2023 August

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August 2023

August 30, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Guest Services, Local, Outreach

by Brendon

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DTOTD – step out of the crowd

” …but it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but TO serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45

It is really easy not to serve. Seriously. I get it. There are so many reasons that we could choose to not serve. Busyness. Calendars. Appointments. Homework. Dinner routines. Not sure where to serve. Not sure how to serve. Covid. Pandemics. Fear. Unsure of your place. It’s not for me. They don’t need me, they have plenty already.

I recently read an article by Danny Franks titled 4 Reasons Volunteering Within the Church is Crucial. In the article, he tells of a study, ” While 84% of respondents said their church encourages every adult to serve in some capacity, only 30% said they have personally served in the past year.” My upbringing was probably a little different than yours. I was born into this world with a pastor as a dad. One that was hard-working and passionate about what he did. My mom took the step to be a stay-at-home mom to raise me and my 3 siblings the best should could. But it also meant that we were at church a lot until maybe I could drive myself. But for some reason, I still showed up on Sunday mornings for church/youth group. I can remember being in middle school and going to help at church whether it was just to play with friends or to help run through drywall to take a wall down to revamp a space for students. As I entered high school, I was one that everyone knew and looked too. Not sure if I was the best person to always be looked to, but my youth pastor saw something in me that I did not know was there. He put me on stage to host our weekly youth services. He had me pray on stage. He had me lead group discussions. And after I graduated he helped me make the decision to go to bible college. Going to bible college was well, small and isolated. I went from living on the East Coast where I could drive to 2 of the largest metropolitan cities in the country, to finding myself surrounded by corn and bean fields. It was a world unlike anything I knew about growing up. It was flat and you could see as far as you wanted to. In this rural community, one thing remained true. Serving became something that not only was taught but it was expected. Every year in bible college there was a dedicated week to serve on a mission trip or in an area that you may have never been to. Serving on the weekends at local churches whether it was with adults, students, or kids was always welcomed. After graduating from bible college, my personal service became serving students full-time both on the East Coast and then back into the Midwest. Even when it came time to step away from full-time paid ministry, I knew God always called me to serve. Whether working in the church or in the business world there was no question that I would still make it a priority to serve in student ministry and eventually moving to the adult ministry.

Serving has always been something that has been there in my being. It has been ingrained in me to serve is to be Jesus to those around me. Even in my darkest, most confusing, most fearful moments of questioning what I was doing, where I was going, how I was going to be a good husband, how I was going to be a good dad, how I was going to provide and lead my family…..serving provided clarity of who I was and what I was supposed to be doing. Service to others didn’t take something away from me. It provided an anchor and a constant in my life.

There are a few things that I have learned about serving others that I want others to experience either for the first time or for someone stepping back into serving after a break.

Serving allows Jesus to work in you and through you – It is always interesting seeing in scripture, the rhythm that Jesus shows to his disciples. Serving always was part of what Jesus showed them for everyday living. In a recent cohort, Greg Curtis, the Guest Services Pastor at Eastside CC in Anaheim, CA, taught me this term – Outcome-based Discipleship. Essentially, this was all about the process of going and doing while learning and growing about Jesus. Hearing that phrase made me think about this idea that putting ourselves in places to serve not only allows us to show the love of Jesus to others, it allows Jesus to continue to mold us into his image.
Serving brings community – Have you been in a church where you just feel left out? Maybe it’s because at church you feel like just another face in the crowd. Can I encourage you to step out of the crowd? It is super easy and comfortable to come to church and just sit and sing and listen and sing and leave. I tried that, but it didn’t last long. Take a step out of the crowd and find out where you could serve. Whether it is inside the walls of the church or outside of the walls. When you take the step to serve, God will guide you to a place where you will find a community of people who will love you and care for you.
Jesus commanded us to do so – Not just in Mark 10:45, where Jesus says he did not come to be served but to serve but Jesus also shares in John 13, after getting on his hands and knees taking the place of a servant and washing his disciples’ feet, Jesus commands his disciples, ” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as. I have loved you, you also are to love one another. BY THIS, ALL people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ( John 13:34-35) Jesus did not say the commandment was to learn about him and sit on your butt and not do anything. Jesus did not that just going and attending a Sunday church service and going home is enough. Jesus said, love other people. Jesus commanded us to go into the world and tell others about his love and grace and to baptize those who believe. Jesus tells us that we are going to be his witnesses in our towns and regions and all over the world. Jesus tells us to pick up our own cross and follow Him daily. If we are to show love to others like Jesus showed to us, then that means we must step out, make sacrifices, and follow his calling to serve others.

