Taste of Reconciliation 2010 - more details at www.tasteofreconciliation.com

On July 25, 2010 Christ Cares teamed up with the Building Bridges Committee of Living Springs Community Church for the 8th (or 9th?) annual Taste of Reconciliation.

Hundreds of Christians gathered from many ethnic and denominational backgrounds gathered to grow in love and understanding in other Christians in the Body of Christ.

Taste of Reconciliation 2010 Free Ethnic Food Booths

Volunteers from Living Springs arranged an amazing assortment of ethnic food. It was absolutely beyond delicious! Much hard work went into this and it was a blessing that they fed possibly 500 or so people for FREE!  We also appreciate the South Suburban Chinese Church and the Korean United Methodist Church of Homewood IL providing ethnic cuisine. There was also outdoor grilled food and games for children. We appreciate Joan Vanna and her youth group for helping with the games and clean up.

We were blessed to have a spiritual time of worship led by various ethnic choirs and singers including:

• Rev. Roy Patterson of Moody Radio and Pastor of New Life Baptist Church of Chicago Heights
• Living Springs Worship Team led by Jarvis Jernigan Jr.
• Hannah & Rev. Ken Roh of the Korean United Methodist Church
• Al Villarreal
• Rev. Charles Wallace
• Paul Radulescu

Pastor James Ford Pastor of Christ Bible Church and Moody Radio

Our speaker was Rev. James Ford, pastor of Christ Bible Church, Chicago, IL., author – Seven Reasons Why God Created Marriage, radio host of WMBI’s Wisdom from the Word.

Jackie Rivera of Restoration Ministries - 2010's Reconciliation Award Winner

This year’s Reconciliation Award went to Ms. Jackie Rivera of Restoration Ministries of Harvey, IL for year many years of dedicated work.

Building Bridges member Wayne Aardsma

Special Thanks to our Host and co-sponsor Living Springs Community Church

Building Bridges Committee:

Mia Franklin, Pastor Chris Spoor, Imogene Harrell, Jeannie Williams, Marie Boyd Skinner, *Jamieson Clay, Wayne Aardsma, *Melanie Jongsma, Scott Reese, Karin Vredeveld, Marlene Garrott, Mary Marsh. *co-leaders

There are many other people that I hope to list soon that deserve credit for help in making this event possible. I also hope to add many many photos to the http://tasteofreconciliation.com website.

Cliff Williams was our photographer and he is available to video tape or photograph your special event (contact me for his number).

Ed Stroh videotaped the Taste of Reconciliation and I hope to post it soon.

Melanie Jongsma co-leader of the Building Bridges Committe with Jamieson Clay and also wordsmith at Lifelines Publishing put together a couple videos clips of the Taste of Reconciliation 2010:

This year’s Taste of Reconciliation will be July 31, 2011 -

Please mark your calendars – we will soon put information up on how you can become involved at http://tasteofreconciliation.com

Return to ChristCares.org – HERE

Partner with Christ Cares – DONATE HERE

Get Frequent Facebook Updates from Missionary Scott Reese – HERE

Please pray for for my friend and fellow urban minister Joe Huizenga and Roseland Christian Ministries … he’s been called in to help the relatives of an eight year old girl who was murdered in Roseland earlier today. Her little 5 year old cousin was also shot and has a bullet lodged in her brain.

Lets not only pray for the family and community but also for Pastor Joe Heizenga… its hard to explain how much these situations drain a minister…

Unfortunately I’ve probably known over 100 people who have been murdered and I can’t tell you how many other serious crisis situations  I’ve been through. From personal experience, I am asking for prayer, encouragement, and support for urban ministers.

I know besides this incident, just within the last couple months Pastor Joe has faced another difficult funeral, saw a couple teens chasing each other with guns, was involved in an anti violence campaign after another young child was murdered, and has had many other high pressure crisis situations. Please pray and do all you can to encourage this young minister. See RoselandChristianMinistries.org if you are not familiar with this ministry.

