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January 18th, 2012
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| RETREAT |
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We have been trying to collect our thoughts on all that was the Winter Retreat of 2012. The 65 hours we have to serve and love on the families goes by so quickly. A majority of the families we had never met until they arrived at the retreat. Moving beyond the normal pleasantries to serving their deepest needs in one weekend is difficult and intimidating. But the Spirit moves and works through each conversation, meeting, and interaction. How is it that these retreats have been so blessed? How is it that so much is accomplished in just 65 hours? There are obvious theological implications that make sense of these things but what are some of the responsibly practical implications?
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| Prayer |
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Our guest families and volunteers are bathed in prayer leading up to, during, and after the retreat. We have faithful saints lifting up in prayer each person serving or being served. Several churches in Oregon were holding us up in prayer. A home Bible study leader and his wife were praying for each person by name, each day.
Due to the marvels of modern media the word goes out about a retreat and there are hundreds of people praying from all over the country and, even, the world. A simple “Tweet” from a dear friend goes out to a “following” of 900 people that linked them to a blog post that is viewed by hundreds, and at times even thousands. A dear church in Toronto faithfully intercedes on behalf of families they have never met thousands of miles away. Church-planting couples in Ukraine commit to pray for this weekend halfway around the world. These dear friends and co-laborers are simply acting their part as the Body of Christ. Faithful Christ-followers living out the Gospel.
The big, broad reaching examples are inspiring but just as much are the simple prayers of my own children praying in advance of the retreat. These little ones understand in elementary terms the importance of the worshipful act of service the retreat is intended to be and the impact it has on those we minister to. They pray knowing that over that weekend the enemy tries to distract and disrupt the purpose of the weekend. They know the strain that Mommy and Daddy endure with each opportunity to host these special families. As they pray I marvel at the Spirit-wrought sincerity in their words.
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| Humility |
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When a retreat is set on a calendar a number of things must come together but one of the most critical elements is the volunteers. We need 25-30 servant hearted people to walk with these families for 65 hours of restlessness. As these teams come together from different walks of life, experience, talents, cultures, and states without fail we are able to coalesce as a unit.
The one trait that is present no matter the personality or experience is humility. These servants come together laying aside their preferences and comfort zones to lay hold of this worshipful weekend of work the Lord has appointed for them. We lay out for them the challenges they may face particular to the attributes of a child’s specific disability that can often be uncomfortable for those new to this type of ministry. Even with the anticipation of difficulty this team does not shy away. We commit it to prayer and come alongside each other to engage these children as gifts to the church not as trials to be managed. It is humbling to watch humility in action.
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| God’s Sovereign Purpose |
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We are on mission pursuing Christ-centered transformation of the disabled peoples of the world. It is God who brings about that transformation. We are grateful recipients of His leading, working, protecting, guiding, and transforming presence in this ministry.
The most basic way to explain how so much can happen in such short time with such deep impact is that it is in the sovereign hands of our Lord. He purposed the Elisha Foundation to exist to serve those affected by disability. He purposed for this Retreat to take place and for exactly these 12 families to be there. He purposed the preaching of Mark 9. He is working in and through these retreats and our other ministry activities for His glory and the good of those we serve.
Thank you for your prayers and support of the Winter Retreat. God richly blessed the time!
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)
In Christ Alone,
Justin Reimer
Executive Director
The Elisha Foundation
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January 5th, 2012
Today starts the Winter Retreat, our 10th Retreat!
We are excited to serve 12 families with our 30 volunteers this weekend! Greg Lucas will be taking the parents through Mark 9. The weather is beautiful today here in Cannon Beach, Oregon…we hope it holds or for at least a glimpse of the sun at points in the weekend.
Pray for safety and wisdom for our volunteers. Pray for clarity of thought for Greg as he teaches. Pray for the families to be encouraged, refreshed, and renewed to a deeper faith in Christ.
Thank you!
Updates to come…
JDR
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December 16th, 2011
TEF is on the receiving end of the amazing artistry of our friend, Xiaogang Zhu. Mr. Zhu and his family are dear friends of ours who understand the challenges and blessings of raising a child with special needs.
