Reach4Hope Blog

Reach4Hope Joins Rise Again Outreach

2010-10-26T15:48:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that the boards of directors for Reach4Hope and Rise Again Outreach recently voted unanimously to bring Reach4Hope into Rise Again Outreach. Reach4Hope is now a ministry of Rise Again Outreach. After years of working side by side, sharing volunteers and resources, and from that, seeing how coming together would strengthen both missions, the decision to unite seemed a natural progression.

While each organization targets a different area of need, we use a similar method and philosophy. Rise Again Outreach is a 3 year old mission helping families and individuals through their mobile food and clothing pantry, furniture exchange and prison aftercare. Reach4Hope has assisted the homeless population in the Concord area for 5 years, with food, clothing, personal supplies and tents for those without a regular place to live. We will soon bring our administrative services under one roof so more time and resources can be directed toward fulfilling our missions. With the snows of winter not far away, our two growing ministries are combining forces to more effectively reach out to the those in need in central New Hampshire. More at www.riseagainoutreach.org

As part of this move, Neil Burtt, Reach4Hope founder and chairman, will be joining the Rise Again Outreach board of directors. Lorinda Monroe, Reach4Hope president, will be the ministry director for the Reach4Hope ministry. The Reach4Hope ministry will be working side by side with Rise Again's Mobile Pantry, Furniture Exchange and Aftercare ministries.
We welcome any questions or comments you have. Please contact Bill Pelletier at wjp@riseagainoutreach.org or call 1-800-266-5017 Ext 5.

Repent and Believe the Good News!

2010-04-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

I was visiting Fuzzy in the hospital this past Friday. I say “visiting”, but I’m almost certain that he had no idea I was there. It’s not the first time I’ve been to see him there in this condition – heavily sedated and with a breathing tube down his throat. I got the impression that the doctors don’t feel they can do much for him, but because his brother asked that they try, they are giving it a shot. You see, Fuzzy’s brother is not ready at this time to lose him to death.

Many in our society fear death because they are unsure of what awaits on the other side. It’s a door they have no desire to open for fear that what lies beyond is total nothingness – nonexistence. Some, of course, firmly believe that what awaits them are the fires of hell because they cannot conceive of a God so loving as to be willing to forgive their grievous sins. The fact that they are concerned would lead me to believe that – if they could only accept the completeness and inclusiveness of God’s forgiveness – they would likely turn to him and receive it.

God’s forgiveness is real. Unlike so much else in this world, the forgiveness of God is something we can totally depend on. Nothing we can do has any effect on the complete and all-consuming forgiveness we have in Jesus. 1 Peter 3:18 tells us that “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” That means that your sins, past, present and future, have been paid for through the suffering and death of Jesus.

However, our acceptance of this reality depends on our turning – away from our sin and toward our Savior. There is a word in scripture for this turning, a word that you are probably familiar with. That word is repent. It means to think differently or to reconsider. It represents a 180 degree turn from our way of life apart from God and toward his intended life for us. Therefore, repentance is a choice we must make for ourselves.

Now we can choose to stubbornly make our own decisions and hope for the best, or we can turn our lives over to God and truly experience the best. Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…” If we repent and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, salvation is ours. We will surely slip up and sin on occasion, but sin will no longer be a way of life for us. And, although – once received – our salvation is assured, repentance needs to be ongoing. As God softens our hard hearts and opens our minds, we see more clearly how our life fails to follow his desire for us. So, as we make course corrections, we turn – again and again – from our ways to his ways.

For those who are already on this road it may sometimes seem like you are making no progress and that the journey God has laid out before you is just too hard. When this is your experience, just remember what Revelation 3:19 says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest (sincere), and repent. Trials come to draw us closer to God, not to push us further away. Allow the trials to give you clarity of vision so that you can see more clearly what God desires for you.

As I sat next to Fuzzy’s bedside on Friday, I was sure of two things. First, I knew for sure that – regardless of the mess he made of so much of his life – he trusts in God and in the salvation which is found only in Jesus Christ. Whether or not he survives this current ordeal, he has a home with God. Second, Fuzzy is a long way from perfect, but at least he’s heading in the right direction. You see, God meets us where we are at. He doesn’t put us down for not keeping up with him, but encourages us, like a parent to a toddler, to put one foot in front of the other and trust that, if we fall, he will be right there to pick us up again.

The Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth is a God of second chances. He is waiting and willing to give you yours right now. Turn to him and trust in him. Allow him to pour his love into you and you will be filled to overflowing.

In His service,
Pastor Thom

3x3 Benefit Concert - 3 bands, 3 causes - April 16th

2010-03-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars and join us for this event!

CHILD of God

2010-02-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

Message shared by Pastor Thom today about how God wants all of us to be His C-H-I-L-D, and a brief description of what that means...

1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3] Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

Chosen – God the Father chose us in Jesus before creating all that you see around you. As we find our identity, purpose and passion in Jesus, we reflect his love. This was His pleasure and elation.

Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. [4] For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love [5] he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Healed – Through the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we receive spiritual healing, the chains of incarceration are broken and eternal life is ours as we are lifted together with him in the embrace of the Father. By believing the truth (Jesus), we are set free to enjoy this relationship with Jesus, just as he enjoys relating to us.

1Peter 2:23 - When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Included – Jesus has purposed that we find our belonging in Him. It’s about relationship not religion. Jesus has included all of humanity in His life and love – because we “are,” we are wanted, accepted and loved.

Ephesians 1:11- In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, [12] in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Linked – In Christ, we are all included by one Spirit into one body – the church. We are needed and wanted in the body and it is there that we find we belong to one another. We find friendship, support, encouragement and elation in communion with our brothers and sisters.

Romans 12:4 - Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Disciple – (Student) We are called to follow Jesus—to be his disciples, joining with him in helping other people believe the truth of who they are in Jesus and follow him as his disciples.

John 13:34 - "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

- Thom

One Solitary Life

2010-02-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

Carol shared a great message last week at the van....

I want to talk to about justice and injustice. We all know someone who has been treated unjustly, or maybe it was you.

Acts 8:32-35 - "The place in the Scripture which he read was this: He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. In His humiliation, His justice was taken away. And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you whom does the prophet say this, of himself or some other man? Then Phillips opened his mouth and beginning at this Scripture preached Jesus to him."

The Scripture the man was reading is Isaiah 53:7-8. I am here to preach Jesus to you.

One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village  
The child of a peasant woman  
He grew up in another obscure village  
Where he worked in a carpenter shop  
Until he was thirty   

He never wrote a book  
He never held an office  
He never went to college
 He never visited a big city
 He never traveled more than two hundred miles  
From the place where he was born  
He did none of the things  
Usually associated with greatness  
He had no credentials but himself   
He was only thirty three  
His friends ran away  
One of them denied him;
One betrayed Him 
He was turned over to his enemies
 And went through the mockery of a trial
(He had no attorney - no one to represent Him)

 He was nailed to a cross between two thieves  
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing  
The only property he had on earth   
When he was dead  
He was laid in a borrowed grave
 Through the pity of a friend
(This is not the end of the story - He rose from the grave - He is alive!)  

Nineteen centuries have come and gone  
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
 And the leader of mankind's progress  
All the armies that have ever marched  
All the navies that have ever sailed  
All the parliaments that have ever sat
 All the kings that ever reigned put together  
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth  
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Is there justice on earth? In our lives? Maybe yes, maybe not. True justice will be given when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead. Luke 4:18 - Jesus came to earth "To heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..."

He came to die for our sin so we could be forgiven and have a personal relationship with God, Creator of heaven and earth, and receive the gift of eternal life. We are here for around 70 - 80 years. Our eternal home will be with Jesus where there is no more pain or sorrow. No more tears.

- Carol

Message shared by Janet - God sees you. God loves you. God is at work—He changes not.

2010-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Good morning. My name is Janet, I’m John’s wife. I am here today as a witness and recipient of God’s love, God’s watchful attention and God’s sustaining power. I am here to tell you not to give up--that God see’s you- you are not alone, not to feel unloved - God loves you, and that He is here among us today as a Father...wanting to have compassion on each of us …if we are willing to come to Him. How do I know this?

