My wife and I met Christine Reyna at the Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford, Texas a few weeks ago. She had a tent at the festival and was exhibiting some hand-made crosses which she had created. I was impressed by the variety of shapes, compositions, and color patterns of the crosses, and her commitment to giving the proceeds from the sale of these crosses for her family’s and others’ missionary endeavors throughout the world. She and her husband live and work in the Houston area and travel to different weekend fairs to sell the crosses. I decided to interview her for August 2012 edition of City State Journal, and she was gracious enough to answer my questions, as well as provide some pictures displaying her work.
Chuck: It is interesting that your endeavor was initiated from scraps in the trash that make way for kitchen and bathroom make-overs. How do you think that our society could better value the lives of individuals?
Christine: We would all benefit if we realized that the best “make-over” is the one that happens when we are made new in Christ. When we are made new in Christ (transformed, regenerated), He takes the things Satan means for harm and uses them for His glory. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together 1for good, for 2those who are called according to his purpose.” ESV
Chuck: Was there ever a time where you felt compelled to create a special cross for a particular individual?
Christine: Yes, there have been many times that I have been asked to make a “special” cross for a specific individual or situation. Recently a young woman called and asked me to make a cross as a gift for the parents of her fiancé who was killed in a car accident. Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God every time I remember you” was written on the cross.
Chuck: How is a mosaic cross representative of an individual?
Christine: In God’s mercy, grace and love, through the sacrifice of Christ, He takes the brokenness of our lives and transforms us into something beautiful for His glory.
Chuck: You have gone to a number of countries that have some very needy people. When you state, "To me the crosses represent the character of Christ. He takes the broken, discarded, and the things people think they are not salvageable and turns them into something beautiful for His glory." How do you incorporate that statement into your presentations about Jesus Christ when you are on a mission trip?
Christine: While in Liberia, Africa in January of this year I was asked to speak at a Women’s Conference. Liberia is trying to start over after an 18 year civil war. Everyone either committed terrible acts of war or had terrible acts of war committed against them. Everyone is broken! There is no infrastructure, food or running water. Every day, life is a struggle just to survive; It is normal for women and children to use sex as a trading commodity. At the conference I asked the women to take a stand and stop using sex for trade. Many of the women feared any other way of survival. I shared with the ladies the story behind Crosses for Missions and how the crosses were made from “trash”. We all went outside and picked things up off of the ground and each lady made their own cross as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to restore and provide.
Chuck: When have your crosses served as an evangelistic tool?
Christine: At every show and every conversation about Crosses for Missions I share what these crosses mean to me. After telling people that God is faithful to take the broken things of our lives and use them for His glory, many times people open up and share their pains and hurts. I always try to share the hope of freedom and forgiveness we have through the price Christ paid on the cross for our sins.
Chuck: When is an instance where you have experienced spiritual warfare when you have been making these crosses?
Christine: Usually the warfare is during a show or sale.
Chuck: What was that spiritual warfare like?
Christine: I begin to doubt the usefulness of my service and purpose during shows with slow sales. Also, I have had people make discouraging comments.
Chuck: When was a time where you felt particularly discouraged since starting Crosses for Missions?
Christine: At shows that are slow or not many people stop to look or even talk. I consider the show a success when I can share the gospel.
Chuck: What is your favorite type of art?
Christine: God’s! That is why I feel so blessed to get to work with His pallet of colors and patterns in the granite, marble and stone. I love the things that reflect God’s character and passion.
Chuck: How would you define art?
Christine: Art is the heart and passion of an individual or group made into something tangible and/or experiential.
Chuck: Does art have a purpose in your opinion?
Christine: Art to me is a way to share my passion with others.
Chuck: To wow many others have the proceeds from Crosses for Missions been able to help spread the Christian message?
Christine: Crosses for Missions has been able to help many people both domestically and internationally by giving directly or by helping short term missionaries go to areas of need. It has been a great privilege and joy to be a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7)
Chuck: What have you given up in your life since you have taken up the mission of Crosses for Missions?
Christine: Crosses for Missions is a blessing to me. I love making the crosses, praying and singing praises while I work. The biggest change my husband and I have had since we began doing shows is traveling most weekends and getting up extra early to set up for the shows. Last weekend we got up at 2:30am, left our house at 3:30am arrived at our show at 6am to begin setting up for an 9am show. It usually takes us three hours to set up.
Chuck: What is the number one dream you have for your life?
Christine: My goal in life is to one day be kneeling before the Lord and, feeling His hand on my head, hear Him say 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:21 NIV.
Chuck: What is the easiest material for you to work with? Why?
Christine: I love working with the granite and marble that have colors and patterns that most of us would not put together. It is fun with all sorts of materials that have been discarded. Recently I have been using wood scraps and cabinet doors and drawer fronts from kitchen and bath demolitions to add yet another dimension of creativity.
Chuck: What is the most difficult material for you to work with? Why?
Christine: I usually have many cuts and scrapes from the sharp edges of the broken pieces and materials. Also, many of the materials get pretty heavy to carry.
Chuck: In the difficulty of that material do you appreciate any lessons that you have been able to apply to your life?
Christine: I often say to people who look at the crosses “Feel free to touch them and pick them up.” “Don’t worry it was broken when I started, if it breaks again I’ll make something else out of it.” My personal experience is when one breaks and I make it into another cross, it is always more valuable (it sells for more money) and more beautiful than before. I tell people that is yet another aspect of God’s character. When we allow Him to put us back together after our brokenness, we can be used in an even greater way by Him and we are always more beautiful after He puts us back together.
Chuck: What life circumstances have you seen on the mission field?
Christine: On the mission field I am able to share my personal stories of brokenness and God always allows those stories to reach people who seem to be going through similar situations. While in Liberia just after their war ended I told people that I believed God sent me to them because I understood the pain of death. I told them about the two year period in my life when 9 of my family members died. I told them that only 4 of those 9 were over the age of 40. I then share with them how I found the hope and joy that only comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Chuck: How have you seen more wholeness in your life progressively since starting to take mission trips, then initiating Crosses for Missions through to where you are today?
Christine: We have raised our children going on short term mission trips and serving domestically. Our daughter, Sam, was 12 the first time she traveled out of the country and our son, Martin, was 10. Today, Sam has an undergraduate degree in Cross Cultural Christian Studies and is pursuing a Masters at HBU in International Business. Sam plans to be a full time missionary. Martin is a new graduate from A&M with his degree in Mechanical Engineering and plans to serve domestically while taking short term trips and supporting missionaries. We all have a passion for missions. My husband, Manual, and I serve side by side both on the mission field and through the ministry of Crosses for Missions. My husband goes to every show carrying, setting up, cashiering and then tearing down the set up. Honestly, without the partnership of my husband I wouldn’t have the freedom to have the Crosses for Missions ministry. We love that God finds us faithful to be used in such a great way. In September we will be going to Senegal, Africa (for the first time).
Chuck: You are definitely the creator or artist when you construct these crosses. In what ways do you experience the sense of being clay?
Christine: I know on my own I am not able to create. Through the talents God has given me and through His inspiration, He allows me to experience creativity for His glory. One of my greatest joys is putting scripture on the crosses. If God thought it was important to put His word in stone, so do I!
The Path to Opportunity
Posted August 1, 2012 by Chuck DeShazo
