Nov. 4 Prayer Requests, update, and announcements

1. PRAYER REQUEST – PLEASE PRAY FOR ME – I’VE BEEN QUITE SICK FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW… IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND MOVING INTO MY LUNGS and my fever is increasing. Lisa thinks it may be H1N1, I guess if I don’t turn the corner soon, I’ll go see a doctor. THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I’VE LOST  7 POUNDS! … NOW IT LOOKS LIKE KATIE MAY HAVE IT… I’M QUITE CONCERNED FOR MY LITTLE GIRL… I guess there is never a good time to be sick, but this is a critical time for the ministry – please pray for a quick recovery.  Also a special thank you goes out to Brian for covering for me at the shelter last night.

2. We have some exciting news to share in regard to the ministry… prayerfully we plan on sending out a newsletter next week. 

3. The men’s Bible study will be put off a week to the second Saturday in November – please spread the word… I’m not sure if I’ll be recouperated by Saturday … also there is a seminar on Racial Reconciliation at Living Springs Church that I will helping with – see Living Springs website  for more information – I’ve heard great things about this  seminar and hope you will be able to attend.

Thanks for your prayer and support,

Scott Reese

Back to School Supplies

Thank you for the donations of school supplies!

Because of your generosity we were able to bless hundreds of children!

We distributed the school supplies to children and ministries we are working with as a practical demonstration of God’s love in Chicago, Ford Heights, Chicago Heights, Robbins, and Hopkins Park.

Children were grateful and many parents were quite relieved.

Pictured below:

Some of our volunteers sorting of the school supplies at Rich Van Til’s barn:

Donated school supplies sorted

 

Gallilee Baptist Church’s “Back to School Rally”

back to school rally in Roseland (Chicago)

 

Prayer for the Children receiving the school supplies at Galilee Baptist Church

(One of many groups we helped):

Prayer for children at Roseland's Back to School Rally

 

We also helped Nick Leep and a group of Christian Businessmen with an outreach in Hopkins Park.

Hopkins Park outreach - volunteers are needed to help repair homes...

9/15/2009 Prayer Request

We just received word tonight that Shantel Guzitas, one of our most faithful volunteers is having a sickle cell crisis. Please join us in prayer for her.

Shantel is a very dedicated teenage girl. On Tuesday nights she often volunteers to help out at the Homeless shelter along with me, Rich, Lori, Marcia, & Brian. On Wednesday evenings she has a Bible study for teenage girls and she is always willing to volunteer … 

Below she is pictured praying that our “Back to School” supply project would be blessed by God.

I will keep you posted through this blog.  Also feel free to drop her a card of encouragement –  send it to us & we’ll get it to her.

By the way, please come back and visit this blog soon – I have many pictures and videos of recent activities that I hope to post soon.

Shantel Praying (left)

Shantel praying (left)

 

View the Taste of Reconciliation online

On July 26, 2009 was THE TASTE OF RECONCILIATION. It was a real blessing to see hundreds of Christians of different races and cultures worshiping the Lord together!

Eventually we will be posting photo albums and video clips of the event. In the mean time you may view the Taste of Reconciliation on Living Spings Community Church’s website: HERE.

Pictured below is Sarah Van Drunen one of many Christian musicians that blessed our hearts.

Christian artist Sarah Van Drunen

SUNDAY NIGHT SEPT. 6, 2009

If  anyone happens to check our blog tonight, I’d appreciate your prayers of protection tonight.  They’ve had the police helicopters circling our neighborhood tonight. Tonight was the Fireworks show in Chicago Heights – a few blocks from our house – we get a great view.  Anyway, we think we just heard gunfire.  My little girl is scared.

Anyway, Psalm 27 comes to mind:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came [1] upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty [2] of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; [3] I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain [4] path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came  upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:

though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;  I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

I thank God for His promise of protection…

Thanks for your prayers,

Scott Reese

8/14/09 Body of Christ Cares QUICK UPDATE

Last Saturday we took urban kids fishing – For some it was their first time. We had a wonderful time! Thanks Chuck and Angela for letting us fish at your place…

Body of Christ works together in Ford Heights – weekly update 8/5/09

On July 25 BodyofChristCares.org partnered with a Christian men’s Bible Study to help empower Christ Temple #2 Church have a community outreach in Ford Heights, IL. Rev. Futrell is the pastor and has a big heart for the community. Pictured is Rich Van Til with Body of Christ Cares’ inflatible bouncer. Also pictured is a snow cone machine that we borrowed for this event, the Taste of Reconciliation, and also at the homeless shelter – We would love to have someone buy us a snow cone machine for us to share with the “Body of Christ” to empower groups to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways to their community

On July 26 we had our 7th annual Taste of Reconciliation We had about 550 attend and had an absolutely wonderful time! A special thank you to the Building Bridges Committee of Living Springs Community Church and all those that helped to make this event possible. Soon we will have a special post with pictures and video of this event.