My story before I came to trust Jesus is a simple one. I don’t have any dramatic stories to tell of a past life of addiction and hardship. When I became a Christian, I was 21, and married with an infant son. I was just an average person living an average life. I thought I was a good person, everything seemed fine. That is until the Holy Spirit showed me just how much I needed a Savior. I turned to Jesus. I trusted Him as my Savior and began allowing Him to be the Leader of my life. Little did I know that believing Him as Savior was only the beginning. The bible describes our faith journey like running a race. Now my faith race had begun.
My husband at that time did not approve of my new way of life as a Christian. For the next 25 years I experienced many hardships because I loved Jesus and wanted to live a life that pleased Him. I was disliked, excluded, punished financially, and was treated often unkindly. Until finally, I was abandoned by the person I was married to. He did not want a Christian wife. My marriage was lost. The life I thought I would have was lost. But …..I wasn’t lost. The life God had for me was not lost. By God’s love and power, I was still on the race path God had prepared for me.

In Hebrews 12:1 it tells us “… let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith….” This means that Jesus opens our eyes to our need for Him and He works in us to grow our faith—we, are to keep our eyes on Him , as we go through the difficult times and the good times in our Christian walk. We keep our eyes on Him by reading the bible, praying, and trusting Him that He will love us and guide us as He as promised.
I can tell you there were many a time when my eyes were red with tears, I would have feelings of discouragement….there were times when I was I felt as if I was merely crawling along in my Christian race ….those were the times when I wasn’t keeping my eyes on Jesus… I would cry out to Him again and again. I would get back to praying, reading the bible and trusting. He always heard me….He would fill me with His peace and turn my tears to praise of His goodness. He brought me Christian friends to encourage me and pray for me. By His grace and power alone was I able to find the strength to get up again…. He kept me going and brought healing into my life. He restored my life. He brought me a christian husband and gave us opportunity to serve Him. He has allowed me to be here today to speak about His love, His sustaining power, and His grace.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.”
Friends do need encouragement? Are your eyes red with tears? Are you crawling?....I am here today to say--keep going don’t stop. Keep looking at Jesus because God See’s you!!!!!! God see’s you!

Let me tell you about a woman in the bible who didn’t think God saw her, but she was trusting Him. Her story is in the bible to show us that God saw her in her troubles, had compassion on her, loves her, and healed her as she trusted Him. Jesus was in a huge crowd of people, who were pressing up against Him. I think we have all been in that type of crowd, right. You can barely move. Now a local man who was important in the synagogue asked Jesus to come quickly and heal his dying daughter. So Jesus was trying to make His way through the crowd to get to the man’s house. …Luke 8:42 ”A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of His robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me”, Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, Master this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” But Jesus said “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched Him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter” he said to her “your faith has made you well. Go in peace”
Despite the pressing crowd, Jesus noticed this woman…..He knew the cry of her heart…..He wasn’t too busy to stop …..In fact, he searched her out of the crowd….She was important to Him….but she had to step out in faith to Him……When she did He didn’t scold or criticize her for coming to Him….He had compassion on her and called her Daughter and healed her…..and gave her peace.

When two or more people gather together in His name He is there among them….Today Jesus is here, now, in this crowd--- do you need to touch the fringe of his robe? To reach out to Him? Do you need encouragement in your faith race? Do you need to take that initial faith step that this woman took? Cry out to Him he hears you…He is not too busy…..He is searching you out…….You are important to Him….He longs to call you Son or Daughter….to heal you….to give you peace. …..to be by your side as you finish the race with victory.

- Janet

Message shared by Rachel - changed by God's love

2010-01-17T05:24:00.000-08:00

1 Peter 3: 8-12a - "Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here's what you do:

Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
Run after peace for all you're worth.

God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; "

I share this word with you today because each week we come here in the hopes to meet your physical needs, yes, but more than anything, to show you God’s love.

Its not pretty but I know that I would be living much more selfishly and judgmentally if it weren’t for someone in my life who took the time to show me Gods love, which is what we’re here to show you. I don’t have all the answers, but I have faith and I believe in God’s love for me- and in God’s love for you. I believe this because when I was 15 my parents brought me to a church where God used a 21 year-old hemophiliac who had contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion to show me what God’s Love looked like.

His name was Steve and he had a heart for God like none-other I’ve met to this day. While he was battling a disease that was taking his life away a bit more each day, somehow he found the strength to reach out to the high school kids at his church, and become a friend to us- to become a friend to me. He cheered at our sporting games, he checked in to see how things were going at home. He would meet up with us for meals. He did things to show that he cared. He reached out beyond his problems.

Steve showed me that God uses EVERYONE. God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us here. Steve was up against more struggles than anyone else I knew- yet he found time to love as Jesus did.

