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Our Conference Chaplain
Reverend Richard Bartley
Village Grace Mission Web Site
Hello Everyone Treasure Box Time is Upon Us-
Reida and I continue to thank everyone for ALL their prayers !!!
There has been so very much keeping us busy, I really do not know where to
start. A lot of good things have happened in the last two - three months but
unfortunately some bad things are again surfacing to give us heartbreak and
grief.
As some of you may know, in August, the wind storm blew shingles off the
roof of the church and the house. The roof at the house started to leak so
we had to turn it into the insurance company. After phone calls, estimates
and contractors we did find out that our insurance company is being very
helpful and nice to us. But we will have to have the whole roof on the house
replaced within the next two weeks. We do also have an estimate for the
replacement of the roof on the church and we will need lots of prayer on
that project. It is in very bad shape and desperately needs to be replaced.
Micro Systems Management came to our rescue and repaired our server. They
completely reprogrammed the server and put all our computers online,
switched us over from DSL to Cable (Faster speeds for the children).
Installed filters for pornography and violence while updating all software.
They also installed battery backups on all office and church equipment and
hooked up all the printers on a network. God is so great!! They are a
Christian company who use Bible verses as identifiers on all the equipment
and passwords. Reida and I can’t believe the difference working with
computers that actually do what they are supposed to! And actually printing
things at the church – we used to put things on our travel drive and print
them at home. WOW!
One of our volunteers has been mentoring one of our young girls for the last
few months and has been giving her piano lessons. We have seen tremendous
growth in this young lady – in her overall behavior (in church and on the
street) and she comes into the Mission Center every day to practice on the
piano. Praise God!!! Plus she has not missed a Tuesday children’s church in
the last two months. Pray for Judea – that she will continue to improve and
not lose focus.
Tuesday evening children’s church attendance has continued to grow – we have
a pressing need for another TEACHER!! Reida has been teaching 22 to 25
children some nights in the back of the church!! Sometimes she has help from
Brittany but sometimes she is alone. Pray that God will touch someone’s
heart to take over the moulding of these young minds and hearts! Spread the
word that someone will have a heart to help on Tuesdays nights with these
children who are hungry for the Bible! It is a praise but at the same time a
problem.
Millersburg GBC hosted the community meal on September 24th. They brought
rigatoni, salad and desserts! They fed 112 people in the neighbourhood!
Praise God! What a witness that was. They did such a great job! It was a
truly amazing show of their love of Christ and their love for ministry! They
interacted with the people in the neighbourhood by talking to them, not
talking down to them – they lifted them up with their positive comments,
smiles and outstretched hands. The best feedback that a Pastor can get from
the community is after a group leaves is for the people to come up to him
the next week and ask who were those people? When I asked why? The majority
of the comments were “THEY WERE REAL” – Great job Millersburg – You make my
job so much easier!!!!!! You Guys Get what it is all about!!!
Unfortunately with the economy the way it is things are going to get worse
in our community. The house behind the church was set on fire this Tuesday
night. It was arson and they had the tear it down this weekend. - Family
situations are getting to the point where they are doing desperate things.
Compassion ministries are needed more than ever - help us to make a
difference!
Pray for our community - Pray for Village Grace to continue to change lives
for Jesus Christ.
I have attached a letter for you to print and share – it is for the Treasure
Boxes. We will be collecting after Thanksgiving!
Thanks for your support!
Rich and Reida Bartley
October 17, 2011
Dear Friend of Village Grace,
This last year there has been increasing violence in our Slavic Village
neighbourhood. The house behind the church was set on fire this last week,
ruled arson and had to be torn down. The children that attend our after
school homework program have told us stories of bullying in school and
random gang attacks while walking home from school. These children come from
under-resourced families that can use help throughout the year, but even
more so during the holidays. So many churches and organizations have been
immensely blessed by partnering with us the past 17 years during the Holiday
season. This year Village Grace will be giving at least 40 Holiday Baskets
to families in our neighbourhood at Thanksgiving and at Christmas. In
addition, we will be presenting “Treasure Boxes” to the children in our
neighbourhood and at selected elementary schools. We invite you, your
company or your church group to “partner” with us this Holiday season by
collecting food for our Holiday Food Baskets or by collecting small
Christmas gifts to distribute to disadvantaged children in Southeast
Cleveland. Our goal this year is to provide 2000 shoeboxes filled with “FUN”
stuff - toys, books, gloves, scarves, etc. - for needy children in our area.
We are trying to enlist the help of various churches, companies,
organizations and individuals in Northern Ohio.
Our very special Christmas Treasure Box Program has the partners providing
wrapped shoeboxes with approximately $25 to $30 in school supplies and fun
things for elementary school aged children. We then ask for a $5 bill to be
added so that the children may have a little money to purchase something for
themselves. We have in the past provided shoebox gifts to all the students
in grades K-8 at Newburg Heights Elementary, Mound Elementary, St. Stan’s
Elementary, Fullerton Elementary, Union Elementary School and five other
agencies that work with children. Almost all of these are at-risk children
from families at or near poverty level.
For the last seventeen years that we have had our Treasure Box program, it
has given everyone involved a wonderful blessing as well as an opportunity
to touch others. It has surpassed all expectations by its continued growth
from 24 children the first year to 2100 children of Cleveland’s Slavic
Village area this last year.
Your help this year would touch the lives of so many children in need. If
you feel you can participate or have any questions at all, please call me at
(cell) 216-299-0752. We ask that all donations be collected by December 1st
so that we can pick them up and distribute the boxes starting on December
15th.
Sincerely,
Rev. Richard Bartley
Richard Bartley, Pastor
Village Grace Mission Center
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