CITY CRY

city cry - Kaye's mom

2009-02-09T03:56:00.000-08:00

A goal of many ministries which work with kids is to use this connection to reach the parents as well. During my years in Chicago, we tried many times with a little success to get parents to respond. It was hard though.
Working here I have met some of the parents of the kids in my old neighborhood whom I work with. They seem very nice, but I have not had much of an outreach to them. I had sent messages to Kaye's mom though through her about getting her back in school. She should be in grade 7, the first year of high school here, but had to drop out around September. They graduate after grade 10. School here starts in June and goes through March. Pinot, her younger brother whom I have also gotten to know, also had to drop out of grade 2. I finally got to meet her mom last week.
I arrived early for my study with the kids, and there she was sitting on the porch where we meet. Kaye was there with her. She thanked me so much for the time I have spent with her children and I said that I had thoroughly enjoyed it. She then explained to me that the only income they had coming in was her part time cooking job for various people. She has encountered some medical issues with one of her breasts and thus the little bit of money has gone to pay for treatments and medicine. There was no money for school. High school here may cost around $200-$250 a year which is a lot for someone here. 2nd grade may cost around $30-$50.
At my church, I had recently heard that they had scholarships for 12 students to go to school. I wanted to get Kaye signed up for one of these to help her and her mom. Nora, the mom, was excited. This will also involve an after school program and Bible studies for the teens.
While I had her there, I asked her if she had a church home. I then invited her to ours, Beautiful News Church. She said that she would like to come and Sunday, there she was. She enjoyed it and plans on coming back. A great connection is growing here. Brenda, a missionary here who is in charge of the school program, talked to Nora more about her breast. Pastor Gary (who now helps out with my kids on Tuesdays), Brenda, and I prayed with Kaye and her mom both after the study on Tuesday when we met on the porch and Sunday after church about the future schooling and her medical condition.
I am excited! Kaye and her mom are excited! Brenda and Pastor Gary are as well! It is a good thing. Please pray for the future, and that we can find a way to get Pinot back in school too. Thanks.

How about those Steelers

2009-02-02T04:25:00.000-08:00

Yay. Even though I had to watch just the stats and score on my computer here, I am so happy. What a game! Cannot wait to see it on the screen. Go Steelers!!!!!!!!

city cry - It's All God

2009-02-02T02:10:00.000-08:00

"We are His hands. We are His feet. We are His people - children of the Lord We share the hope. We share the dream - believers in Jesus - children of the King." These words were in a song by Whiteheart, one of my favorite Christian bands while growing up. I have thought of these words often as I serve God - being His hands and feet symbolically while I am here and sharing the greatest hope with people I encounter. What a priviledge to be used by the King.
On Mondays here, I first serve at Project Destiny with the street kids and then later in the afternoon go to my old neighborhood to work with a group of smaller children ages 3-12. A couple of teens may show up on these days too. Today after Project Destiny, it was down pouring rain (like only I have seen here in the Philippines where it rains every day right now) and I was tempted to just go home. A voice seemed to whisper to me, "no one will show up anyways." I kept going though, ignoring the voice in my head, and pushing on.
As I approached with my umbrella shielding off the sheets of rain, there was Kay standing under a tin roof of a little store along the road, almost as if she was waiting for me. Kay is 13 but comes every time we meet, rather with little ones or teens. She ducked under my umbrella and together we walked to the porch where we meet when it is raining. Her friend Jessa, 11 years old, joined us right away. I was early so we just sat and talk. I have some great times just talking with kids!
Next came Angel who is 15 and Katherine who s 13. Two more teens but I guessed the little ones were staying home because of the rain. I was also waiting for Yun who goes to my church and is in Bible school. I am preparing him to take over the ministry so that it does not end when I leave and he seems to love working with the kids. Pastor gary of my church works with the teens with me. Yun never showed up though and didn't even respond to my texts ( the form that everyone here communicates with).
As the time passed, I was still waiting for Yun because he was supposed to have the lesson ready for today. I had not prepared. I saw that he was not going to show up though so I opened my bag I carry to see what I could pull out, asking God to supply. As I pulled out my Bible and a few notebooks, out fell about 20 little cards with a butterfly and a verse on them. I do not remember ever having these before. Either I forgot and they were wedged in my bag somewhere that I hadn't seen before, or God supplied. I tend to go with the second. The verse was 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone. The new has come."
I spoke to these 4 young ladies about what this means. We spoke about the things which we have all offended God with. We also spoke about getting saved and having a new life; a new start with Christ, leaving our old way of life behind us and growing in our new. We spoke about Psalm 103:12 where God said He will remove our sins from our lives as far as the east is from the west, meaning that He will not dredge up our past to throw at us but will put it behind, never to be spoken of again.
It was a great talk. God supplied a lesson through these simple little cards which fell out of my sack, of which I never even remember placing there in the first place. The girls really connected to the lesson too. Isn't God amazing?!?!
Please be praying for Kay, Jessa, Katherine, and Angel. May these young "new creations" be honoring to God and serving to others. Thanks.

