A True Story of Missions, Business, and Faith in Southeast Asia
Threads: Unexpected Adventures in Business, Missions and Family chronicles the remarkable journey of Steve and Arlene Richardson, newlywed missionaries who arrived in a Muslim-majority country of 175 million with hopes of sharing the gospel in a land with very few believers.
From Cultural Barriers to Business Breakthrough
Facing enormous cultural barriers—from learning a new language to making a home in a crowded city neighborhood—the Richardsons witnessed firsthand the crushing poverty that held their neighbors in its grip. The spiritual strongholds of religious tradition seemed insurmountable. How could they even begin to help?
The unexpected answer arrived in a cardboard box of quilts from North Carolina. Despite never having sewn a quilt in her life, Arlene launched HeartCraft, a business venture that brought Muslim and Christian employees together under one roof. This enterprise designed, cut, and sewed quilts for beds 7,000 miles away in America, creating both economic opportunity and spiritual bridges.
More Than a Mission Story
This inspirational biography recounts the Richardson family's journey through sorrow, joy, and unbelievable answers to prayer. At the heart of the story is a tiny village woman who became a treasured family member, demonstrating how God weaves together lives across cultures and faiths.
Threads offers readers an authentic look at cross-cultural ministry, the challenges of missionary work in Muslim contexts, and how faith-based business can transform communities. The Richardsons' story reveals how God orchestrated events beyond their imagination, drawing their entire family into a narrative only He could write.