Please pray for the other urban missionaries that you know. I often wondered if some of the health conditions Rev. Tony Van Zanten (one of my heros) were related to to the toils of long term urban ministry. Campus Crusade’s Agape Center (Rev.Milton Massie & a wonderful staff) is also located in Roseland and has been through some trying times. I also ask for prayer for myself as the Board of Directors has requested that I seek counseling for Post Traumatic Stress.

HOW TO PRAY FOR URBAN MINISTERS…

Pray for protection not just from physical harm but also from all harm. Pray for their families and their needs. And pray that God will show himself strong, mighty & powerful!

The needs of urban Chicago seem hopeless and overwhelming… with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible! One by one, lives can be transformed through the awesome power of God! Pray that the Lord will empower us to: “preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Although there are many negative headlines and news stories let’s not forget there is alot of good things too. There is a multitude of young people who say no to the gangs on a daily basis- Their story is never told on the “news”.There are moms and dads in spite of challenging circumstances who are great role models to their kids – their story is also never on the “news”.

2 Thess. 3   Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Video Christian Testimony of a Chicago Heights Police Officer – Joe Stith, Sr.

Feb. 2011 update:

I latter found out the person who called Pastor Joe Heizenga was my dear friend Carolyn Zigler who works for Roseland Christian Ministries’ Strong Tower Homeless shelter. We don’t want to dwell on it but early violent death is a reality in Urban America – & it is not just the gang bangers who are affected. I’ve known 4 people that have been murdered this past year. Please pray for the families who lost their loved ones. I’d especially like you to pray for my friend Joanne. A few days before Christmas her daughter Marquita was murdered. I knew Marquita as a precious little girl years ago while I was pastor of New Life. Anyway Joanne now has the responsibility of raising Marquita’s two children and is facing many challenges. (Also pray for Lavetta who has been a strong supporter of our ministry, her son was murdered last summer. Many of you know my assistant Jeff Bryson, this was a relative of his).

Thank you for your help in making  the ministry of CHRIST CARES possible.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED!

Please take a few minutes and view this video. Christ Cares is a 501c3 Christian non profit organization that believes the LOVE OF GOD needs to be both proclaimed and demonstrated!

The economic crisis has affected most of us here in America, however, the impact has been devistating in the urban areas. School is about to start in a few weeks and many families are struggling to get the needed school supplies. Christ Cares is collecting school supplies to help met this need and also as a paractical demonstration of God’s love. For over 30 years, our Director, Rev. Scott Reese has been an urban missionary. Please prayerfully consider making a difference and help us secure school supplies and also “share” this video with your friends.

A list of our needed supplies is also posted below.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE “YOUTUBE” LOGO TO VIEW ON YOUTUBE & EASILY  SHARE WITH YOUR EMAIL OR FACEBOOK FRIENDS…

Help Spread the word! share this post on Facebook or email it to your friends…

Thank you so much for your prayer and support to make this ministry possible.

Enclosed is our latest newsletter…

We will once again try to post more often to our blog – so please come back soon!

Sunday, the TASTE OF RECONCILIATION was a blessing to hundreds of Christians.

I will post pictures and video soon. Thank you so much for all those who volunteered.

I especially want to thank the BUILDING BRIDGES COMMITTEE of Living Springs Community Church for their help in making this idea a reality.

WANT TO BE FRIENDS?

Let’s pray for each other… facebook is a great way to keep in touch…

Keep “up to date” with our Director, Missionary Scott Reese at:

FACEBOOK.COM/INTERNETMINISTER

CHRIST CARES is sponsoring “GOOD NEWS DAY” on the day before Easter.

CHRIST CARES will provide Easter Tracts and soon will post on this website survey cards and a sample letter that the pastor can write to go out with the materials.

Below is a flier for the event – we will soon post more information.

The Gift of Love

Thank you for the wonderful out pouring of love and compassion for those in need. We received hundreds of toys to distribute in the name of Jesus!

In a week or two we will post video and pictures of the “Christ the Greatest Gift” Toy Distribution, as well as some of our recent activities. Thank you for making our ministry possible.  

I’m sure this holiday season has been busy for you as it has also been for me.  I am reminded of the story of Martha and Mary. 