Mr. Zhu is an oil and water color artist. He has offered to attend the Winter Retreat and will paint the landscape that can be seen from the beautiful vistas of the Pacific View Lodge in Cannon Beach. He wants to create a scenic memory for the sweet families in attendance so each family will receive a signed print of the original painting. Each day he will show the children his progress and how he sets about in putting brush to canvas from beginning to end.
The original painting is his gift to us as a means of raising funds for this Retreat. We will be auctioning off this painting to the highest bidder. The fortunate winner of the painting will receive it at the end of January.
You can go here to view some of his artwork, but go here to bid on what is sure to be a beautiful piece of art, original and signed!
More on Xiaogang Zhu
Xiaogang Zhu earned his bachelor’s degree in Art and Design at the Suzhou Institute of Silk Technology in China and his master’s in Art History at Nanjing Art Academy. He spent seven years as an art professor, graphic artist and textile designer. Educated during the time of the Cultural Revolution, when innovative thought was banned, Zhu had no awareness of impressionism, yet his landscapes naturally evolved into it. He came to the United States in 1989 and earned his master’s degree at Radford University in Virginia in 1999.
Xiaogang Zhu is known for his mastery with the gouache medium. He creates light-filled landscapes and beautifully illuminated waterscapes of places with which he is familiar – cities in China and the Yangtze River, Arizona, Washington State and Central Oregon. He is also an accomplished oil painter, and he paints larger, studio works in the oil medium.
Xiaogang Zhu lives in Central Oregon with his wife and son. He is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and has won numerous awards both in China and the United States. He participates in many exhibitions and one-man shows throughout the nation and in China. In 1995 Zhu was awarded the “High Winds” Medal in the 128th annual exhibition of the American Watercolor Society.
Don’t forget to go here to bid on what is sure to be a beautiful piece of art, original and signed!
Thank you!
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November 3rd, 2011
I wanted to share Pastor Chris Lewis’ note on the Columbus Marathon he ran just a couple of weeks ago on behalf of TEF. Enjoy!
A quick note to those of you who graciously gave both in prayer and funding toward the Elisha Foundation! Me running 26.2 miles was nothing compared to the eternal investment you chose to make through this incredible, Gospel-centered ministry. On behalf of the Elisha Foundation, thank you . . .
Personally, I was grateful for your encouragement heading into marathon weekend. Two weeks prior, I had done a number on my “IT band” – it’s the ligament that connects your hip to your knee. When overused, it can begin to tighten causing excessive knee pain. I was a bit rattled when the week before the marathon I could not run more than three miles without a significant flair-up! That being said, I was able to get a bit of treatment from a local sports doctor . . . but more significantly, I was deeply encouraged by being reminded of your show of support. By God’s grace . . . race day came, I ran with significantly lower pain, and ended up finishing with my fastest time yet in a marathon.
And just when pride might be tempted to creep in . . . I’m quickly reminded the winner of the race finished the race in half the time I did! I choose to think of it this way: I ran twice as long as he did! 
Mile 21 . . . known by many as “The Wall” . . . was anything but for me. Sure physically, I was one big CRAMP . . . but emotionally and spiritually . . . I was in for a real BOOST! I came upon a runner who had a picture of a boy on the back of his shirt. The caption beneath read – “I’m Running For My Son”, and it was clear by the picture, his son had significant special needs. As I got next to the runner, I said, “I love your shirt.” His reply was short but sweet: “Thanks. He wasn’t supposed to live beyond two-years-old. Today, he’s nine.”
As I ran by, I was reminded . . . I too was running for his son and every other family affected by disabilities . . . ultimately in hopes that the work of God might be marvelously displayed in and through them (John 9:3).
Please continue to keep in prayer the Elisha Foundation. You can keep up with God’s ministry through them at their blog . . . http://www.theelishafoundation.org/blog/
Again, thank you for your gift of prayer and financial giving . . .
In Him,
Chris Lewis
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October 28th, 2011
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| UPDATE |
| What an amazing summer of ministry for TEF!
Our travels took us nearly 9 weeks and over 8,000 miles. In addition to the two Retreats we hosted this summer, we were able to connect with churches, friends, and family along the way and share what TEF is doing in the special needs community. The Lord blessed those times and used them to both encourage us and to provide for the immediate needs of the two Retreats. For the deeper insights on our travels and the Retreats go to the blog portion of the Elisha Foundation website.
