INTERVIEW WITH SHERI SANSOM

Sheri welcome to our blog “Bloom in You Winter Season.” We appreciate you stopping by and sharing a little about yourself and your ministry to help encourage other seasoned women. Let’s get started by telling our readers a little about you.

In March 2022, soon after moving to a new community, Sheri suffered a rare SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) heart attack. Unlike other heart attacks, stents are usually not placed, and the heart is allowed to heal on its own. Medications are required and a lifelong restriction of 25 pounds is put into effect.

Four months later, in July, Sheri had a second SCAD heart attack. Miraculously, in both cases, Sheri’s husband, Fred (who works out of town four days a week) was home and immediately transported her to the hospital.

God’s hand was clearly at work throughout her hospital stays and long recovery. While recovering, Sheri (an experienced quilter) began creating small journal/art quilts. Within a few months, God began to open doors and Sheri now shares her testimony through her art quilts at quilt shops, women’s groups, Bible studies and more.

What a testimony you have to share Sheri. So, without further ado let’s get right into the interview questions starting with Rita’s questions.

Can you share some of your testimony?

I officially “went forward” and accepted the Lord when I was 12. However, I truly became a Christian at age five. My earliest memories are of praying and praising the Lord, especially out on the swing set.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Psalm 92:12-15: The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.”

This is my desire – to FLOURISH even into old age. I want to “stay fresh and green” – not in the way I look, but rather in my faith and trust in the Lord and in how He uses me. The imagery that comes to mind is of a flower arrangement. I don’t want to be the withering, dead tulips. Rather, I long to be the sprig of evergreen in the arrangement, designed by God Himself!

Briefly, what are some things you have learned in your walk with God in this season of your life?

Three lessons: Trust Him. Trust Him. TRUST HIM! I may not have ANY idea of what God is doing, but to trust Him is the best “medicine.”

How have you prepared, or been prepared, for your ministry?

My ministry has been radically altered over the past year, due to two rare “SCAD” heart attacks. Truly, everything I knew was ripped away, and I thought that my ministry would be solely intercessory prayer, alone, in my bedroom, for the rest of my life. God, however, in His wisdom, raised me up again to be involved in teaching Bible studies, and in presenting and sharing my little “journal art quilts,” and in playing piano and organ. God has used ALL the days of my life in preparation for this and continues to do so.

Sheri can you share a time, recently, that you saw God work in your life, either in your ministry or personally?

During my darkest days of recovery from two heart attacks, I began creating small art quilts. They were and are a testimony of my faith, trust, questioning, and hanging on in a turbulent, troubling time. I made them for the same reason I often like to write in my journal…as a way to process my thoughts and prayers.

I never imagined sharing them, but God has opened doors to do just that! A local quilt shop asked me to be a presenter at their grand opening, and the owner even encouraged me to “share my testimony” through the quilts. That led to my being asked to teach others how to journal quilt their own life journeys.

In addition, I have presented my little quilts to other women’s groups. At a time when I could not even imagine an “open door” for ministry, God has used that exact time in my life as the door.

Will you share something about yourself that most people would not know? It can be a fun fact or serious.

I once delivered a neighbor’s baby in my car. She was Islamic and spoke very little English. Even during the experience, I remember thinking, “never before has an Islamic baby had the name of Jesus spoken over them more often during their birth!!”

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

That my husband and I raised three adult children who are believers, good parents and truly nice people.

Would your life story make a good movie?

There would certainly be some exciting parts!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

My two heart attacks have changed how I think about questions like that. My honest answer now is that I see myself trusting God, following Jesus and rooting deep in Him all the days of my life. No more, no less.

Questions by Deborah Malone:

What would your advice be to other “seasoned” women on ways to stay active in ministry?

Our ways are often not God’s ways. Be open to how and where and when He wants to use you, your talents, gifts, abilities and failures. Sometimes He removes us from “important” ministries and seems to put us on a “back burner,” so to speak. It may well be that the “back burner” will become His open door to your next ministry opportunity!

Have you ever felt “too old” to be used by God? What made you decide God could still use you?

The temptation is always there to feel “too old.” This is especially true if surrounded by messages from our youth obsessed culture. I have repeated Psalm 92:12-15 to myself more times in the last 15 years that I could count! God’s word never says we are “too old” and so THAT is the truth I’m standing on.

What seasoned woman in the Bible is an inspiration to you?

To be honest, it has never mattered to me if it was a seasoned woman or a man. I have always found great inspiration in Caleb, who asked for God to give him a mountain at age 80!

If you’ve had an illness or physical limitations, what accommodations have you had to make to continue in ministry?

I did not have the opportunity to make accommodations. Ministry outside my home just abruptly STOPPED. One day I was living as I always had, and the next day, the landscape of my life had altered forever. I don’t know how people navigate successfully through experiences like this without the Lord.

He was, and is, my hope and stay. Now, even with physical limitations He is again opening opportunities. They are “different.” I am wiser. My faith is stronger. My roots are deeper, and I praise God for ALL of it.

Sheri, can you tell us a little about your ministry?

My ministry now is sharing my testimony through art quilts. I also occasionally play piano for special music, teach Bible studies, write poetry, and pray, pray, pray.

What challenges have you had to overcome in this time of your “seasoned” ministry?

I have had to let go of what I thought my life and ministry would look like at this point, and trust God that He alone knows the plan!

Sheri thank you so much for stopping by and sharing a little of yourself and your ministry with us. I found your interview to be very inspirational and I have now decided Psalm 92:12-15 is my new favorite verse. Deborah

NEWS FLASH: This just came in from Sheri and we are happy to celebrate this great news. “I have been chosen to be trained at the Mayo Clinic to become a Women Heart Champion. Champions are described as “the boots on the ground” in the fight against heart disease. They are women with heart disease who have been trained to share their stories and important messages about heart health to empower women to take charge of their heart health.

The Bible says that God gives “beauty for ashes.” My being chosen to do this is a perfect example! For that, I am truly thankful.”

Bio: Sheri Sansom is a poet, quilter, Bible study leader, mother of three grown children, and grandmother of seven.

Having lived in ten states throughout her life, Sheri has served the Lord and her community as a choral director, organist, pianist, music teacher, artistic director of a community theater, Bible study teacher, retreat speaker, and a fitness and wellness instructor.

It is Sheri’s desire to root deeply in Jesus, and to trust Him fully as she follows the meandering path called life. A sentence that is often on her lips…”God knows what He is doing, even when we don’t!”

Sheri’s contact information:

Sheri Sansom, 7944 Cassidy Road, Lexington, MI 48450; sherisansom@yahoo.com