Luke 10:38-41 – As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to Him and asked, “Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work myself? Tell her to help me.” 

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “YOU ARE WORRIED AND UPSET ABOUT MANY THINGS, BUT ONLY ONE IS NEEDED. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. 

To be honest, far too often I relate more to Martha than Mary in this story. In my heart, I wish to be like Mary, calmly sitting at the Lord’s feet instead of Martha focused on her impossible “to do” list. 

Martha loved the Lord and was busy serving Him. Martha worked diligently doing things she thought would please Jesus.  She had a list of things she wanted to accomplish for the Lord and it soon became apparent she could not get everything done for the Lord that she wanted to. She became frustrated and overwhelmed. She quickly blamed her sister for her problems, and did not even contemplate that the issue that needed to be addressed was in her own heart.  

The text says that Martha was “distracted” which means to be ”pulled away”.  Martha’s good intentions somehow pulled her way from accomplishing what was truly most important. It is true that good is often the enemy of best. Sometimes everything cannot get done that we desire. During the busy times of life, it is of special importance to remember our priorities.  

It is easy to gauge our spiritual life by what we are “doing” for God. This can mean teaching classes, giving to missions, or helping the homeless. These pursuits are all fine but we must remember that God wants our heart. Ministry must flow from a heart of love for God. We must remember that ultimately we don’t have anything to offer God that He “needs”. It is a heart of love that God desires. It is out of gratitude to our Savior that we serve. 

Think about it, what do we have to offer God, but a heart of love? 

A homeless child got me thinking about this… 

Recently, due to your generosity we were able to provide toys for the children of a homeless shelter. The kids were very excited to receive the gifts. We shared the Christmas story, not just that Jesus was born in a manger, but WHY He came. 

Later at home, I read some of the thank you notes written by the kids and came across this one: 

Christian Love

When I opened this card, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me… I’m sure I enjoyed it as much or more than any of the children did receiving their gifts. 

This precious child from a heart of love and gratitude said, “I love you Pastor Scott”. Technically, there really isn’t anything a homeless child could have bought me that would have gotten me very excited. However this card was very meaningful. 

 Let us not be “distracted” pulled away from the priority of sitting at the Lord’s feet… we must remember that it is our relationship with the Lord that is important. It is our first priority that sets the tone for the rest of our life. 

Do you feel overwhelmed? Let us set aside expectations that the Lord does not require. 

What do you still have to do today? Let us not forget what is needful… Time sitting at the feet of Jesus… Christianity is not a set of rules and regulations, it is a relationship with the Lord of the universe.   

CHRIST THE GREATEST GIFT CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE

Please help share the word about our Christmas Toy Drive.  Details are in the following document which can be printed or emailed to a friend. Please pray for us as we distribute these toys. It is our desire not just to bless families with toys but also share the GOOD NEWS what Christmas is all about. Partner with us to share that “Christ is the Greatest Gift”.

Watch videos of kids opening the presents and hear testimonies of how the “Christ the Greatest Gift” Christmas toy drive has touched lives – HERE

USE OF CHURCH VAN NEEDED

Christ Cares sponsors youth activities for urban youth. Transportation is usually a problem. We are limited to our Suburban Station Wagon that will seat 8 kids and whatever vehicle volunteers have (often we have no volunteers helping). We are looking for a church or two that would allow us to occasionaly use their church van to pick up urban boys and girls for fun activities and Bible Studies. I (Scott Reese) would be the driver and we would need the van when available on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month(9:45 a.m – 1:00 p.m.), and also sometimes on a Wednesday or Thursday for a late afternoon or early evening activity. This is a way your church could use its resources for the kingdom. We would be very interested even if a church could not make a commitment for regular use.

We are very grateful for Campus Crusade’s Agape Center for donating 50 Thanksgiving “Boxes of Love” to CHRIST CARES. Following the Agape Center’s guidlines we targeted families that were not only struggling financially but also were unchurched. The goal was to use this Turkey, meal, and Christian Materials as a demonstration of God’s love to connect with unchurched families.  I am especially grateful to the volunteers who helped with the distribution mostly in Ford Heights, Chicago Heights, and Robbins: Jeff Bryson, Fred Edmond (Sr. & Jr.), Tommie Beasley, Sam Williams, Bryan Bell, David Gills, and Robin Quin.

