2008 Ministry Letter
February 6, 2009
Dear Friends of the Ministry,
We hope this finds you enjoying the season that God has you in. As for the Reiners, it’s been a wonderful and sometimes difficult one at that. 2008 was a kick off year for a ministry that we believe we have been called to. Pronounced “five two”, Project 5 2 started as sort of a “meals on wheels” idea with distribution of bread to the nooks and crannies of the tri state area in Jesus’ name. In attempt to reach the “least of these” including the lost, homeless, mentally ill, single parent, and families suffering through job loss and these economic times, we delivered over 18,000 loaves of bread with the help of other volunteers who have become distributors of these goods to all parts of the area surrounding Cincinnati. Over 3800 people were fed per week with bread, pizza shells and sauce, canned goods, dairy products, stuffing, doughnuts, pastries and HOPE. God’s economy is not hurting! By the way, who’s economy are YOU serving?
Last fall, we made a trip with a group from Christian Life Center and some area churches to Jackson County Kentucky, an Appalachian community with great need. The Happy Church pastored by Mike Tabor, hosted our outreach to the community. We had prayed for an extra 40 racks of bread and the Lord blessed us with 80! Van loads of bread; school supplies and clothing took off on a Sunday morning arriving in time to join the Happy Church in worship. Afterward, we served lunch and started filling bags. It was an incredible day.
What we thought was a “bread ministry” in 2008, has now literally exploded in 2009. To start, we became an official 501 (c) 3, and recently had a 14 passenger van donated to us by the New Horizon Daycare in Evanston. (Thanks Terri!) We have received pallets of product currently stored in a warehouse in Hamilton (thanks Billy and Josh J) We have received clothing, shoes, over 300 coats for the mentally ill this winter, (thanks Bob at WCCN, and Arlene at SRC) and canned goods. (J Teresa at St. Susanna’s) We have been promised more and have finally outgrown our garage. (Our boys have asked when we will get the feminine hygiene products out of plain view in our garage!) Bread pick- up and delivery is still every Thursday with the help of 7 other drivers. Approximately 90 racks of bread are delivered each week. (We love you Tim, Steve, Tressa, Diane, Bob, Rudy and Teresa). Jerry travels with a Teen Challenge resident every Thursday who helps with delivery. That has been an incredible blessing to us! We’ve learned discipleship works both ways!
In January, we gave “Kids against Hunger” 50 pair of new shoes and approximately 100 pair of brand new Levi jeans and shorts for their delivery to Ethiopia and Swaziland. Praise God Larry! We’re just the distributors of His wealth. It was so exciting to be a part of that. We receive the product and God lets us know where it’s supposed to go! Our goal is to sit on nothing and distribute everything as fast as we know where it’s supposed to go.
The most amazing part of this ministry is the opportunity to pray with people and offer them hope through their trials. Jesus is our Hope in all things. We have had a taste as some of you know, of trial after trial. We believe this has all been a plan of the Lord to refine us and give us deeper compassion. We can talk to people and they can look in our eyes and trust us. It’s all about relationship - Yes -across denominational lines, (“where no man has ever gone before”!), into day cares and recreation centers, onto street corners, Rehab. Facilities, pantries, homes and on and on. No judgment, no ulterior motive. This isn’t some mechanical operation that just fills physical need and we want you to know that. Once physical need is met and that pain is relieved, people then can hear the Message of the Gospel. This ministry was a step of faith for us in every way. Tracy continues to work part time, and Jerry now does this full time. Our bills have miraculously been met, one by one. (Thanks for your prayers everyone!) God is so faithful, and we have experienced Him in a very intimate way this past year. He continues to confirm that we’re walking in the right direction.
We have been supported financially by so many of you and you’ll never know what your “seed” has meant to us. Truly, you’ll never know. But we so appreciate you and love you and thank you- Mom and Dad, Nina, Steve and Amy B, Billy and City on a Hill, Teresa, Shawn and Melissa, Tim G, Jay E, Mary and Sandie and Linda, Christian Life Center, Paula, Catherine D, Rich, Teen Challenge, George, Osborne and Kim, Ricky, Gary, Mark, Catherine H, Gary and Julie, Brian and Jennifer, William, David, Bill, Rebecca, Crestview Fathers, Al, Judy, Grace Bible Presbyterian. and Faith U.M. Community Church.
Please read Isaiah 58:10-12. We covet your continued prayers and financial support so that we may continue to focus on the “least of these” in 2009. Just wanted to let you know what we’re up to!
Love,
The Reiners