Whether you’re employed, or not, homeless, or in a home- God can use you. God WANTS to use you. He knew where you would be today. He knew from the day you were born what path your life would take. He hasn’t always said it would be easy- but he has promised to be WITH US.

Our trusting him shows us we believe in him. Our stepping out in faith and helping a stranger, forgiving and praying for someone who has hurt you- these are things that we ALL can do to begin to show His Love. God sent Jesus because he knew we would mess up. He loves us and wants to use us despite our history.

Wherever you are at in life, I KNOW God has a plan for you. If you claim God’s love and step out in prayer for a neighbor- THAT makes a difference. If you sit down at a table over at the kitchen and extend an ear as a support to someone who needs it- THAT makes a difference. When you begin to tell people it is because of God’s Love for you that brings you to Love them- THAT makes a difference that lasts an eternity.

Yes, I was fortunate to grow up in a Christian home, but it wasn’t until I saw God’s love displayed through Steve that I realized I hadn’t truly been getting it. I needed to ACT OUT what I put my faith in. If Steve, a 21 year-old hemophiliac with AIDS could make the time to think beyond his own problems to the cares and concerns of others- Then I knew I needed to surrender my selfishness every day.

I still battle judgment and selfishness, and I know there are things in your life that you are confronted with every day too. My prayer is that you would look to what you CAN do.

We all can pray, we all can listen. Let’s extend each other Grace. We’re in the middle of a long, cold winter. If Jesus were here, I believe he would be happy to be at this van, meeting needs. But lets take this love beyond the material gifts of this morning. Let’s show each other this grace and understanding during the week. When you’re cold, hungry, tired- annoyed with trying to find work. TRUST that God is going to use you, if you have a heart open to his direction.

Many of you have touched my life already. Whether here, or talking at the First Church shelter. I see a family amongst many of you. I see that you look out for each other. Keep it up and do it with the strength of God.

My life was forever changed because someone looked beyond himself. I pray we can do that for each other as well.

- Rachel

Words of hope shared on the street by Jason

2010-01-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

Let's start off with reading Pslams 19:1-11

First, the bible says we have no excuse not to believe in God because we can see Him in His creation, He made it all. If there is a building, there was a builder, if there is a painting, there was a painter.....if there is a creation, there was a creator.

We tend to wake up , go about our busy days without thinking about life....let's stop and think about life right now. Picture this basketball as the sun, and this tiny marble as the earth. We are standing on a ball that is spining at 1,000 mph and flying around a ball of fire one million times the size of earth at 67,000 mph....if we were just a little bit closer we would burn up and a little further we would all freeze! This is not just a normal day....think about our bodies, how many things have to work perfectly right every second just for us to live another day.... our heart has to beat, blood needs to be filtered, lungs have to intake air, our stomach has to digest, etc....this is just not another day, there is nothing "normal" about it..it is amazing!

The message of the bible is not this aweful being up in heaven that gave us harsh commands to follow.. People talk about the commandments like they are a bad thing but...they are for our own good, a gift to us. Thou shall not murder...all God is saying is if we just did not kill each other...did not steal and rip each other off , and love each other like you love yourself...the world would be a better place. The world would be more like He intended it to be.

Where it gets tough is when we start to look at ourselves..we say ya I am a pretty good person. But the bible says, "not one is good" ....The problem is we are not going to get to judge ourselves, and He is not going to judge on a curve...some day when we stand before this awesome, holy, God who stands in unaproachable light, even the angles cover themselves up with their wings screaming out how HOLY he is..... and have him question us, and lines us up to his laws , it wont take long before we see we are guilty. For example, ask yourself. " How many lies have you told in your life?" More than we can count of course..and what do you call a person who tells lies? A liar! "Have you ever stolen anything, regardless of value?" Of course we have..what do you call someone who steals?..a thief! " Have you ever commited adultery?" But Jesus said if you look at a women with lust, you have already commited adultery with her in your heart. We have broken all of these commands and these are only 3 of the 10 commandments.....so on judgement day will you be innocent or guilty?...Guilty of course..and where should God send us, heaven or hell?...hell So, God creates us, he gives us these laws to follow, we break them...so at the end of our life He has every right to punish as severe as He sees fit, cause He is the creator..... BUT He doesnt want to punish us as we deserve..HE LOVES US...thats the message of the bible.

