Sole Hope

This week we had the opportunity to talk with Pastor Chad Rieselman from Generation Church, in North Tonawanda. He told us about a project that his church was doing in order to be the hands and feet of Christ for people across the globe:

Chad Rieselman wasn’t thinking about the shoes on his feet or on anyone else’s when his life was “radically transformed” in 2001. But, he would have many miles to go before God would give him a vision for needy children from another nation.

“I felt drawn by the Holy Spirit,” he says, describing how he went to the Binghamton, NY church (in which he and his wife were married) that life-changing Thursday night more than 12 years ago.

That’s when God plucked this sheet metal worker out of the ordinary and began to change him in a huge way.

“I joined the choir, did youth ministry for the next six years, and subsequently God placed a call on our lives for church planting.”

Rev. Chad Rieselman is the pastor of Generation Church of North Tonawanda, NY, a strategic church partner of The Chapel, which strives to reach every man, woman, and child, with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. Generation Church is an Assemblies of God church in two locations, working in tandem with First Assembly in Niagara Falls.

Rev. Rieselman describes Generation Church as “a mission-minded church, seeking redemption for a changing world.” As part of that mission, he and his church minister to each other, to the community, and to others from around the globe, including children, from Africa.

Generation Church is partnering with Sole Hope, an organization that seeks to provide closed-toe shoes to African children, one pair at a time. According to the World Health Organization, jiggers affect many third-world countries and their children. Female jiggers or sand fleas burrow into humans to lay their eggs, creating open sores or wounds, which are prone to parasitic infection. People who do not wear closed-toe shoes, especially children, are commonly affected. In worst cases a secondary infection may occur or possibly gangrene and even the loss of a toe.

“On Wednesday, April 24, we will be having our first shoe-cutting party,” said Pastor Chad. Participants cut out simple patterns from material such as old blue jeans. All the shoes are made from recycled material and help provide jobs for women in Uganda who will sew the shoes and receive a fair wage for their labor. Generation Church will ship all the cut-out shoes to Sole Hope in Uganda.

These days, Pastor Chad Rieselman is focused on ways to further advance the kingdom of God. This event is an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by making shoes for those who need them.

If you would like more information on how to get involved visit: http://ntgeneration.org/serving-others.php