” For you were called to freedom brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through Love, SERVE one another” – Galatians 5:13

God has huge plans for you, both in and through your life. You have the chance to be part of serving others to allow them to get to experience Jesus in a way they never have before or maybe for the first time ever. If you ever feel inadequate or maybe not ready or any of the other excuses we can use to stop us from serving you are not alone. Just look in scripture at all of the mess ups and the failures and the messed up people that God was able to use. Whether it is someone who tries to run away from God and ends up getting swallowed by a fish, or someone that follows Jesus for three years and then denies knowing him at all….those guys still gave testimony to who God is and brought about change in an entire city that was known for being crazy and the other is the one who leads the start of the early church.

In our weakness, God supplies strength. Take a step out of the crowd and see how you can serve those around you. Get ready to receive the blessings of knowing exactly you who are and your purpose no matter what.

August 26, 2023

in Church, Local, Outreach

by cefiggins

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Food Truck Love

So many things happen in life to remind us we are not in control. I think we all reluctantly come to an understanding there is little we can do to control disease, accidents, just life. But Lord, could I have just a LITTLE control over the weather, and the ability to predict it, and it NOT impact incredibly fun things like Fireworks and Food Trucks!!?!?

We just had to make the hard, hard decision once again to cancel Fireworks and Food Trucks. There are so many factors that go into this decision such as guest and volunteer safety, protecting electronics, City of St. Peters permits, and permissions.

One of the ones that is just a sucker punch to my stomach is having to cancel on the food trucks, AGAIN. I love our city and county so much. I am a huge advocate for buying local and supporting small businesses. It is no small decision to cancel sales and income to these small business owners, especially within the City of St. Peters. They work their tails off to shop, prep, prepare, serve, and promote their food truck businesses.

They have been so gracious and flexible with all the starts and stops this month. Harvester Christian, would you do them a favor and share this post on your own social media feeds to promote these businesses? And then do yourself a favor and find the next location they will serving at and consider buying some yumminess and thank them for understanding why we had to cancel our event.

Sweet Streetz Stl : https://www.streetsweetzstl.com/

Tom’s Coffee Truck: https://travelintomscoffee.com/find-a-toms-coffee-truck/

One Dish Wonders: https://www.onedishwonderful.com/

Kona Ice: https://www.kona-ice.com/

Truck O’ Soup: https://truck-o-soup.com/

SNS Goodies: https://streetfoodfinder.com/SNSGoodies

August 21, 2023

in Local, Outreach, School Outreach

by cefiggins

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Deliver Hope: Praying for our local schools

Today a small group of us met to pray over all students whether homeschooled, public, or private, their teachers, administrators, and families. I would love for you to use this prayer guide over the next nine months to constantly keep children and families in prayer whether they are in our local Francis Howell School District or beyond. Let’s pray for God to move in the lives of all of us in this community in a way that unites us in love.

Deliver Hope Prayer Guide

As students around our county and city return to school let’s cover them all in God’s love, grace, mercy, and truth through prayer.

Homeschool, public school, and private school students will always need the adults in their lives continually lifting their names and hearts to our Father God.
The families of these students will always need the guidance and direction from Jesus to guide and direct these students to truth and love.
Administrators, school board members, teachers, and staff will always need the blessing of knowledge, wisdom, and courage from the Holy Spirit and a covering of peace that passes all understanding as they teach these precious children.
Harvester Christians will always need God to shape us in humility and gentleness as we strive to serve as godly neighbors to our local schools.

Feel free to use this prayer guide however you feel called. Where there is a blank you can enter the names of specific school board members, principals, teachers, or students, or Harvester Christians serving in the schools that you know or pray for all of them in general.

Before praying with your group or the people at your table, prepare yourself for this prayer time as an individual child of God through the practice of Lectio Divina.

Lectio Divina is a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In general the chosen scripture is read four times. The first reading is an opportunity to get to know the Scripture passage. Simply read the scripture to yourself. Listen carefully for any words or phrases that seem to jump out. It’s important not to force things, but wait patiently for God to give gentle guidance. The second reading of the same passage focuses further on the points you become aware of during the first reading. You may want to re-read a few verses so you can reflect carefully on where God has nudged you.

Then it is time reflect on what you believe God is saying to you through the scripture. After a third reading, it’s time to respond. You may want to record your thoughts by journaling in the section provided below. We can respond in prayer too, which gives us the opportunity for a conversation with God. After the fourth and final reading, spend around 2-3 minutes in silent contemplation. This isn’t a time of prayer or meditation — just sit quietly and allow God to work. When your mind starts to wander and dart here and there, just bring it gently back to stillness and into the presence of God again.

