April 13, 2023 – As missionaries we found ourselves working with the poor, disenfranchised, persecuted, disabled, and unemployed and they needed more than spiritual help. They had a real need for economic assistance too. That’s how the livelihood groups were started.
Having the products they made, led us to open a store in Jackson, Mi back in 2018. Local folks came in and told us about local groups also serving the needy and we began to partner with them. As we connected, we found many additional organizations working with the poor that could use some economic help.
REED Workshops were developed: R=repurposing items, E=environmentally beneficial, E=economically helpful, D=developing skills. Whatever we do must meet one or more of these objectives.
We currently work with the Jackson Interfaith Shelter, the Jackson Friendly Home, and a few individuals who have been referred to us by local groups. To keep these folks busy means, we are constantly looking for more and new items that they can create. In our search for products, we have found many that would be great but the time and space it takes to make them, couldn’t happen with the current model – we needed a space where people could come, and we would pay them to make products that we can sell in our retail operations.
On April 14, 2023, we are opening the first (of which I hope are many) REED Workshop Center! A place for us to bring those in need to assist them in learning some new skills, making something we can sell, and hopefully building relationships with the staff and volunteers so that they may know God’s love.
If you are ever in the Jackson, MI Area, we invite you to come by and see the place for yourself. If you would like to help by volunteering or by investing in our development fund so we can continue to expand and work with more groups let us know.
Pray for the Opening of the Center
Pray for the retail operations – sales are needed to keep things going
Pray for our travels as we enter a busy time of travel for the year.
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To learn more about our New REED Workshop program click here
To help with our personal support click here
Marketplacemanna.com – online store
To help with our development fund click here