are being stitched together. A group of Salvadoran women gathers to learn sewing techniques, trade stories, and find ways to support their families through their new trade. These are the women of Janise Crumpler’s sewing class.
Between cutting out patterns and threading needles, something wonderful happens. This group of women comes to know that they are loved by their teacher and by God. For the past couple of years, the ladies have been creating purses and bags that can be found at shops throughout Texas (and at the occasional local market). We named the brand Liberty + Luz. The name brings together two of the dreams SHIP has for its Salvadoran neighbors:
Liberty: Freedom from fear and violence in their community, financial freedom that comes from the hard work these women put in, and the freedom found only in Christ.
Luz: The Spanish word for “light.” This word is also found in the name of SHIP’s Salvadoran school, Escuela Luz de Jesús, “Light of Jesus.” Luz represents the hope these women are finding, like the words of Isaiah: “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.”