City Cry Response of students

2009-01-29T04:32:00.000-08:00

Wow! To see God move at times is simply beyond words. WOW! Think of how Moses felt to see the sea open to a dry path (Exodus 14) or how Elijah felt when he saw fire come down from the sky and consume the offering, altar, and even water it was doused with (1 Kings 18). In the same ways God used these men, he has used us too. He loves to use us as His hands and feet here spreading His love to others.
You heard about how we at our church here distributed the "Book of Hope" to around 10,000 high school students here in Agusan High. It is the largest high school and the principal was happy to let this happen. That in itself was a huge answer to prayer. We didn't know what the affects would be, but we have been praying.
Since that day of distribution, amazing things have happened at our church. The youth group and after school program used to have around 5 teens that would show up. Since this distribution, there has been a steady attendance of 80 students coming! 80 students are wanting to hear more about Jesus. 80 students are wanting to find out more about this love which God wants to share with them. 80 students - and the number continues on a regular basis even after several weeks.
What will happen when these students start bringing their friends? What about what is happeneing in other churches? What will occur when we hit the next high school here with around 5,000 students?
It is wonderful to see God at work! It is a priviledge to know that He wants to use us. The Master of the Universe choosing to communicate through people so tiny, frail, and imperfect as us. It was not just Biblical people from long ago such as Moses and Elijah, but it is still us today. We simply have to be willing to be used.
Please pray for these students at this school and their friends. Pray that their eyes would continue to be opened and their hearts touched. Please pray for the other students here too, as we reach out to other schools. Thank you.

city cry Bibles to Golden Ribbon

2009-01-12T04:43:00.000-08:00

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." This verse found in Psalm 119:105 is the same verse from last week. Actually, this week's article is sort of a continuation from last week's as well. God is still supplying me with materials to give away to spread His love here.
When we got back after handing out these Books of Hope which told the message of Jesus' life and ministry among us, I was shown boxes of magazines for younger people too. There were copies for 3-6 year olds, 7-10, and 11-12. These also told the same story but in a way that was relevant to these ages. "If you can use them Shannon and Nelia, take as many as you like." We brough back several hundred copies, some for each age group, along with ones for high school that were left over. This was on Wednesday.
On Friday I met with the kids in Golden Ribbon again. This is our old neighborhood where I still do the Bible studies with the kids and teens. There are around 45 kids 3-12 years old which can show up on a day with me. We usually average around 15-20, 3 days a week. Then on Tuesdays I meet with the teens, TOFFiC Band (Teens On Fire For Christ) whom you have heard about before from me. Not only were they getting these Bible magazines for themselves, but were also asking for them for their younger and older siblings. By the end of the hour or so, I had handed out around 70 copies.
Their eyes got so big and they were so excited! I wish you could have seen them. So many sat down and began reading their copies right there on or around the porch where we meet. There wasn't enough room for all of them on the porch. These kids are very poor and do not get much given to them. Not only were they excited to get a gift, but I could tell that they were excited to be reading about God's love for them. The magazines were in both Tagalog (the natioanal language here) and English. It's amazing that even the young ones here will speak 2 or 3 languages - Cebuano, the language I have learned a little and the common one here, Tagalog, and English as they get older and go to school. There were many pictures too which helped.
Please pray for these kids as you are praying for the 10,000 teens in the high school as well who received these magazines. May God use them powerfully to express His love. Thanks. May they be a "lamp to guide their feet through this life, and a light to brighten their paths."