Lectio Divina- Ephesians 4:1-5

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Lectio Divina response, notes, questions, curiosities, nudges, contemplation, reflection:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The prayer guide is truly just a guide. Feel free to use part, all, or none of it. We are praying for HCC’s specific school partners today in addition to schools, students, families, teachers, school board members, and administrators in any setting all over our county. Below are the names the schools and administrators HCC partners with as well as the HCC School Outreach Crews who serve at each school or serve children in HCC Basketball-Cheer League.

FHSD School Board Members
President	Adam Bertrand
Vice President	Randy Cook
Treasurer	Jane Puszkar
Director	Ron Harmon
Director	Chad Lange
Director	Mark Ponder
Director	Janet Stiglich
FHSD Superintendent	Dr Kenneth Roumpos

Becky David Elementary
Principal	Mrs. Jill Oetting
Assistant Principals	Mrs. Krista Boardman Dr. Sarah Sides
School Crew Leader	TBD
School Crew Members	TBD
Food Backpack	Not applicable

Harvest Ridge Elementary
Principal	Dr. Natalie DeWeese
Interim Assistant Principal	Mr. Nathan Mackiewicz
School Crew Leader	Rachel Vandermuelen
School Crew Members
Food Backpack Crew Members	Shelly Swart, Carol Steinmeyer

Hackmann Rd Early Childhood
Principal	Mendi Hopper
Educational Support Counselor	Beth Reed-Treadway
School Crew Leader	Suzanne & Darren Hance
School Crew Members	TBD
Food Backpack	Not applicable

Barnwell Middle
Principal	Mr. Dave Eckhoff
Assistant Principals	Dr. Erin Thurston
School Crew Leader	Janice Davis
School Crew Members	Kari McCann, Jordan Burt, Jessica Krieger, Issac Brown, Larry Davis
Food Backpack Crew Members	Shelly Swart, Denise Sabo, Linda Beeler

Additional Food Backpack Schools
Bryan Middle	Jen Bolina, Jennifer Shulters
Castlio Elementary	Jen Bolina
FHC	Jen Bolina, Kari Mc Cann
FHN	Shelly Swart, Stacey Enders, Shannon Sebastian
Saeger Middle	Jen Bolina, Kari McCann
Westwood Trails Academy	Shelly Swart, Jane & Stewart Topper

HCC Basketball-Cheer League
League Director	Jeremy Lawyer
League Co-Director	Danielle Cochran
Coaches Coordinator	Brendon Foulke
Cheer Coaches Coordinator	Gabby Lahey
Referee Coordinator	Rebecca Lilienthal
Referee Co-Coordinator
Devotional Coordinator	TBD
Concessions Coordinator	TBD

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that every part of the school districts will agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among them, but that they be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10

When _________ is in need may she approach your throne with confidence and find help. Hebrews 4:16

When _________ is weary and faint may you refresh and satisfy her.

Jeremiah 31:25

Christ, may the staff and students at _____________ become a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

Lord may the staff and students at ____________ know that nothing in all creation is hidden from your sight.

Hebrews 4:13

Lord may we be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bring forth its fruit in season

Psalm 1:3

God may you bring the staff and students at _________ who are far from you near you. Ephesians 2:13

Lord may your joy be in the staff and students at ___________.

John 15:11

God be gracious to ___________ and bless her and make your face shine on her.

Psalm 67:1

Father God we pray the staff and students at _____________ confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to your glory.

Philippians 2:11

God may _________ know and rely on the love you have for her.

1 John 4:16

Lord may the staff and students at ___________ exalt you.

Psalm 46:10

Father God, may you help anyone who enters _____________ to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and trustworthy.

Philippians 4:8

Pray that God would grant them godly wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

Ask the Lord to help them be a model of good works in every regard, and to show integrity, dignity, and sound speech in their teaching (Titus 2:7-8).

Thank God for gifting teachers in a way that allows them to fulfill His calling. Pray that they would be good stewards of the gifts, using them to serve others (I Peter 4:10).

Pray that their teaching would drop as gentle rain upon tender grass, being well-received by their students (Deuteronomy 32:3).

Praise the LORD for His gracious and merciful character, and for being slow to ander and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 145:8). Ask Him to help teachers follow in His footsteps and emulate this example.

Pray that teachers would work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Ask that they would be encouraged in their labor, knowing that they will be rewarded by God, since it is the Lord Christ whom they serve (Colossians 3:23-24).

