Supporter Spotlight: Matt and Joanne Rieger
This month’s Supporter Spotlight highlights a young couple from Lombard, IL. Matt & Joanne Rieger have financially supported MSC since its existence 6 years ago. Read below, in their own words, as to why they continue to partner with MSC:
1) In a few lines explain who are you, where do you work, live, kids etc?
We are related to Gaye Swaback, she is cousins with our dad and we currently live in Lombard, IL. Matt work’s as a physician assistant at Central DuPage ER and Joanne is an art teacher at Fenton High School. We enjoy being part of God’s creation and attend Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL.
2) How did you first hear or get associated with MSC?
We'll never forget Sunday, August 15th 2004, sitting front middle section of Harvest's Sunday service. Pastor James solemnly announced Mitch's tragedy and then left the stage unable to preach. Days later we sat pretty close to the same spot listening to testimony after testimony about Mitch. We sang "Blessed be the Name of the Lord," while just a couple yards from the screen lay Mitch's coffin. Our worlds were rocked by the death of such a passionate young man and how the Swaback family was dealing with Mitch's death. Two months later we were given the opportunity to partner with the Swaback family through MSC to continue Mitch's passion of serving.
3) Why do you choose to support MSC monthly?
Matthew 25:44-45 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
MSC truly focuses on the things that moves God's heart... the least of these.
It's also not too often that you can personally know a ministry's board of directors, know their hearts and honest love for Christ.
4) Do you see MSC making a difference in local and foreign communities?
Absolutely! Right here in Chicago the streets have been graced with the MSC projects of Tabitha house and Casa de Esperanza. Harvest's Elgin campus is blessed to have the Mitchell Swaback Athletic Center which serves the local community through multiple ministries that pass through its walls. And then you look at the service teams/projects that have gone to Peru, Liberia and Mexico. Pretty amazing!
5) What (if anything) would you to see MSC get involved with? Any other charitable you would like MSC to get involved in?
The needs (spiritual & physical) of this world are so great whether you are looking local or globally. We will continue to pray that God will lead you with wisdom as you figure these areas out. We of course have a heart for Haiti as our sister plans to serve there with her family.
6) With the economy still hurting, incomes low and struggling families why is it, in your opinion, still important to support the work of MSC or any charity?
Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Ultimately at the end of the day we will stand before our judge, the maker of heaven and earth. We will need to account for everything we did and did not do. If you are currently living under a permanent shelter, have clothing and food you are in the top 15% of the entire world. If you own a computer you are in the top 1% of the world. David Platt's, "Radical," is a great place to begin understanding how to live life as a Christian.
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