CHRIST CARES  also sponsored our monthly Community Outreach Dinner in Roseland and are grateful for the Liccar family for providing this meal. Please pray for the Gallilee Baptist Church as they endeavor to share God’s love in Roseland (Chicago).

Christ Cares Volunteers Fred Edmond (Sr. & Jr.)

We are also in need of donations of canned hams and food for additional families that we work with that are struggling financially at this time. Please let us know if you can help.

Sunday (11/22/09) was a tremendous blessing for my daughter Katie and me. One of the families we distributed a “Box of Love” to on Saturday had 10 children living there. On Sunday, Katie and I brought 4 of the older children to church. Afterwards we spent some time with them and shared the “GOOD NEWS” of God’s great love and plan of salvation. We praise the Lord as they were already “planted” and “watered” in that they were already prepared and hungering to know God and ready to accept His marvelous gift of salvation. We praise the Lord for “child like faith”. Please pray for Briana, Bridget, Earline, and Margaret.

Sunday afternoon Lisa, Katie, and I went to the home of one of our faithful supporters, Loraine Smith. Although Christ Cares has many people who donate throughout the year, the vast majority of support comes from just about 15 individuals, couples, or churches that support us on a monthly/regular basis. We are very grateful to this special crowd of partners and want to get to know them (you) better. Lisa is back helping me with donor relations, and we’d love to have the opportunity to fellowship with you sometime.  Anyway, we had a wonderful afternoon playing “Crowns”, chatting, and munching on snacks. Loraine is 83 and now has some health issues, so I’d appreciate your prayers for her.

A special note about the AGAPE CENTER: For those not familiar with them, they are a wonderful urban ministry impacting hundreds of lives in the Roseland area and I highly reccommend them. (More info on the Agape Center – HERE). They have been a blessing to me and my ministry endeavors for probably over 20 years! Please pray for them, the economic downturn has hurt most non profits, I know they had to drastically cut back on their Turkey distribution this year. Also, there was a very high profile gang related murder in their parking lot. You probably saw this on the news as it was a national story. I am personally grateful to God in that the afternoon that this happened I had planned on stopping by the Agape Center to try to see Milton, but God changed my mind and I missed that event.  Unfortunately I’ve been involved with many similar murder catastrophies and know the physical, emotional, and even spiritual drain these situations can be. I still struggle with post traumatic stress issues to some degree over some of the multitude of murder situations I’ve been through. Anyway, I want to encourage you to have your church pray for Milton Massie and the dedicated staff of the Agape Center. Pray that the Lord will protect them, refresh them, and empower them to continue being a beacon of light and love to that community.

Prayer is powerful! A verse I have pondered is James 4:2  ”You do not have, because you do not ask God”.  Isn’t that amaizing!  There are situations and needs that could be turned around simply by prayer. As Christians we all believe that God asnswers prayer… but I believe that is is easy to drift into a state where we don’t realize that prayer can make a powerful impact for the kingdom. Prayer makes a difference!

Pictured below are children from Roseland Christian Ministry’s Strongtower Homeless Shelter. (www.roselandchristianministries.org) They are reciting Jerimiah 33:3 “Call unto me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things.”  We do not have the resources or power to turn the lives and fortunes around for these wonderful families, but God does. Some asked for prayer, please pause and ask our sorverign God to work in their lives. 

• Jasmine: Pray for hope & ability to maintain sanity.
• Ebony: Pray I get a house & I get things for my new baby due April 25, 2010.
• Lisa: Pray I get out of the shelter & get my own apartment.
• Amy: Pray for my health and strength.
• Twana: Pray I get in this housing program.
• Sherprina, Michelle, Amber: unspoken
• Claudine: pray for my husband and son.
• Evelyn: for my daughter to get better and for me to get housing and a job.

