When newlyweds Steve and Arlene Richardson arrived in Southeast Asia, they were full of hopes and dreams of befriending their neighbors and sharing the gospel in a Muslim-majority country of nearly 175 million and very few believers. From learning a new language to making a home in a crowded city neighborhood, the cultural barriers seemed enormous. The Richardsons were often overwhelmed with the economic needs of their new neighbors, as they observed their friends struggling to provide for their families in the face of crushing poverty. Even greater were the spiritual strongholds that held them in the grip of religious tradition. How could they even begin to help? The unexpected answer came in the form of a cardboard box of quilts from North Carolina and a tiny village woman who became a treasured member of the family. Arlene, who had never sewed a quilt in her life, launched a business venture that brought Muslim and Christian employees under one roof, designing, cutting and sewing quilts for beds 7,000 miles away in America. Threads recounts the Richardsons' journey--the sorrow, joy and unbelievable answers to prayer that sustained them in their labors and drew their family into a story that only God could write. In a world of unreached people groups and growing hostility to a Christian witness, marketplace ministries are becoming more and more relevant in making the gospel accessible to the nations. Threads is the intriguing account of a young missionary who launched a grassroots business enterprise long before it was recognized as a valid methodology. The reader will be inspired to read how God worked through cross-cultural adjustments and personal challenges to reach the hearts of the people. Not only did the gospel take root through this innovative vision, it continues to flourish, as does the business. - Jerry Rankin, President Emeritus International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Cconvention More than a great God-story of a unique international business adventure among Muslims that required vision, entrepreneurship, persistence, partnership and prayer, this page-turner also breaks new ground. Of the current top 25 books on Business as Mission (BAM), all are authored by males! What a welcome addition, and contribution Arlene Richardson makes to this growing body of literature with her engaging book, Threads. - Tom Steffen Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University. Co-author with Steve Rundle of Great Commission Companies Threads is a modern-day version of the loaves and fishes miracle. Arlene Richardson tells her amazing journey of watching God turn some old, forgotten scraps of fabric into an industry that blesses the nations. May our Lord weave a tapestry composed of thousands of similar businesses focused on the world's unreached that produce eternal results for the Kingdom of God. - Debby Jones, speaker & author Lady in Waiting: Becoming God's Best While Waiting for Mr. Right Threads is a powerful autobiographical account of the life and work of the "Quilt Lady," Arlene Richardson, and her family's decade of life, work, business and ministry in Southeast Asia. Readers be warned: this is a real page-turner. Block some time for this one. You won't want to leave it until you are finished. Much more than a superb BAM (Business as Mission) case study, this is the story of a faith journey to share the transforming truth of Jesus Christ with a persecuted people who had never embraced the gospel. It is packed with life's lessons and God's blessings-prayer, faith, grace, obedience, miracles, sacrifice, suffering, and more. Thanks, Arlene, for this one. My students will love it! - Mike Barnett, Ph.D., Dean, College of Intercultural Studies Columbia International University Arlene Richardson is founder of HeartCraft, an organization that helps people in need by marketing products from small and medium-sized enterprises in the developing world. She is also involved in Pioneers, a mission organization with work in 95 countries. Arlene and her husband, Steve, who is the president of Pioneers-USA, have four daughters and live in Orlando, Florida.