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Raised in Cleveland and a graduate of the Cleveland Public
School System, Richard is a 10-year Navy veteran and a retired teacher from the
same school that he graduated from. As a veteran teacher and coach in the
Cleveland Public School System, God put him into a position to be a guiding
light for the youth at Aviation High and Max Hayes Vocational High School. God
has also used his interest in motorcycles to lead him into becoming one of the
founding fathers of the Christian Motorcyclists Association Cleveland Chapter.
Being the president of the group for 5 years allowed Richard to share the gospel
with different groups of motorcycle enthusiasts all over the city, state and
country. He received his Masters in Ministry from Grace Seminary in the summer
of 2000.
 Reida was raised in Alabama and has worked for many years in the
insurance industry. Most recently Reida worked for the Nordonia School System
with special needs children. She has been the secretary of the Christian
Motorcyclists Association Cleveland Chapter for 5 years and even rides her own
motorcycle. They have been married for 24 years and have four children and nine
grandchildren.
The scriptures open up and provide new
meaning and insight when God puts a thirst for knowledge in your heart. One of
the questions that are constantly asked of us is – “Why Cleveland”.
The answer is simple:
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the
Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the
Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:7,8
Most Christians look at Missionaries as
people that go to Mexico, South America and Asia. But the scripture in Acts
tells us to be a witness in Jerusalem first before going on to Judea and
Samaria. This means take the Scriptures to your back yard first before going to
another country!! There are people in this area with needs who have been lied to
or have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Since 1995, God has continually led them back to the Slavic Village area to work
with various groups. This area is well known to Richard because he was raised in
the area and still has family there. The Lord has given this couple a vision to
start a Mission Center in Cleveland for compassion ministries that will lead to
church planting. They have put their faith and trust in the Lord and will do
whatever is asked of them.
Richard and Reida Bartley founded the Village Grace
Mission Center in 1996.
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