City Cry Bibles to Agusan High

2009-01-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Together, we are walking in a dark world. Some times we stumble and sometimes we fall. There are times when we just don't understand. Why? There is One who knows though, and has offered us a way to see through the darkness and to see His great light shining forth. His name is Jesus Christ and He holds the keys to help us, all we have to do is ask. One way that He answers us is through the Bible, His word. The account of Jesus coming as a man and teaching us; then offering Himself on the cross and rising again to show His power over death, is found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John which are books or sort of like chapters in the Bible. The way to true love and a lasting relationship with God is found here. January 7 Nelia and I had the chance to do something amazing here. Agusan High is a huge high school here in Butuan consisting of around 10,000 students. That is right - 10,000! Our church here got permission from the principal to distribute the "Book of Hope" which contains the story from the gospels of Jesus. Almost every teenager got one. It was a lot of work which lasted throughout the morning and afternoon, but we got them distributed. We met at 7 am to load 2 jeepneys completely full of boxes containing the magazine - like books. Believe me, 10,000 took up a huge room full of boxes in the church. There were around 25 of us and we paired up in groups of 2 to distribute them to every class. There are about 65 students to a class. One of us would give a brief explanation about the book and the other would give a short 3 minute testimony. One very exciting thing to see was that about 10 of us were actually students themselves who were going to present this to their peers. High school here starts in grade 7 and they graduate after grade 10. My partner was Margie who was 18 and in her second year of college. She graduated from Agusan High and knew some of the teachers and staff. It was great working with this young lady who is on fire for God and serving Him. She is studying at a Bible college here and plans to teach. At the school, they have morning students from 8-1, afternoon students from 11-4, and night students from 4-9. Margie and I were able to cover about 7 or 8 classes during each time period. Each group was hitting different classes and when their box of magazines was gone they came back to the jeepney for another. Along with the 65 or so students, the teacher also got one. I can't imagine trying to teach 65 kids at once, but they do it. It was a long, hot, sweaty day but so exciting. After arriving at the church at 7 am, we got home around 7:30 pm. We were beat! Nelia and her partner had a good day too. Now we are praying for the students who received them. May God shine brightly through the pages to "bring a lamp to their feet" as they travel throughout this life and a "light to their paths" as they find out who God is and hopefully follow Him. One quick note too - there is another high school about half this size here whom we plan to reach out to next. Please pray. ____________________________________________________________

Bible book of Hope distribution

2009-01-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

on wednesday, january 7 nelia and i helped to distribute 10,000 "Books of Hope" Bibles to students at Agusan High. we joined our church in doing this and there were 25 of us. about 65 teens to a class at agusan high with 3 sessions of students. 8-1, 11-4, and 4-9:00. wow, a tiring day but so exciting to get these books in their hands. please pray

City Cry

2008-12-28T01:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a time of giving. Too often we focus on ourselves and what we are going to get instead of those around us and what we can give. Christmas marks the time of THE ULTIMATE GIFT, when Christ Jesus, God Himself, came into our world and made Himself part of His own creation to teach them, draw them to Himself, and then to pay the price through His own death for them to be able to be with Him.
Here in Butuan, I take a tricycle ride almost everywhere I go. It is basically a motorcycle with a side car and a back bench, along with a roof overhead. The cost is only 8 pesos which is equal to about 20 cents or so. You can imagine what the drivers are making in a day then- next to nothing. I have developed a friendship with one particular driver - Marvin - who often times is my driver from the spot where I catch my ride home. His tricycle is number 1707 and I am always looking for him. There are about 2,700 tricycles here in Butuan.
One time I asked him what he makes on an average day as a driver. He told me about 250 pesos or a little over $5 a day for working a 12-14 hour shift. That comes out to around 35-40 cents per hour. He works from 7 am -9 pm 6 days per week and sometimes 7.
I wanted to do something special for my friend here for Christmas, not only because he is so nice to me and even gives me free rides sometimes even when I insist on paying him, but also to show the love of Christ to Him. I invited him to join me for lunch today at Jolibees which is sort of like a McDonalds with a few extra foods.
As we stepped up to the counter, he told me that this was his first time in a retsaraunt, except a Mc Donalds one time. He is 26 and had only been to a restaurant once in his life, and that was Mc Donalds. I had him order whatever he wanted and then added on to it because he ordered so litle. We sat and ate and while we were eating, he expressed his thanks to me, thinking this was his present. Then I gave him the card from Nelia and I to he and his family of a wife and 2 kids
with 500 pesos in it, only about $10 but 2 days wages for him, and told him this was something special for them.
Slowly but surely I am sharing the love of Christ with this man. He knows that I am a follower of Jesus and what I do with the kids and teens here. Many have heard that Jesus loves them before, but have they felt it from us? This is what I am trying to do with Marvin, help him to feel the love of God. His eyes got so big and he was so happy, continuing to say "but I got nothing for you." I told him that he didn't need to and that I didn't expect him to. This was a gift, sort of like the grace of God when you think of it. Please pray for my friend here and his family. Thanks and happy holidays.

