SHOW TIES GOD’S MESSAGE INTO FASHION

By Kate Henderson, Staff Writer
Journal/Gazette in Mattoon, IL 10/23/06 

 MATTOON, IL – Lucille Ball, Jackie Kennedy, and Katharine Hepburn were all brought to life through clothing at a style show at the St. John Lutheran Church on Sunday, but the message wasn’t about fashion: It was about what it means to be a woman.

 The Lutherans For Life group brought Titus 2 Ministry to the church for a “life-style” show using vintage clothing from the 1800s to present day to demonstrate God’s Word about clothing, behavior, and loving others as ourselves.

 The clothing was modeled by local women who circulated around the room.  The gymnasium of the church was nearly full with women from all over the area.

 Linda Bartlett, former national president of Lutherans For Life, said she hoped her message taught women a new perspective through a different approach of style.

 “My message is about what it means to be a woman and how we can affect men,” Bartlett said.  “I started this because too many young women don’t seem to know how or why to protect themselves.”

 Bartlett said men are visual creatures and women should respect themselves enough to dress properly so as not to tempt men.  Bartlett, who is based out of Iowa, takes her show all over the Midwest in an effort to reach out to women.

 Her show focused on how clothing over the years has also reflected and helped shape attitudes toward women.  Bartlett used biblical examples, as well as modern-day fashion, to demonstrate those attitudes. 

One example was a flapper dress from the 1920s.  Bartlett talked about how the shorter, flashy dresses reflected an era when people were rebelling and focusing more on fun.  Bartlett also gave a modern-day example of how women focus more on how they look than their health.

 “Women develop eating disorders just to get that ‘perfect’ figure (whatever that is!),” Bartlett said.

 She also talked about risking skin cancer to get a deeper-hued skin.  She compared this with the corsets and “ideal” 19-inch waist size of the late 1800s.

 As models walked through the crowds demonstrating each style described, Bartlett came back to her primary focus. 

“God is the Master-designer of clothes,” she said.  “He has a lot to say about what we wear, our behavior, and loving others as ourselves.”

 Many of the women attending said the show was an interesting way to see the different styles of decades past, as well as learn something new.

 “It’s interesting to see the different styles of clothing and how . . . different times and different clothing reflect different attitudes,” said Debbie Thoren, a Charleston resident.

 Thoren said she also liked the idea of a fashion show centered on modesty.  “It shows that it’s possible to dress nicely without disrespecting yourself,” she said.

 Sandra Edwards, a Mattoon resident, said she enjoyed the show because it showed how society dictates culture.  “It shows the correlation of how we act and how we think is often driven by what society says is okay instead of what God says is pleasing to Him,” she said.

 The show also gave those in attendance an opportunity to donate money toward the re-opening of Mattoon’s caring pregnancy center, which closed more than a year ago.  “It’s just not well known,” said Edwards, who is one of the center’s volunteers.  “It needs to be open again.  We want people to know that we’re there not to judge, but to show God’s love and reach out and help.” n