Acknowledge God’s plan that students should be submissive to their teachers, as authorities placed over them by God (Romans 13:1). Pray that students would be respectful of their teachers.

Claim God’s promise that teachers can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (Philippians 4:13). Ask the Lord to fulfill His promise to thoroughly equip teachers for the good work He has designated for them.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good to give us teachers. I pray that You would bless the teachers in my life. They have been issued a sacred task, and one they cannot fulfill on their own. Please thoroughly equip them with wisdom and patience, and allow the joy of the Lord to be their strength. It’s in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I pray. Amen.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1 Tim 2:1-4 (NKJV).

We are to pray with the clear understanding that government authority is established by God. “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” 1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV). Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Romans 13:1 (NASB)

Help our leaders at ______________________ School to accept wise counsel. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22)

Give our leaders discretion, foresight, and understanding in making decisions. “Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge…” 1 Chron 22:12 (NKJV).

Protect our leaders from harm, and bless and protect their families. “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” 2 Thess 3:3 (NKJV).

Enable our school leaders to carry out their duties duties with humility toward you and toward others. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble’” 1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV).

Give our leaders a tender heart of compassion toward those they lead and serve. “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” Col 3:12 (NKJV).

Dear God, we come to you today asking your blessing on our school administrators. Thank you that they have answered the call to lead our teachers and schools so that our children might learn in a safe and nurturing environment conducive to academic and personal success.

Bless our school administrators with wisdom, integrity, a sense of humor, patience and the physical and mental energy equal to their tasks. Bless them with strong support from parents, teachers and the community.

Give them insights into each teacher’s unique gifts, strengths and abilities so that they might use each teacher in ways that contribute greatly to the common good. Reward them by allowing them see the fruits of their labor displayed in the success of their teachers and students. Accept our prayer today as an expression of our gratefulness to you and to them for their dedication in making our schools a central and vital part of our community.

Amen

Pray students will honor and respect their teachers/office admin/staff.

l Peter 2:13-14)

Pray each teacher, board member, staff, will know and believe they are loved and cherished by God who created them. Psalm 139:13-14

Pray that they are continually encouraged in and by the Spirit of God and by each other.

Ephesians 3:18-19, 1 Samuel 30:6 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Pray our schools will have Godly teachers, school board members, administrators, staff and employees. That all teaching is based on the Truth of God that any teaching which is not founded on the Truth of God, would fall on deaf ears. That each teacher would boldly and clearly speak Truth and that each conversation would be full of grace. That each answer would be gentle and not harsh.

1Timothy 3-4, Colossians 4:3-6, Proverbs 15:1

Pray that teachers, office staff, administrators, and school board members would see every child as the Lord sees him/her, as a person created and valued by God.

Psalm 139

Help each teacher be clothed with ‘compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. To bear with each other and forgive and above all to create in each heart a brotherly love for all they come into contact with each day.

Colossians 3:12-14

That each teacher, office staff, administrator, and school board member would strive to work in a way that delights the Lord, so that his/her steps will be made firm. Pray that he/she would use Godly wisdom arid that God has a plan for them. Pray that whatever they do, they work as if working for the Lord.

Psalm 37:23, Jeremiah 29:1, Colossians 3:17 & 23

Pray for each marriage and family of each school employee, that the Lord protects against anything that could tear those relationships apart. Keep each teacher, office staff, administrator, and school board member ‘self controlled and alert.’

1 Peter 5:8

Pray that students coming from difficult home situations are shown love, mercy and compassion by other students, administrators, and teachers. Pray that their needs are met, and students look toward the needs of others.

Philippians 2:4

Pray that each student has a friend and that God will watch over that friendship. Let no student feel alone or lonely.

Bless the parents, grandparents, guardians, and families with lives of peace and joy. Let their days be filled with contentment and love from those around them. Help them to remember that You are always by their side, guiding and protecting them. Romans 15:13

Grant the parents, grandparents, guardians, and family’s spiritual discernment as they make important decisions in life. Let them be able to hear Your voice clearly so they can follow Your leading. And help them to trust Your will for their lives so they can walk in the path You have set out for them. Matthew 6:33

Fill the teachers school year with abundant favor and blessing. Pray no detail will be left undone for them for this year; everything they need will be provided for them.

Philippians 4:19

Father, fill our School Outreach Crews and HCC Basketball-Cheer Leadership with Your Spirit, producing fruit that never spoils. Help us to love unconditionally, be filled with joy overflowing, remain peaceful and patient, be kind to others, walk in goodness, faithfulness and gentleness and maintain self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

When anyone begins to fear, remind us that You are with us all . Help everyone with connections to the schools to be brave when confronted with new people, new situations, or new assignments. Help us all to not back down from new things or allow intimidation to hold us back.