OTHER PRAYER REQUESTS:

• We need snacks and crafts for our Tuesday night ministry at the Homeless Shelter. Please read our latest newsletter (two posts below) for more information.
• Robin Quin has a wonderful ministry in Ford Heights. Dispite many obstycles she runs a after school safe house and also the “Hope Center”, as well as a home for the homeless in Chicago Heights. This past weekend, the Hope Center was broken into and their computers were stolen.
• Urban Minister Sam Williams is a very dedicated servant of the Lord and he also serves on the Board of Directors of Christ Cares. He is in need of employment and also a refridgerator.
• Two other close friends are in need of employment. Fred Edmond is a skilled and dilligent worker who came to the Lord about a year or two ago and has really grown in the Lord. Another colaborer is in the process of losing his home and needs employment.
• On Sunday I (Scott Reese) read a great quote in the bulletin: “In the midst of the flurry of sermon preparation and ministry to people, the call sounds through my daily fog, that it is much more important what God has called me to be than what God has called me to do.” I really believe this and that ministry must flow from a heart passionate for God. Please pray that I (and our volunteers & my family) stay close to the Lord. Lives are not changed by good intentions, clever plans, or hard work, it is only through the power and blessings of Almighty God.
• My daughter Lexi recently got married. Please pray for her and her husband David as they begin their new life together and that God wil work in their lives in powerful ways.
• I’d also ask your prayers for CHRIST CARES, as we share the name change and that also God will touch hearts and provide for this ministry in a mighty way.

* PS – JUST IN… 

I just heard from Robin Quin. She really liked the Bible Study books that were in the Thanksgiving “Boxes of Love”. She would like 28 copies of the book to teach children about Jesus in Ford Heights. Is there someone who would like to partner and buy these 28 books? What a wonderful eternal investment this would be… Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, & where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Friday 11/13/09 We watched the movie Second Chance with  the Building Bridges Committee of Livings Springs Community Church. This movie highlights the challenges of “Black” and “White” churches working together and is good for getting discussions going on this topic. The Building Bridges Committee is designed specifically to foster the church’s intentional goal of intentionally being a multicultural church. I believe this is a good idea for churches that are located in a multicultural community. Christ Cares would be happy to use it’s vast experience to help your church set up a similar committee.

Saturday 11/14/09 We had the Men’s Bible Study. We were blessed to have Ray Rayburn as our special guest speaker. Ray has written three Bible Study Books: Ephesians, Revelation, and The Holy Spirit. The next Men’s Bible Study is scheduled for the first Saturday of December, 8:30 a.m. at Scott’s house. This is a great opportunity not only to study the Bible, but also to connect with a very diverse group of men from different cultures and backgrounds.

Saturday afternoon we picked up a high quality copier that was donated by Crete Church. We want to send out a sincere THANK YOU! Already we have put it to good use.

Sunday 11/15/09

I (Scott Reese) started day at New Life Baptist Church of Chicago Heights where Rev. Roy Patterson (of Moody Radio) is pastor. They were celibrating their 29th anniversary. This is the church I founded (along with a wonderful Assistant Pastor David Gills and others) in Ford Heights. I served as pastor there for 18 years and it was a blessing to see old friends and to see the work of the Lord continuing on. I briefly shared the story of the founding of the church and God’s miraculous provision of the current ministry center that contains a guymnasium, kitchen, and beatiful auditorium. To God be the glory…

Next I stoped by the East Hazel Crest Bible Church to partake of some of their special Homecoming activities. This is a very special church to me as my dad was pastor there when I was born.  On Wednesday evenings I take children there to partake of their wonderful Olympians Bible Study program and also a teen girl Bible Study lead by Shauntel Guzitas.

Our next stop was the South Suburban Chinese Church of Tinley Park. I have been blessed to preach there on a regular basis for over twenty years. Currently every third Sunday of the month I give the children a brief Bible Lesson and also share a sermon with the adults. Please pray for this wonderful congregation. If you know of any Chinese individuals in need of a church please put them in contact with us. The services are in the afternoons and are in Chinese. This is a way to keep the Chinese culture alive and also to reach out in unique ways to the Chinese population of Chicagoland.

In the evening I was invited to attend evening service of First Church of Lansing by a couple Board Members of Christ Cares.