Special need: This Saturday (August 7) I am taking some urban children fishing – I need fishing poles! Please contact me (708-539-893nine) if you have one we can borrow or if you are willing to buy one (Walmart has them for about $15). I am also taking kids on September 29 and might need more volunteers.

Return to BODYOFCHRISTCARES.ORG – HERE

School Supplies needed as a demonstration of God’s love

Body of Christ Cares is collecting school supplies for urban ministry.

We want to send out a special thank you to the kids of  Homewood Church.

Their VBS program raised over $900 for us to purchase school supplies. I believe this is the largest offering we have ever received from a VBS program. This has put us off to a good start, but the need in Chicagoland is astounding and we still have a goal of helping hundreds of more families.

I especially want to make an appeal for those churches who collect school supplies for those in need and then donate them to a secular non profit to distribute them…  Body of Christ Cares not only distributes the school supplies to impoverished communities, we also distribute them in the name of Jesus- they go out with a gospel witness or they help a struggling Christian family. Christian Churches are empowered to be the center of hope and help in their distressed communities. Please consider the full mission of helping those in need…

Our nation is in crisis, economic needs are real, but we must also remember the greatest needs are spiritual… Body of Christ Cares believes in following the holistic ministry example of Jesus by endeavoring to meet both physical and spiritual needs.

The world will know that God cares, when it sees that the Body of Christ Cares.

Below is the video we showed at Homewood Church to help explain the Back to School Supplies Project to the children.

If you would like to help us spread the word – You can print the document below to distribute at your church or you can email the document to your friends (Click the “More” Button)

View this document on Scribd

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RETURN TO BODYOFCHRISTCARES.ORG – HERE

Pray for new Bible and Basketball Program

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

On Wednesdays Missionary Scott Reese leads a Bible and Basketball program at Living Springs Community Church.

The children (ages 11 -13) were encouraged to invite unchurched friends to attend the program with them. Not only are they taught how to increase their basketball skills they are also learning what the Bible says about Christianity.

Please pray … for the Christian kids to better understand their faith and to be motivated to share their faith with others.

While I (Scott Reese) was in junior high I began to aggressively share my faith. In fact just this past week, I came across Noel King – while I was at Walgreens. I met Noel (who came from a unchurched family) when I was out witnessing as a teenager and invited her to come to my Bible Club. She soon became a Christian and when she got older she went to Bible College. It was a blessing to hear Noel share how after all these years she is still serving the Lord – she weekly runs a bus route with her husband to take children to church and also encourages about 300 women by email every week who are part of a missions group. Anyway, that little story is just to explain why I believe that young people can and should share their faith…

Also pray for those in the Bible and Basketball program that are not Christians… that God would grant them understanding and conviction to trust Christ as their savior.

Body of Christ Cares can train and empower your church to use sports as a way to share the gospel – we must never forget our great mission, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel”  Mark 16:15

Christmas in July – thank you from the Homeless Shelter

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Body of Christ Cares provided a “Christmas in July” program for the moms and children of the Roseland Christian Ministries Strong tower Homeless Shelter.

Thank you for those who provided the cash donations for the toys – the kids had a great time and we were also able to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. We used the presents as an example of Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God”Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Body of Christ Cares provided a “Christmas in July” program for the moms and children of the Roseland Christian Ministries Strong tower Homeless Shelter.

Thank you for those who provided the cash donations for the toys – the kids had a great time and we were also able to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. We used the presents as an example of Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God”

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Body of Christ Cares provided a “Christmas in July” program for the moms and children of the Roseland Christian Ministries Strong tower Homeless Shelter.

Thank you for those who provided the cash donations for the toys – the kids had a great time and we were also able to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. We used the presents as an example of Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God”.

Volunteers, snacks, crafts, and board games are needed every Tuesday night – contact missionary Scott Reese if you are able to help.

RETURN TO BODYOFCHRISTCARES.ORG – HERE