city cry

2008-12-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

Luke 2:9-11 "An angel of the Lord appeared to the (shepherds), and the glory of the Lord shown around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to yu; He is Christ Jesus the Lord."
I love the Christmas season. I love being able to celebrate it with kids and teens. It is a time of love and thankfulness; a time when we can come together to glorify God for all He has done for us. For the past 11 years I have celebrated with kids in Chicago, but this year I got to celebrate internationally with kids here in the Philippines.
I work with teens in a group called TOFFiC Band (teens on fire for Christ) and you already heard in an earlier article how we took them out to eat. Yesterday, Dec. 22, we had a Christmas party at Project Destiny with the street kids. They heard the story, sang songs praising God, ate a great feast, and received gifts which included a shirt, sandals, a toy, and other practical things they could use in their lives on the street. We had around 50 that came and together we had a good time. Please continue praying for these young lives. This party lasted from 8 am to 1:00.
Next came our party in Golden Ribbon, my old neighborhood, with the younger kids from 3 to around 12. We met in the yard of our old apartment, joining our landlord there who also invited kids. I had around 45 kids come who I work with, and there were around 45 or 50 others from the other group. Kids were everywhere. We introduced them, sang songs and had a few special praise dances put on by the kids themselves. Then we played several group games and had prizes for them. There was a sack lunch and a gift at the end for them. Together they brought glory to God as well. I know that God the Father must sit in heaven with a huge smile on His face when He sees and hears children praising Him.
Being here, it was my first Christmas away from my family and I did miss them. It was an honor to be here with the kids though and to also celebrate my first Christmas with my new wife. Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope you have a wonderful time too.

my favorite Christmas song

2008-12-17T04:01:00.000-08:00

Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me - pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see - pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring - pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King - pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pumpum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him - pa rum pum pum pum
When we come

Little baby - pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too - pa rum pum p;um pum
I have no gift to bring - pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give a King - pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for You - pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum

Mary nodded - pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time - pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him - pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him - Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me - Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

My own thoughts

2008-12-13T04:36:00.000-08:00

Just a little time to share my own personal feelings on some issues. You know what, this life here on earth is very short. I was thinking of Methusalah recently from Genesis 5:25-27. Here was a man who lived for 969 years. Some say that people back towards the beginning of life here on earth lived longer because there was an ice shield surrounding the earth which was then melted during the great flood of Noah. This shield protected people from the harm of the sun and thus they lived longer. There are other theories too. Maybe God simply kept people alive longer to help fill this earth with people faster. I don't know and to tell the truth, it does not matter to me. Thinking of this though, think of all the people we would have a chance to meet if we lived that long today.
By my math, that means we would have been born in 1038 if we were 969 today. Think about it - we would have had the chance to see the Middle Ages, to meet people like Martin Luther, Christopher Columbus, George Washington. We would have been alive during slavery and been able to help stop it, to hear about the New World and be able to stand up for the people already there who's lives were trampled, and to help God's word to be written in the common language so that others could read about Him themselves. So many people, so many events - what would that be like?
I am living here now in 2008 and I don't know how many years I have. I could live for a hundred years or I could go Home to be with God tonight. I do know that I have been called to make the most of this life though; to serve God and others and to spread His love to this hurting world around me. Everywhere I look there are people in need, people hurting and lost, looking for answers to life's hard questions. The Answer of answers lies in jesus Christ and I am so glad I know Him. He is my all in all. I want everyone else I meet to know Him too.
Life is hard at times and sometimes just seems so unfair. "WHY?" is a question we ask a lot. I don't know all the answers and won't even begin to act like I understand all the time, but I know the One who cares for me and I know He is here to help me through these times, to hold me, and to let me lean on Him and get comfort.
I just wanted to share with you, my reader, for a while and tell you how I feel. Thanks for listening. And by the way, if I do live for 969 years like Methusaleh, I cannot wait to meet all the people and to see all the events. I am 36 now so I guess I will see you in 3041.