Picture the person you love the most on this earth............now picture them hanging on a cross, beaten left to die. That is what Jesus did for us...IT is CRAZY....we messed up and He takes the punishment for us...it is amazing! He loves us that much. That is the most amazing truth in the world ..... God, the creator of the universe loves us that intensely....that is what makes life worth living! No matter what we have done in this life, He loves us, and wants to forguive us..but we have to choose to accept him. The bible gives a picture of a bride....it is like the God of the universe is on his knees holding out a ring, saying "please take me".

He wants to forgive us, from as far as the east is from the west, and he wants a relationship with us....it is intimacy with our creator. All you need to do is get on your knees, say. God I love you, I know I have messed up, but now I understand your Son paid for that, it blows my mind, and I want to spend eternity with you, I want to begin this relationship with you, I want to follow you. But dont just say it, mean it....cause Jesus said, " if you really love me, you will obey my commands" ....and it will show by your lifestyle...

- Jason L

Miraculous provision...

2010-01-03T14:45:00.000-08:00

I have to start off by saying "Praise God". Due to the snow storm on Saturday, we were unable to bring the Reach van. We thought "How are we going to do this without the van this week?" We will just have to trust God. Janet and I showed up with what we had...

There were about 20 people visiting this week, even with the snow and wind drifts. Anne Lyndsay dropped off some packs of underwear. Sue showed up with some blankets. Someone else brought coats. Rachael and I handed out some kits from the back of my Explorer. We opened some leftover gift bags to provide some needed gloves. Janet and Sue handed out underwear and some blankets and coats from the side door.

I shared a message from 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:1 on God's rescue mission for all - a plan to have a relationship with all of us. Sin had cut us off from that, but Jesus took our wrongs so we can be made right with God! A new life, a fresh start. He wants to rescue all who call upon Him - now is the time, today the day to be helped - so call on Him and believe.

Amazingly, all the needs were met even though we didn't have the van this week. God definitely showed us how this is His ministry and He is in control. He continues to provide even when we don't know how it is going to happen. We are truly blessed to be a part of God's work.

- John

Words of life

2009-12-21T20:11:00.000-08:00

It was a very cold Saturday morning on December 12th, but we still had a good sized crowd at the Reach van. Kathy started us off with two Christmas carols and many joined in...
The message we shared was titled "Powerful, Life-changing Words"
Hebrews 1:2, Msg - "He holds everything together by what He says - Powerful Words!"
Hebrews 4:12 "His Word is alive and full of power...".

Words of creation
God's Words of Power actually hold everything together. In the beginning God spoke " Let there be light" and it was. God created a beautiful world for His new family. His creation was sweet, creative, positive, alive and full of God's love. Jesus said "His Words are Spirit and they are life". God's creative words caused creation and breathed life into every creature.

Words of destruction
Everything God made was good...but then something terrible happened... God's enemy spoke. A dark, shady, twisted being that speaks destructive, negative, hateful words and turns sweet into bitter. The first attack on God's creation was against His Word. Sin entered this world and broke it. The good family God created was ruined, lost, broken. The curse of sin and death ruined what God originally intended for us. If God's Word failed to hold things together the enemy's destructive word would have torn everything apart long ago!

A new Word: Rescue and recovery
God could have given up on humanity, on creation. His dreams were crushed - He lost everything He worked so hard for! But God never gave up hope. Instead He came up with a plan to recover and rescue us and spoke new creative, powerful Words of life. This new creative Word would be even more powerful than sin and death and would restore God's family and recover what He lost. What could God's Word bring that would be more powerful than sin and death?

Christ the Savior is born
The Word of a savior, Who would come to save the lost and bring eternal life. This Word was spoken through God's people for many generations until one day... the Word of a savior became flesh. Jesus Christ is God's answer to hurting humanity. Jesus gave us the Words of eternal life and He became our sacrifice for sin.

Get in the Word and find the creative Words from the bible that you need today...
Words of Healing, salvation, provision, protection, relationship with God, eternal life, a new family of believers who love you, deliverance from addiction, purpose and meaning in life. I'm going through some storms in my life and if it wasn't for God's Word holding me together I'd be lost.

If you don't know this saving God you can know Him today and have a relationship with Him. Romans 10:9 says "The Word that saves is right here, near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest! It's the Word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us."

We welcome everyone to pray this prayer with us... " Jesus, you are the Master, our boss. We believe you died on the cross for us and rose again. We surrender our life to You. We repent of sin and trust in you to save us and make us right with God. Thank you for saving us through Your Word and empowering us to live for you." Amen.