God provided the additional funding needed to host the two Retreats (North Carolina and New Mexico) in amazing ways! It is humbling to see God work on behalf of those whom He wishes to minister to through TEF. Many stories could be told in great detail of how God so graciously provided. Thank you for your prayers and support in this!
Here is what one father wanted to share with you about his family’s experience at the Retreat in North Carolina:
“In August of this year, our family had the honor and privilege of attending a retreat sponsored by TEF in Black Mountain, NC. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how much we not only appreciated the event, but how much we were blessed as a family to be a part of it.
We are blessed beyond measure that our 4th child, Nicholas, has severe disabilities. Nicholas is totally dependent upon supervised care 24 hours a day. Although we wouldn’t change a thing regarding NIcholas’ medical condition, his strenuous care does take its toll on Lisa and me. Because of his fragile condition, Lisa has been very limited in her time away from him. As you can imagine, this takes its toll on a marriage as well.
I was excited to attend the retreat and looked forward to meeting and hearing from Greg Lucas, who I had “met” on the phone after reading his book, “Wrestling with an Angel.” I knew the retreat would be a blessing, but I could have never imagined what we were actually in store for. God orchestrated the most amazing weekend of our lives that weekend!
I lovingly recall the volunteers and how they so unselfishly ministered to each family. It is simply hard for me to imagine that such strong bonds could be developed in 4 short days, but God had providentially placed these people in our lives. Their genuine Christ like love is what enabled my wife to leave our son in the hands of near strangers and attend a dinner for parents on Saturday night. That was no small task, as it has never happened before, and I give God the credit.
The word through Greg Lucas was timely, relevant, and Gospel centered. The words Justin shared on Friday morning were piercing as well. Your spirit is caring, your words relevant, and your testimony transparent. As important as sharing the Gospel is, your words seemed to exude “this is where the rubber meets the road.”
Our other 3 children had a blast as well. I feel like the volunteers went out of their way to make the other siblings feel as important as our special needs child. I went to this retreat hoping to be blessed. I came away from the retreat knowing that my whole family had been blessed.I want to thank you and TEF for the opportunity attend such a wonderful event. I look forward to participating again, as a volunteer!
God bless you,
Stephen P. Richardson
In all that has encompassed the ministry of TEF over recent months, it is clear that God is at the helm in accomplishing our mission and in broadening the vision of TEF to reach these hurting families with the Gospel. The need is in our backyard, the need is across our country, and the need is world wide. He has given us the means and opportunities to serve these families and has brought fruit from these efforts. |
| RETREAT |
| After successfully hosting two Retreats this summer, we are back on the drawing board preparing for the Winter Retreat to be held in Cannon Beach, Oregon from January 5-8th, 2012. We are receiving applications for families to attend and volunteers to serve. Greg Lucas will be our guest speaker for this Retreat. We are working on some details for some unique aspects of this Retreat that we have not tried before. It should be exciting!
Having shared the family perspective above, we thought it would be helpful for you to hear about the Retreats from a volunteer’s perspective. The North Carolina Retreat was this volunteer’s first exposure to disability ministry. Here is what he shared with us after the Retreat:
As we traveled to volunteer at a TEF retreat, my wife and I had no idea what to expect. Our only reference was the Reimer family, who we knew were passionate about Christ, and special needs ministry. We brought a family from our church to attend the Retreat as one of the guest families. This family was still reeling from the recent diagnosis of their 3 year old daughter with rare kidney disease. We also brought a couple who just wanted to help serve and volunteer for this Retreat, not knowing what to expect either.
Once we arrived, we were given a crash-course in the unique challenges that special needs families face. Justin, Tamara and other veteran helpers not only told us, but showed us what it would take to serve these families. I was surprised at how quickly things happened behind the scenes, while a relaxed atmosphere was provided for the families.
The biggest impact on me was the transformation that took place. Marriages were given the opportunity to see how marginalized their relationship had become due to the constant demands placed on them in serving their child. Couples reconnected by simply having care-free time to talk, pray and just get away. Husbands prayed with their wives – some for the first time. Siblings poured out their hearts, relating feelings never-before shared about what it’s like having a special-needs family member.