Joshua 1:9

Lord teach everyone to walk into this year completely dependent upon You. When we begin to lean on our own understanding, remind us that Your ways far surpass ours. Thank you in advance for showing us the right paths and leading us in the way we should go.

Proverbs 3:5-6

August 16, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Local, Outreach

by Brendon

0 Comments

Story Teller Series

” Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he CHOSE us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In Love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed un in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Ephesians 1:3-7

Adoption.

A topic that has gained steam in my life as I have met more and more families that have entered into this realm. It is a world that I do not fully understand and am not sure if I am ready for. This month, the month of August, it is Adoption/Fostering Awareness month and we have had many families at Harvester Christian Church venture into adoption and the stories of their adoptions are more and more impactful.

Adoption is not a foreign topic to scripture or to God. God has placed the concept of adoption all throughout scripture. Adoption is defined as, the action of taking another life, usually a child, and legally raising it as one of their own. In scripture, Adoption is defined as the reception of a believer into the Family of God.

If you think about it this way, the earthly version of adoption is when a person receives another person, not of their own blood or genealogy, brings them into their home and routine and rhythm and way of life, to raise that person as one of their own. God, the creator of all, is doing the same thing with each and every one of us. When we accept Jesus, God’s son, into our lives, God is adopting us back from the dominion of Satan, to raise us, grow us, teach us, discipline us, bless us, guide us into a thriving and full life with God as the leader of our life.

Some friends of mine, The Dickerson’s, went from a family of 5:

To this, a family of 7:

.Our families were in a life group together during this process that they journeyed through and let me tell you, it was one that was absolutely crazy and fast and so encouraging. I was able to ask Nathan and Brittany some questions about their adoption story. In Brittany’s words……is there a word count requirement? I have had a chance to read all these answers to the questions that they sent back to me and, well I am just going to let you take the time to read them:

Foster and Adopting is something that not everyone thinks about. How did you get your feet into the world of Fostering and Adopting?
- Dickerson’s – I (Brittany) have been drawn to adoption since age 14 when I volunteered in a district preschool. There was a little boy who had just been adopted from Russia. His parents discovered he was deaf and had no way to communicate after he arrived in the U.S., which was tough on the class. I was asked to just have fun with him and give the teacher a break for a bit. From there I’ve always had kids in my life who have been in foster care or been adopted.
- I (Nathan) struggled to consider it seriously until we became friends with a family in our Harvester life group with two adopted kids and two bio kids. They were doing a great job. It helped me grasp a vision for what adoption when we already had three bio kids could look like.
- Later I (Brittany) had some health issues, so there was a five year gap between our second and third kid. We decided that the best way to grow our family was a private adoption to minimize wait time, but it would probably have to be infant adoption because I didn’t want to travel to another country. What we really wanted though was an older child to fill our five year gap. We worked with an adoption consultant who helped us complete the paperwork in three months, and then we presented to 16 different birth moms two months time. We obviously weren’t chosen by these birth moms. But then the boys popped up and we decided on a whim to apply for them. Their birth mom chose us and four days later we were on a plane to pick them up! God had a plan to fill our five year gap all along, with not one but two preschool aged children.
In the process, what were some of the biggest struggles that you faced?
- Dickerson’s
  - Since we thought we were adopting a baby, we didn’t have any training for older kids! None! Outside of a book my friend mailed me the day before we picked up the boys, we knew little of the trauma and grief that adopted kids experience. Our boys are wonderful and really want to love and be loved, but we didn’t always understand them and they didn’t always understand us. They grieved leaving Florida and their birth family more than we expected, which sounds silly to say now. Grief showed up in unexpected ways and we gave them consequences at times that didn’t match what they really needed. But all this helped reveal the areas we were lacking in our parenting even before adopting, and through it we have grown to parent all of our kids better. Consequences and rules MUST be tied to how much we love them and how much we want good for them, every single time we discipline.
  - COVID hit shortly after we adopted and all therapies stopped, not to mention seeing our extended family and friends in person. While it gave us the time to focus on bonding as a family of seven, it was exhausting and lonely. We needed a community, but were too tired and we had too much to learn to do much else.
  - Finding our parenting groove took a while. Adoption books and counselors differ on tactics, and at times we didn’t agree with any of them! It took a while to find therapists and strategies that worked with who we are as parents.
As a dad to 3, Nathan, what were some of your prayers as you navigated the adoption world?
- Nathan – I prayed that our future adoption would be a win-win-win, a win for us, a win for the kids and a win for their birth mom. Ideally adoption is a ministry to both the child and their first family.
As a mom to 3, Brittany, what were some of your prayers as you navigated the adoption world?
- Brittany- The thing that I’ve had to be the most intentional about is loving their birth mom. God made it very clear to me that I was not to judge her. I do not know her whole story and who knows how I would deal with the things she has had to deal with. God made it clear that He loved her and that she was okay with him- that would be enough for me. This idea first came to me on the plane flying to get the boys, and has been reaffirmed as I read scripture these past four years. No matter what anyone says, I am to accept and love her as she is. Sharing the mom role can be hard, especially because we are very different people. She is easy going and I’m more type A with routines and structure for everything, but we try to help the boys see the benefits to both ways and how much they are loved by both of us.
When you got a call that there were boys that were looking for a family, what was your initial response, and did you have any hesitation?
- Dickerson- Yes! We had a lot of hesitation. With private adoption you get almost no information about older children. We were told to ask more questions if we were chosen, but the questions we asked made the adoption agency nervous. She told the boys’ birthmom to pick another family, but 24 hours later, the boys’ mom was steadfast. She still wanted us. We homeschool and like to go on family adventures- and it was all over our adoption photobook. That’s what she wanted for the boys.
- During that 24 hours that we were unsure about our match with the boys, we didn’t sleep at all. Both of us individually had to decide if we could do this with the little info we were given. A short phone call with the birthmom and a couple sentences of information, plus some notes from their latest well check… is that enough? What if things got really bad for our current three kids we were responsible for protecting already? In the end, we knew it was a risk but we thought God was telling us to move ahead. We are so glad we did! I don’t think this is smart in every situation, and I’d probably recommend against it to others, but it’s worked out really really well for all of us.
You have a unique adoption story in that you have made it a point for mom of the boys to still be in their lives….how did you come to the decision?
- Dickerson’s – We never felt like we had a choice to NOT allow her to be part of their lives. God worked things so that we were put in touch with a family adoption counselor BEFORE we adopted (which is unheard of with this specific company) and the counselor told us that their birth mom being able to continue the relationship would allow the boys to feel loved and cared for, instead of being abandoned. The adoption process would still be grieved, but they would grow up with a better sense of belonging. As a mom, I would do anything for my kids’ wellbeing. If having their birth mom in their lives was best, then that’s what we would do! Plus she’s quite wonderful. The boys have so many emotions before, during, and after her visit that she doesn’t necessarily see. We are exhausted before she even arrives dealing with it all. BUT she supports us and encourages us and makes it clear that she thinks we are doing a great job. Slowly we are all starting to feel like one big family.
When you look at scripture, what scriptures stand out to you when it comes to adopting and why?
- Nathan – James says that true religion is caring for orphans and widows in their distress. That call to action didn’t fully sink in until we had friends who had adopted kids and it normalized adoption for me. If they could do it, I couldn’t keep making excuses as to why I wasn’t cut out to adopt.
- Brittany – I love how adoption is all throughout the Bible. The more I learn about attachment and how it works, I’m convinced we all have attachment disorders with God. I’ve seen so many adoptive children go through stages. First they push back against the change. They don’t want anything to do with this new family or way of living! Suddenly they have to eat vegetables, go to bed on time, bathe daily, AND their new family lives somewhere new and even talks or smells different. After a while, they kind of start to like the family, but still don’t trust the family and aren’t sure they like all these rules. Some more time passes and they start to see the benefit of eating regularly and following agreed upon rules, but they still aren’t sure they belong. Finally, they reach a point where they believe they do belong. They still don’t always like the rules (Who does?!), but they know this is their family where they belong and their family wants what is best for them. They trust their parents for good outcomes and know their parents really know who they are deep down. Family is GOOD.
- God IS the adoptive parent in scripture, wanting to help and love us and make everything better. But we just can’t trust him. We don’t think he has our best intentions at heart and we don’t trust that we will like his outcomes. However, His ways ARE best and his outcomes ARE better. We have to do the hard work of sticking around, getting to know God, and learning to trust him, moment by moment, in all things.
What would you say or how would you encourage others to think about the adoption world and process?
- Dickerson’s –
- To people thinking of adopting- God’s fingerprints are all over our story. He picked the time and the boys that were perfect for us. And I hope that they say that we are perfect for them too. Nathan wasn’t always on board with adoption, and God used that to work out the just right timing. If things aren’t lining up and you are feeling impatient, just hold on. God will work things out when the time is right.
- To people who have adopted- It’s amazing the therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, homeschool co-ops, friends, soccer coaches, and more that have been placed in our lives at just the time we needed them. I have friends who I can ask to pray and within hours, whatever I asked them to pray for is better. Often I feel so much relief that I even forget I sent an urgent prayer text just that morning until they ask later how things are! You truly don’t have to have it all figured out. None of us do. God will provide the resources and help you need. You might feel alone at times, but you never are. You just have to be faithful and truly trust God to bring what you need when you need it. And hold on when God seems to be answering slowly- He is working and whatever it is won’t last forever. Also It can be hard to find the energy for community, but it is worth it and desperately needed. You can’t pour from an empty cup- God often uses people to fill mine.
- To people who aren’t sure if adoption is for them with kids at home- If you already have kids at home it can be tricky. Our three that we already had before adoption were the number one reason we hesitated saying yes. But what we learned in parenting adopted kids made us ten times better at parenting our biological kids. There have been times that our bio kids didn’t get enough attention from us, but extended family helped and they grew in maturity so much. At this point, all three of our bio kids would say that adoption is the best thing that ever happened to them. They can’t imagine life without their brothers. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it.
Now that you are a family of 7, would you ever think of changing anything?
- Dickerson’s – If we suddenly had more time and energy, we’d totally adopt more! But with our oldest two entering the teen years, we don’t want to miss out on time with them. We love watching them play sports, attending High Hill camp with them and taking them on trips. Adding another little one would definitely change our availability and we don’t want to do that right now.
What would be your prayer or encouragement for those that have never thought about adopting or are thinking about it already?
- Dickerson’s – Hello!! Wherever you are on your journey, God is there working things out. I often tell my kids that God is doing a thousand things in your life right now and we only stop to notice a couple of them at any moment. Trust that He is here and he is working. He knows the desires of your heart and he has good plans for you. He knows where you are lacking and need support. He knows where you are strong and could more easily help another. And He will use any hardship along the way for good (Romans 8:28).
- Also, everyone doesn’t have to adopt. In fact, adoptive families need families that aren’t struggling right then to come alongside them and support them. If you don’t feel that God is calling you to adopt, He could be calling you to befriend an adoptive family and provide support for them. Meals right after adopting is really helpful, but adoptive families really need friends who are okay with the messiness that first year or two as well. Biological kids are going through a HUGE change and maybe not act like themselves for a while. And if a family adopts and disappears, just texting to see how they are doing and what you can pray for helps so so much. Prayer really does change things. We see it all the time in our lives- something feels hard and it’s just not getting better, so a friend starts praying. It doesn’t always change right away, but we see improvement immediately. My (Brittany’s) best friend is a prayer warrior and always going to bat for us in prayer. I know we wouldn’t be where we are now without her. If adoption isn’t working out for whatever reason, maybe your spouse isn’t on board or the finances are lining up, I would pray, but not push. God will line things up in time, and I’m sure he has big things for you to do in the meantime 🙂