As far as I could tell, everyone prayed that prayer with us that morning.

- Neil

Holiday dinner video clip

2009-12-19T14:49:00.000-08:00

Video of the dinner shot on an iPhone ....

Thank you all for making the dinner a success!

2009-12-16T08:21:00.000-08:00

Great time, great food.
Thanks to all who volunteered their time and their resources to make this a success. We served two meals to accommodate the larger crowd this year. We served 160 meals total (including volunteers). Pastor Thom shared a message of God's love and hope for each one of us. There was a raffle and Hannaford gift cards were given out. Each person was greeted and welcomed with a smile. Gift bags were given out to everyone as they left. It was great to see so many smiling faces.

Sonlight Fellowship wanted to mention a special thanks to:

Reach4Hope - For the crew of volunteers.
Rise Again Outreach - It was great to have the bus on site. Many left with clothes from the bus that they were blessed to have.
Lakes Region Charter and Shuttle Service - They supplied two vans and two drivers for the afternoon who were VERY accommodating!
Friends of Forgotten Children - For the boxes and boxes of clothing of all types and sizes - what a blessing!
West Congregational Church - It was a joy to witness their enthusiasm in helping out by providing the goody bags.
American Legion - For the $50 toward the purchase of turkeys - not to mention allowing us free use of the hall the night before so we could do a great deal of the prep work ahead of time.
Starbucks Coffee - For supplying all of the coffee. There were folks in attendance who had never been able to afford a Starbucks coffee, and here they were able to enjoy one for free.
Aspen Family Dentistry For donating a whole case of tooth brushes.
Hannaford Supermarket - for providing a $15 gift card as well as cups and napkins for the event.

God bless you all!

Examiner.com article on Reach4Hope

2009-11-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

Examiner.com recently published this article: "Reach 4 Hope ministers to homeless in Concord NH".

Concord Family Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Concord Family Thanksgiving - A free community meal for those who need it most.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 from 1 - 3pm at the Loudon American Legion

Every year, Sonlight Christian Fellowship partners with Reach4Hope to provide a free community dinner. What began as a small church gathering of friends turned into much more. To me this represents the heart of Jesus here on earth in our own community. Dozens of generous volunteers and food donors make the Family Thanksgiving possible. Those who cook and serve are in a sense giving thanks to God by giving to others. Thank You Volunteers!

Interested in volunteering? Sign up here.

Please join us if you can make it. Hope to see you there!

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(Luke 14:12-14)

Come Home...

2009-09-19T08:34:00.000-07:00

This morning was a busy time at the Reach van as many took advantage of the limited, yet important assistance we are able to offer. There were success stories from individuals who told of the jobs that they had recently landed. Of course, there are also a lot of friends that continue to struggle to meet every day needs. Some have prospects of a possible apartment to move into. Some are now sharing a home with friends or family. Others are facing another winter with no home to call their own. In all this, Christ is present and continues to hold out the promise of new life to all...

Today I read a short story from Stories For the Heart entitled "Come Home" (written by Max Lucado). It is a tale about a single mother who reaches out in love to a wayward daughter. The theme of the story is summed up in the final 2 sentences: "Whatever you have done, whatever you have become, it doesn't matter. Please come home." This is the message of God to us through his Son. "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3)

He is not the harsh God that some would make him out to be. He is the God who cares less about our past than he does our future, a future that he desires to share with us in his Kingdom.

-Pastor Thom

Rise Again joins Reach once a month

2009-08-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Bill Pelletier and Ron Joy from the Rise Again team joined us with the bus. Rise Again is a partner and a similar outreach that makes stops in apartment complexes throughout central NH. They set out to meet physical and spiritual needs and a have a bus stocked with clothing and bibles. This is a great help because the Reach van is too small to store clothing. Rise Again is scheduled to join us on the 4th Saturday of every month.

Thank you Rise Again!!!!

Today we prayed for people and Adam shared a message on growing stronger with God through tough times and overcoming. He read this passage from Luke 6:20-26 (NIV):

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
I like the Message version of this:
You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.
You're blessed when the tears flow freely... Joy comes with the morning.
Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!— for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
Give Away Your Life
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.
There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

In the News today on Homelessness

2009-03-10T18:24:00.000-07:00

CNN reports:

This may shock you - 1 in 50 children in our nation are homeless.
Read about it here.