My own heart was equally transformed, as I witnessed the gospel of Jesus Christ illustrated through the amazing sacrifice of parents that love their child unconditionally, and give of themselves to one that could never begin to appreciate all that is involved in keeping them alive and safe. As much as we wanted to give at this retreat, we were more blessed by what we received through all that TEF provided.
Danny Woods, Family & Children’s Pastor
Community Bible Church Nashville, TN |
| REACH |
| Since May we have been praying, strategizing, discussing, and praying some more about what God would have us do next in Ukraine. Pray for us as we continue to formulate the next steps to be taken. Pray as well for the Knotts and Foote families as they consider with us how we can most effectively partner with and support them in their important work in Ukraine.
We have been presented opportunities to minister in other countries, some that are even “closed” to Christian work. However, we know that with Jesus there are no truly “closed” countries. Pray for us as we consider how the Lord would continue to have us be His instruments in reaching and serving the world’s disabled community – some 600 million people. |
| PRAY |
| Over the next few weeks Justin Reimer will be speaking on disability at various events and gatherings. We would appreciate your prayers for him as he travels and as he communicates on the subject of disability through the lens of the Gospel. Also, please pray for the following:
-for Christ to be central to our ministry
-for the Gospel to be proclaimed through TEF
-for planning and organization of the Winter Retreat
-for TEF’s Board as they begin strategic planning for next year’s calendar and beyond
-for wisdom and discernment
-for continued financial provision |
| GIVE |
| As the summer’s ministry took place we were able to see the Lord’s hand in providing for the needs of the Retreats in amazing ways. God is good and kind in working through TEF to impact the lives of these special families. He has provided for the needs of these ministry opportunities generously.
Our other primary financial need is that we are currently sitting at a 50% support level for the role the Reimers serve in for TEF. Pray with us for more support partnerships in the weeks to come. Our travels were a great opportunity to share our passion face-to-face with people and churches. We are hopeful that those times will stir a desire in them to financialy support TEF.
We would encourage you to partner with us in prayer and/or giving. Prayer support is a critical means of TEF accomplishing its mission by God’s grace. Please pray with us. If you would like to be a part of our Prayer Team please contact us. We will put you on a simple prayer chain for the more sensitive and specific prayer items that TEF has or encounters. If you would like to partner with us in giving you can go to the TEF donation page for details.
We are grateful to God for His grace in allowing this summer’s ministry to take place. It was fruitful in the lives of those we served and for those who served with us. We rest in Him as we look toward further ministry in the field of work He has laid before us.
Thank you for your loving, prayerful, and generous support!
The Elisha Foundation |
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October 14th, 2011
Pastor Chris Lewis will be running the Columbus Marathon on Sunday October 16th and he is doing it as a fundraiser for TEF. He has almost met his fundraising goal and has just two days left to raise the remaining amount. Help him do it!
http://www.razoo.com/story/Run26forspecialneedsfamilies
Thank you!
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September 8th, 2011
Our final Retreat of the year took place just three weeks ago. The New Mexico Retreat happened August 18-21st at the Glorietta Conference Center. Our time together was a blessed time. Every Retreat is different in its makeup, from the families attending to the volunteers serving.
We had 7 guest families, all from New Mexico. We had 25 volunteers representing Crossroads Bible Church in Los Alamos and Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque. The mountain setting of Glorietta was beautiful.
Greg Lucas walked the families through the Word as he intertwined his testimony of God’s grace in bringing the Gospel to light through his severely and multiply disabled son. Our time with the children was precious as usual with the highlight of Dana Dirksen teaching the children new songs each day and evening. The entirety of the time was greatly blessed and rich in its interactions.
We are constantly amazed at God’s grace toward us as we are privileged to build relationships with these special families. The “Parent Talk” time was, at times, raw with the struggles that come with raising a child with special needs. The burdens that are carried by these parents are heavy, the struggles can go deep, the depth of those struggles can cause cracks and fissures in ones faith and relationships. What a sweet mercy when God through His Word encourages us, draws us to Him, opens our eyes to His purpose in all things, and is glorified through the brokenness seen in our differently-abled children and the sinful brokenness of us parents. Though there are trials and suffering, parents of children with special needs who love Jesus can see the much bigger picture of the Gospel in light of their unique challenges. What grace.
