Greatest Person: Woman Lives Life's Calling

Patch has launched a new editorial feature called “the Greatest Person.”

At Patch, we want to showcase ordinary residents doing extraordinary things. Each Greatest Person’s acts of courage, determination, volunteerism and compassion have made a difference in their town and have inspired and energized others to strengthen their communities and improve the lives around them.

This week, we’re highlighting Dorie Cummings, a Shelby Township resident and founder of Women of Value: Christian Book Club.

The nonprofit organization sells inexpensive Christian literature at book fairs and other Christian events. The organization also provides free Bibles to women.

In the past few years, Women of Value has held book sales at small struggling churches and donated the proceeds back to the churches.

Women of Value will be handing out free Bibles Wednesday at during the church's Big Give, an event aimed at helping low-income families prepare for back-to-school.

Cummings said the Christian books may be sold, but she always wants to give away the Bible for free and eventually she would like to purchase Bibles written in different languages so she can hand them out to missionary groups around the world.

“The focus of the organization is spreading the word of God,” Cummings said.

But Cummings wants the club to go beyond just spreading the word.

“My goal is to bring women of faith together and encourage people that God is real and he answers prayers,” she said.

Looking back, it’s no surprise that Cummings found herself collecting and valuing the teachings of Christian literature.

“My mother was a book fanatic. She had a library of Christian books. I didn’t mean to, but I turned into my mother,” said Cummings as she snickered.

But Cummings said her true passion in life is pure prayer.

“I am an intercessory prayer leader. It’s my calling. I love it and I am walking in it,” she said.

Cummings, who is a mother of two teenagers, a wife of 21 years and a part-time model, finds time to lead a weekly women’s prayer group at Lakeside Assembly of God in Shelby Township.

The group, started by Cummings and church elder Madeline Clark, began in February 2011 with four women and has grown to nearly 20.

“We pray not only for our immediate needs, we pray for our church, the state, the government and catastrophes. Intercessory prayers always go above our needs; we’re standing in the gap for someone else,” said Cummings.

If you know someone who should be featured as Patch's "Greatest Person," email editor Marina.Cracchiolo@patch.com with your nomination and their contact info.