Dear Shirley, my hope is to return to writing in August. You, my friend, have inspired me. I see the help your books have been in the lives of the people in our church. The outreach is much farther than a few speaking meetings a year. Thank you and Brother Randy for taking the time to write books we can trust!  I send my love and prayers.  

Dear Shirley, I have to tell you how the Lord has been working in my life, largely, because of you and one of your books.

Our Pastor had asked the prospective choir members not to wear pants for any church affairs.  He said he wasn't telling us what to wear in our private lives.  Although I had privately thought that pants were a lot more modest than the skirts that some of the ladies were wearing while we were working on the church.  I agreed to do it.

My mother used to tuck her skirt up in her underpants when she scrubbed the floor on her hands and knees, and I did not like to see her doing that.  That picture stayed with me as I had my 6 children and played with them on the floor, on my hands and knees, picked up a million toy pieces, and worked around the house.  Pants were the uniform of my days, although I did wear dresses to church until pantsuits came out.

Then I started attending our Baptist (the last church I thought I would ever attend, having been raised AG) and I saw that many of the women wore skirts.  I still thought I would be more modest in my pantsuits if I fell, (had several surgeries by then) than they would be in a skirt.   I did enjoy wearing the long skirts for church but still felt that they were not practical at home.  From time to time, I would notice how nice some of the ladies at church looked but I still balked.

Every once in a while, I would get this little niggling thought about wearing pants, but I would tell myself, they aren't tight, at my age, they are certainly not sexy!  And they are comfortable!"  I thought, Lord, if this is you talking to me, please make it very plain to me.  Can you tell that I did not want to make that sacrifice if I didn't have to?

Then, not too long ago, one of the ladies testified about a salesperson remarking that she must be a Christian.  I thought to myself, why would she think that?  Is it because she is wearing a skirt?  Do people really think that way?  Does that mean that I don't look like a Christian because I am wearing pants?  It bothered me.  I even asked my husband how he felt about women in pants.  He said he had never really thought much about it.

I remember your husband saying that he had never told you how to dress.  You always look so nice and feminine, and I wondered if that was the difference.  I had bought your books on the flash drive and had not read them, so I decided to read that book.  I sat down and read it straight through.  When I finished, I thought, "WOW".  The restroom door was the clincher!  Oh yes, and the lady who said she wasn't going to let a pair of pants keep her from a blessing!  Me neither!

I went online and looked for a pattern (I am a seamstress) for culottes or a divided skirt.  I found one I liked, that was out of print (or you could pay $15.00 for one!) I looked on eBay and found the same one, the same size, (just sold!).  There was another offer for one for $20.00.  "Bummer".  Amazon! I prayed that I would be able to find one.  There it was, same pattern, right size, $4.75, brand new! The Mailman just delivered it!

The next day, I wore a skirt, and my husband told me I looked nice (he has never been much to compliments).  Then, he told me we needed to go shopping and buy me some new clothes!  I had my women's Bible Study Fellowship that morning and everyone complimented me on how nice I looked. What was funny, was, that they were all wearing pants and as we stood up to sing, I noticed how all those pants looked from the rear!  I told my teacher to call me, that I had something to share with her.

My husband picked me up from the study and took me out to lunch. Then, we went shopping.  By this time, I was ready to explode at how I felt inside.  I was just bubbling over! 

We tried the Goodwill store and found several skirts and two pretty silk, down, jackets.  Everything was on sale for 50% off!  Then we went to the Salvation Army store and all the clothes were 50% off. I found about 10 really nice skirts, some for church and some for home, and the best thing was a beautiful divided skirt that was well made and must have cost a fortune new.

My teacher called me that afternoon. I told her all that I had told you, and she said, "The Lord is really working in your life.  I have never felt convicted about wearing pants, but now we will just have to see…"  I cannot believe that such a simple thing was standing between me and a closer walk with the Lord!

Thank you for your book! I just thought it was a matter of personal choice, not a spiritual issue. So, I can't testify about my horribly, sinful past,and how the Lord saved me from it, but I can give them a lot of reasons why I now wear all skirts! [Maryland]

We have been in the ministry for 43 years and are now doing missionary work in Eastern Canada, the United States, and the world. We are also evangelizing and doing home conferences. We are looking forward to these books. We have the others you have written. [Missionary Evangelist's wife, AR]

Dear Shirley,

Thank you for sending your books. I know with little encouragement, the books will sell very rapidly. I will be pushing them at Family Camp. Also, I plan to carry them from the bookstore as I travel this year. I was so excited when [my friend in Wisconsin] showed it to me. I remember [another friend from Kansas] referring to your teaching material and how good it is. I was thrilled when I saw the book in print. Praise the Lord. Thank you Mrs. Starr for your work and labor of love for us. [Iowa]