city cry

2008-12-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Why does life have to be so complicated at times? Why is it that when we are just starting to get our feet under us at times that more negative stuff starts happening? Sometimes we bring the problems on ourselves, sometimes it is others, and sometimes we are being affected by the spiritual battles which are going on for our lives. I think this last one happens more than we or give credit to.
Working at Project Destiny here with the street kids, we know that we are in a battle. Satan and his evil forces have a tight grip on these kids and do not want to let go. It is tough because the holes have been dug so deep that these kids are in that it is nearly impossible for them to get out alone. Some of the digging has been done by them but much has been caused by others as well.
JR is one who has come on a regular basis. He is one of the leaders of the gang "Bloods" here and has been involved in some pretty bad stuff. Recently though he has seemed to be trying to make some changes. We have been encouraged by this.
Then last week a sweep was made of people using rugby, the glue drug here, and many were arrested including JR who had the drug on himself. We know that almost all of the street kids here are using it. It is cheap, easy to get, and numbs their pain for at least a while. We knew that he was a minor, but he had no proof of it.
We decided to do some research and try to help him. JR's dad had an affair and he was the result. That lady died though and so his dad brought JR home to his family. "Here is our son from a woman I have been having an affair with." You can imagine the reaction. Mom wanted nothing to do with him and so at a young age, JR was abandoned to the streets. His dad became an alcoholic and began beating JR when he would come around, so he left for the streets on a permanent basis. He has been on hs own for years since being young.
So can you imagine trying to find a birth certificate to prove his age? Next to impossible - and here basically without that you basically do not exist. He is going to be sent to jail with adults.
Now was he doing drugs? Yes, no questions, so one can have feelings on both sides. But there are issues which go deeper than just that. The pain that has been caused in this young one's life, being abndoned and beaten by your own family, raising yourself on the streets, being hopeless and looked upon by so many as just a nuisance - the list could go on and on. We are trying to let JR know that he is deeply loved by God who has a plan for his life and that we care too.
The search to aquire some proof of his age goes on. Next week he is supposed to be sent to prison from where he is being held now. Please pray for him and the spiritual war which is going on for his precious life. Thanks.

city cry

2008-12-08T03:18:00.000-08:00

I love the Christmas season. I love celebrating it with others. There is so much to be joyful for and it is extra special to celebrate it together. After all, Jesus Christ came for us all, so together is best way to return our praise.
Being here in the Philippines, I am among so many who are struggling financially. They would make our poor there in America look rich! One of my favorite times of the week now is the hour and a half I spend with my group of teens. There are 16 of them and together we are learning about God and growing closer to Him. The kids from this group have a home and some clothes, but not much. I have seen some of their homes which is like a 1 or 2 room home made of simple wood. Many do not have beds, furniture, or regular things which we would take for granted.
My wife and I wanted to do something special for them to celebrate Christmas, so we decided to take them all out to a restaurant for lunch - a treat which they have rarely if ever had before. Pastor Gary also works with me now in this group and he said that this would be a great treat for them. We asked them and the majority wanted to go to Jolibees which is a restaurant of burgers, chicken, spaghetti, and various other things. All of them got to pick a meal and we ended it with ice cream for all. To see their smiles and hear their laughter was encouraging. We had a great time!
All along through the lessons, verses, singing, games, and prayers we have been growing closer, but it is especially during times like these of just eating together and hanging out that true relationships form. We had the chance to talk and laugh with each of them and simply enjoyed being together. I can still remember times I spent with my youth group when I was a teen and I know they will always remember this too.
We who call ourselves followers of Jesus must realize that people on the outside are always looking at us and seeing Christ through us. How we treat them may help them to either be led into or away from a relationship of their own with God. Those of us who have known God for a while and are in a deep relationship with Him must be there as examples to the younger ones in their faiths who are just beginning to grow. It is a command by God and a priviledge to serve Him in this way anyways.
Please continue praying for this group. Thank you. And together, let's make a difference for God.

City Cry

2008-12-07T03:06:00.001-08:00

test

City Cry

2008-12-07T03:06:00.000-08:00

test

my testimony

2008-12-07T01:56:00.000-08:00

im shannon ries, 36 years of age....