I’m not crying….you are.

In all seriousness, Adoption is one of the most significant images when it comes to the relationship we have with Jesus, because of his death on the cross, when we take the step to allow Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of our life, we are adopted into the Kingdom of God.

Adoption may not be on your mind right now, but maybe after hearing the Dickerson’s story, you might start a prayer that may open your hearts to how you can be a part of your own adoption story or someone else’s.

If you are wanting to hear and learn more about this world of adoption, come join us on August 31st to learn how you can Unleash Hope to Children:

August 10, 2023

in HCC, Local

by cefiggins

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Circle Up Ags!

I am a proud member of the Fighting Aggies Class of 1995. All you need to know about that sentence is I believe in loyalty and tradition. I am also a proud Aggies for Christ alumni. We have a 50-year tradition as a campus ministry of gathering weekly at Academic Plaza, every Thursday night at 9 PM for at least 100 college students joined together in fellowship, hearing God’s word, and worshipping Him through acapella praise. At the end of every Thursday night, you hear someone yell in a Texas drawl “Circle Up Ags and Uncover!” That’s our cue for every single person to loop an arm over the shoulder of the people standing next to you, take off any hat in reverence, and bow in prayer together as a united community coming humbly in the presence of God.

My whole adult life this has been my image of what it means to be a member of the family of God. Circled together in unity through prayer and praise for anything that might come our way in this life.

This is also my vision for Harvester Christian unleashing hope for children in need of foster and adoptive families.

I have a dream that starts with the question “What if we…?