Halfway through our time together these families were already wanting to get in on the planning of the next New Mexico Retreat and were thinking of the many others who could benefit from these times together. We are excited about what the Lord has in store for continued ministry in New Mexico through these families and the volunteers there!
It has been a long and fruitful summer and one that we will never forget. The opportunity to minister to families from across the country has been amazing. We look forward to building on the relationships we were blessed to form this summer and we look forward to what the future holds for TEF.
Thank you for prayers and support over the last 9 weeks as we traveled and ministered.
Sincerley,
Justin and Tamara Reimer
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August 15th, 2011
The Elisha Foundation has existed for nearly six years and began with a small retreat in Bend, Oregon in December of 2005. At that retreat we hosted four families and had just four “full time” volunteers with a few other people that came in here and there to help with various activities. God was graciously at work then just as He has been throughout the last six years. We are humbled and grateful to look back over the six retreats since that first struggling yet blessed effort. He has grown us and the effectiveness of the ministry greatly. We now have 8-10 families in attendance and 25 “full time” volunteers. It has grown in numbers but more importantly it has grown in Gospel effectiveness.
The North Carolina retreat was just another in a series of amazing reminders of how our sovereign and gracious Lord mobilizes His people for His glory and our gain. TEF is His and He uses it as a means of grace to all involved (families and volunteers).
At the conclusion of the first night of the retreat we were discouraged. There were complications with the venue, there were challenges with the appropriate use of our volunteers, there were outside discouragements and an overall attack from the enemy. Tamara and I sat on the steps in front of our cabin nearly in tears as we battled frustration and weariness, but the Spirit moved us to our knees in battle. We prayed and He was near. Our hearts were realigned. Our volunteers were steadfast in their worshipful service.
Despite all of the challenges God worked and moved. Nine families let us walk along side them and shoulder some of their burdens for three days and nights. Many of these burdens are not light. Many of these burdens are part of the make-up of who these families are and to let others in who are inexperienced is difficult. These precious people gave us their trust as we cared for their children and we do not take that for granted. As the weekend progressed it was as though the challenges that we were faced with were invisible to the mission and, ultimately, to the families. The families were encouraged and blessed throughout the weekend.
The Gospel was central to the purpose of the entire weekend and it was not impeded. Our most mission critical assignment is that the Gospel be preached with conviction and clarity. That mission was accomplished as Greg Lucas walked the parents through Ephesians 1 with a view of the Gospel of disability, grace and adoption. Powerful proclamation with effective practicality.
These families have expressed deep gratitude for the weekend and how the Lord worked in their hearts. To God be all glory!
We are now just days away from the start of yet another retreat and thankful for the confirmation of God’s hand in this ministry and the fruit that He so kindly lets us see of this work. As we head into this coming weekend of ministry we are spurred on by His gracious working two weekends ago and over the last few years. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28).
Pray for our volunteers, Brad Hilton (worship) and Greg Lucas (preaching) as we kick off the New Mexico Retreat on Thursday evening at 4PM CST. The retreat runs through 12PM on Sunday.
JDR
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August 15th, 2011
I didn’t think so!
But one of the dads from our North Carolina Retreat can and has decided to make it a fundraiser for TEF. We are honored and blessed by his efforts on behalf of the families that TEF ministers to!
Pastor Chris Lewis (Westover Church) will be running the Columbus Marathon in Columbus, Ohio on October 16th. His goal is to raise $1000 through his efforts. The link below has more information on the event and how to donate to this cause. But before you do that, consider how you might support him and TEF. Maybe you could give $1 a mile, maybe $5 a mile or maybe more, but do consider it. Let’s blow through his goal of $1000!
So click here and read why Chris is doing this and how you can partner with him.
Thank you!
JDR
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August 8th, 2011
What an amazing weekend spent loving on, encouraging and being encouraged by our guest families at the Retreat! Our volunteers were true servants and poured themselves into the lives of the children and families present, Greg Lucas brought the Word with Gospel-centered conviction and clarity, and the Lord worked in great ways in the hearts and lives of those present.
We feel as though we just added more members to our family through the relationships and bonds formed with our new friends “out East”. Thank you, friends, for allowing us to walk with you for three days and be a part of your lives!
We (the Reimer Family) are currently on the road to New Mexico but hope to provide more updates soon.
Thank you all for your prayer and support!
JDR
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