The History Of Reachout Ministries
Fred and Ruth Beach went on a mission trip to Chiquimula, Guatemala with friends from Northern Ireland in November 2007. The extent of poverty and lack of services available to the people in that area of Guatemala made a lasting impression on them. In November 2008, the organization that they went with the previous year decided to pull all of their support from that area. Fred and Ruth led a group of eight individuals to Chiquimula in November 2008. They had the opportunity to sit down with Pastor Otto Bonilla, the liason in the area, to see if it might be possible for them to establish a similar support system. Working with Pastor Otto Bonilla and his daughter, Lily, they began to provide the uniforms, backpacks, and other supplies necessary for the children to attend school.
After their return from Guatemala in November 2008, Fred and Ruth began the process of organizing Reachout Ministries as a legal non-profit organization in the United States. Fred and Ruth formed a board with six members. The board held their first meeting in January 2009. Together, they wrote their Articles of Incorporation and became incorporated as a non-profit organization with the name Reachout Minstries in the state of Michigan in March 2009. 501c.3. tax exempt status was granted to Reachout Ministries in September 2009.
Currently, there are 28 children in the program with 45 expected in the 2010 school year. Reachout Ministries is highly respected by the mayor and city officials of Chiquimula, the superintendent of schools for the city of Chiquimula, and the governor of the department (state) of Chiquimula. They have each praised the work of Reachout Ministies and have said that it is making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in that part of Guatemala. Reachout Ministries also enjoyed the privilege of helping the people of Chiquimula with a clean up day during their trip in November 2008. In cooperation with the mayor's office and Iglesia Dios De Pactos (God of Covenants Church), the team from Reachout Ministries joined forces with many people from the community to clean up a portion of the city of Chiquimula. This included sweeping the streets and removing the trash. This became a media event attracting the local television station and newspapers. The individual members of the team were each honored by the mayor with a copy of a resolution recognizing them as a distinquished visitor to the city and thanking them for their support.
The vision of the board and executive director is to expand the program to include more children and families as money is available. In time,Reachout Ministries may be able to provide other goods and services to the people of Guatemala. The growth of Reachout Ministries has been exceptional. It is anticipated that it will continue to grow. The motto of Reachout Ministries, touching hearts,changing lives, has truly become a reality.
After their return from Guatemala in November 2008, Fred and Ruth began the process of organizing Reachout Ministries as a legal non-profit organization in the United States. Fred and Ruth formed a board with six members. The board held their first meeting in January 2009. Together, they wrote their Articles of Incorporation and became incorporated as a non-profit organization with the name Reachout Minstries in the state of Michigan in March 2009. 501c.3. tax exempt status was granted to Reachout Ministries in September 2009.
Currently, there are 28 children in the program with 45 expected in the 2010 school year. Reachout Ministries is highly respected by the mayor and city officials of Chiquimula, the superintendent of schools for the city of Chiquimula, and the governor of the department (state) of Chiquimula. They have each praised the work of Reachout Ministies and have said that it is making a significant difference in the lives of children and families in that part of Guatemala. Reachout Ministries also enjoyed the privilege of helping the people of Chiquimula with a clean up day during their trip in November 2008. In cooperation with the mayor's office and Iglesia Dios De Pactos (God of Covenants Church), the team from Reachout Ministries joined forces with many people from the community to clean up a portion of the city of Chiquimula. This included sweeping the streets and removing the trash. This became a media event attracting the local television station and newspapers. The individual members of the team were each honored by the mayor with a copy of a resolution recognizing them as a distinquished visitor to the city and thanking them for their support.
The vision of the board and executive director is to expand the program to include more children and families as money is available. In time,Reachout Ministries may be able to provide other goods and services to the people of Guatemala. The growth of Reachout Ministries has been exceptional. It is anticipated that it will continue to grow. The motto of Reachout Ministries, touching hearts,changing lives, has truly become a reality.