New form of shelter called the EDAR given to the homeless in LA.
Watch the video here.

Timeless message: "Endless Love."

2009-03-07T17:39:00.000-08:00

There were many new faces at the outreach Saturday. Carol Clifford gave a message on the street this week and received a standing ovation. Here is a summary from her notes:

"I have some "good news" to give you! I know that lately when we turn on the TV, listen to the radio and read the newspapers, all we get is "bad news." The good news is that GOD LOVES YOU. His love is so big and can not be measured. I want to give you a picture (from an old hymn The Love of God)...

'Imagine that the ocean is filled with ink, and the skies were made of parchment, and every stalk on earth was a quill (pen), and every man a scribe (writer) by trade. To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.'

The good news is that 'God loved us so much that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16. He 'gave'. His gift of love is Jesus seen on earth. The gift of salvation - the gift of love. Each one of us needs to be loved. There is a God shaped vacuum in our heart that only Jesus can fill. We can never earn God's love because it is a gift. If we do not receive the gift (this was demonstrated with one of the volunteers) it remains with the giver. I grew up as an abused child, then a abused young woman looking for love in all the wrong places. I had to pay the consequences of my choices.

Without God's gift we live our lives upside-down, with turmoil, strife, no joy, peace or love. With God's gift we have love, peace and joy. When I met Jesus, my life then was turned right-side-up. The Bible says that 'godly sorrow leads to repentance.' When we come to God sorry for our wrong doing and ask Him to forgive us, He does. God then changes us. He loves us too much to leave us where we're at. We can not change ourselves, it is God who works in us. We need to receive God's gift of love - so great a salvation.

We cannot describe God's love, we can only experience it. 'Nothing can separate us from the love of God, neither life, death, powers......in Christ Jesus.' Romans 8:38-39"

This is basically what was shared....

Also, the men from her Cell Group (Home church group) worked in the kitchen which was also a huge blessing. They really enjoyed serving.

People came out on a cold day in Concord...

2009-01-13T18:06:00.000-08:00

On a bitter cold morning we opened the van and set up tables with clothing, coats, gloves and hats. Some people came to receive gifts...socks, deodorant, soap. Some came to pray with us and hear what all the excitement is about - a message of hope...

"Many of us have grown up with a false idea of who God is and how he feels about us. We picture a god with a big stick just waiting for us to screw up so he can strike. If this coincides with your view of God, I have good news for you. This is NOT the true God of scripture. I am not saying that God doesn’t care whether we mess up our lives or not. In fact, he cares greatly and desires that we get it right. So, how are you doing?

GAL 3:22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

1TIM 4:9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance [10] (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

You see, God isn’t waiting around for us to get it right. Before the earth was created, he chose to send his Son to get it right for us, and then – after living a perfect life – to die in our place, paying for the sins of the whole world. He didn’t die just for those who now believe; as this scripture says, he died for all. He didn’t pick out his favorites. Jesus gave his life for every individual, past, present and future.

In return, he asks for only one thing, that we will accept the reality of his love and forgiveness. BELIEVE in HIM! Believe that he is both Lord and Savior. Believe that he loves you with a timeless love. Believe that his forgiveness is greater than any sin you might perpetrate. He wants us to live our lives in the glory of his presence. But we can enjoy his love only when we believe that he loves us. We can enjoy his forgiveness only when we believe he has forgiven us.

JN 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

We come here, week after week, for the opportunity to share with you the light that he has placed in us. We love because he first loved us. Whatever love, whatever goodness you see in us is merely a reflection of His love, his goodness, greater by far than our own. Believe it!"

- Message given at the Reach van by Pastor Thom Friedrich

Christmas gifts donated to the homeless

2009-01-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Baby Threads,

All of us at Reach4Hope and our friends on the street want to thank you for the wonderful gift bags!

Visit the Baby Threads website here.

God Bless you!

Tom & Carol Picking up the gift bags.

The meaning of Christmas - A Christian's view

2008-12-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

What's the good news about Christmas?
We all have heard something about the birth of Jesus in a manger, but what does that mean to us? What are we celebrating here?

The word Christmas comes from 2 words: Christ and mas.
Mas represents a celebration or festival. Christians celebrate Christ. Catholics call Communion Mass. So we are celebrating the birth of Christ on Christmas, but what is Christ? Well, that would take too long to cover all that Christ means, but here is a brief explanation....
Christ is not Jesus' last name! Christ means anointed One and the Hebrew Messiah. To anoint someone or something is to rub an oil or ointment all over them. The Bible meaning here is Spiritual: Rubbing God all over and permeating a man with Himself.
Jesus read this scripture from the old testament: "The Spirit of God is upon Me, for He has anointed Me.. to preach the good news to the poor, He has sent Me to release the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are oppressed (downtrodden and broken). Luke 4:18 - MSG
Jesus made some bold claims here. He was saying that He was the One that the Jews prophesied about in the Old Testament, sent from God to save the people of the world, "the Christ". He brought the good news of eternal life! He healed people physically and spiritually. He helped the poor and set free those with addictions and depression - that's good news!
It says in Acts 10:38 " How God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with strength, ability and power, how He went about doing good and in particular curing all who were harassed and oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." This is what is meant by the word Immanuel often heard at Christmas - it's about God being here with us. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are not only forgiven of our sins, our relationship with God is restored! We can have His Holy Spirit living inside us! Jesus came to save us and connect us with God's family. The word Christian in the bible means "little Christs", or little anointed ones. God lives inside those who invite Him in! Celebrate...we can now have a relationship with God. He is here to save us, heal us, protect us, help us break free from addictions and have a relationship with us.

Christmas every day
On Christmas, many who don't even know Christ have experienced the goodness of this Spirit: Love, forgiveness, kindness, generosity. Why do people say "I'll let that go today, it's Christmas."? Imagine every day being like that.. people forgiving, sharing and sacrificial giving, helping children who have no toys, putting on meals for those who are in need...
For those of us on the Reach team, it's like Christmas every time we gather together. No, I'm not talking about the nice traditions we celebrate in our home like the tree or wrapping presents. I'm talking about the Spirit that brings joy, peace and generosity dwelling in us. The Spirit of Love is here, and we can yield to it. We are believers in Christ, celebrating that God is with us! Jesus said that "whenever 2 or more of you who believe are gathered together in My name, I'm there in your midst!"

You can have Christ too!
The good news is that everyone can have this relationship with God through Christ, our God-connection! You don't need to be perfect or sinless - simply choose to follow Jesus. Seek Him in His Word and get around believers who have the Spirit of Christ...and God will "rub off " on you too!

Merry Christmas!

- This message given by Neil at the Reach Van

A Homeless Man

2008-11-16T00:35:00.000-08:00

A homeless Man?

Today I came across this ad from the Coalition for the Homeless that got me thinking... Although Jesus grew up in a home and became a carpenter by trade, He left houses and lands to go into full time ministry and even at times had no where to lay His head.

I never thought of Jesus as a homeless Man, because He always trusted God for provision and performed great miracles in this area. I wonder if the times that He was without shelter were times that He gave all He had away to those in need? In Mark 10:29,30 Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

One thing we can be sure of: Jesus knew what it was like to suffer and be rejected. He knows what the homeless and needy are going through and is moved with compassion for them. He is calling all who will - to help His hurting humanity. It’s so important to Jesus that we help the needy - He takes it personal…

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you ga

me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ’sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25:35-40, MSG

“Lord, help us to see You in each one. Forgive us for the times we walked by without heeding Your call to stop and listen and pray. Help us to recognize people in need that we cross paths with, people who are hungry, homeless, sick, addicted, beaten and rejected. Fill us with Your compassion and help us not to overlook or ignore Your people.” - Amen

Food pantries see increased need, drop in donations

2008-10-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

WMUR news article here.

God is close to the poor

2008-09-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Found this article from World Challenge on God's heart for the poor. Read - Here.

Outreach on January5, 2008

2008-01-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

Every Saturday a group of Reach volunteers show up with the van full of supplies. Rain or snow, hot or cold - a team of volunteers arrives, and so do many who are in need. January 5th was a cold day, and many were there looking for things like thermal underwear and toiletries.

We may not have shelter to offer at this time, but our focus is not on what we can’t do, but rather what we can do now with the resources that we do have. Most of us have felt God calling us to help in some way, or at least felt compassion (Which is from God, but we often don’t recognize it). That’s why we are here. We are motivated by our faith in a loving God and we share our faith with those who are interested. Each week we share a scripture that has encouraged and helped us and we join hands in prayer. Although we make it clear that there are no strings attached, almost all who are there choose to join in and pray with us. People are finding hope.