What if we as a united church family could circle up around at least one child in our community?
What would God do if he saw our humble obedience to provide a safe, stable, loving environment for a child whose parents are struggling to provide for that child?
What could our future look like if one more HCC family decided to receive the blessing of a child in need of adoption?

Now hold up, I can almost see you pulling back. You may have just said in your head “I don’t know if I could be a foster parent and potentially have to give a child back to his or her family.” “I don’t know if I could love another child that was not my own.” I have all kinds of responses to those particular statements that will save for another day but what if we ask this question together?

What if we circled around families in our church who need support as their children are in Safe Families or foster care?
What if we circled around families in our church who have answered the call in obedience to be a foster family or Safe Family?
What if we circled around the families in our church who have answered the call in obedience to be an adoptive family?
What would our city look like if we unleashed hope together circling around these children?

I think you know that serving is not something we check off our to-do list once a year. Consistently serving others is a key part of all of our continued spiritual formation as we strive to become more and more like Jesus. But what we if are missing a straightforward, accessible, and meaningful approach for serving our community by circling around families in need of care and families providing that care through foster and adoptive commitments?

What if you provided child care for a foster or adoptive family?
What if you brought a meal once a month to a foster or adoptive family?
What if you taught children living in an HCC Safe Family to bake or fish or took them on a hike on the Journey Trail?
What if your small group decided every March that you would collect diapers for HCC foster and adoptive families?
What if your small group decided to provide back-to-school clothes and school supplies for HCC foster and adoptive families?

If we as individual in the HCC church family chose to circle around Safe Families, foster families, or adoptive families it would allow us to meet people’s physical and emotional needs and would also open doors to have a critical impact on the kingdom.

You have an opportunity to learn about many aspects of Safe Families, foster and adoptive families on 8/31 during the Unleash Hope for Children: Foster/Adopt Info Meeting. I am praying 25 people are in attendance to ask the question with me “What If We…”

August 9, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Guest Services

by Brendon

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DTOTD – Seasons

Seasons come. Seasons go.

That is the phrase and saying that we say about life. Have you ever used that phrase in a conversation with anyone?

Sometimes, that can bring a sense of peace to those that are working through a hard time or maybe even someone who is a season of plenty.

The interesting thing about that phrase is that it also pertains to our discipleship process.

In a conversation yesterday, along with a few others from across the country, a conversation centered around serving and what it means and how it is beneficial to our becoming like Jesus.

In this conversation, I was struck by something that was said by the leader of the cohort. He said this, ” People must serve to be discipled.”

Strong statement.

However, that statement is one that I would truly stand by. But…..

That statement does not mean that if you have a season of life come about that does not allow you to serve or is not the right time, then that season is for you to step away.

Jesus came to this earth to show love and grace and truth and to serve others, ultimately to give his own life as a sacrifice for ours on the cross.

The Gospel of Mark states in chapter 10, ” The son of man came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”

We continually see Jesus serving and teaching and serving and teaching.

But there is something about Jesus’ life that can sometimes get overlooked. That in reality might not be nearly as long as what we think about it, but there are times when Jesus need to have a moment of rest or retreat from the continual serving that He did.

Multiple times in the Gospel we see Jesus retreat to a quiet, desolate or place of loneliness to be alone with his heavenly father. He would go to be quiet and to pray and to reset his heart.

In our lives, we all have those seasons. Where we feel an immense pressure to serve or succeed or to do things. But in those seasons we also seem to feel the weight of serving more and more.

Jesus said this in Matthew 11: ” Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When you find yourself in a season where you are overwhelmed and feel an immense burden of responsibility……maybe it is time to take a season of rest.

I was once asked the question, ” Brendon, are you having fun with what you are doing?” The question came at a very weird time in my life, one that I was not ready for or expecting. However that question led to one of the darkest but yet life giving seasons of my life. The follow up to my answer, ” I think I am.” was this….” That’s good. Because if you are not having fun with what you are doing, then it might be time to take a step back and find the next thing God has planned for you.”

It takes a lot of courage and patience and prayer to follow that guidance to take a step away. Especially if you are taking a step back to reconnect with God in a way that you have not had time to do so.

But if you do find yourself in a season of stepping back, do not fill the time with other things.

Fill the time that you used serving, with a chance to run to Jesus and allow him to embrace you and give you the rest you need.

Season come. Seasons go.

Jesus’ peace and rest is always available.

August 2023

DTOTD – step out of the crowd

Food Truck Love

Deliver Hope: Praying for our local schools

Mrs. Jill Oetting

Mr. Nathan Mackiewicz

Story Teller Series

Circle Up Ags!

DTOTD – Seasons

From the HCC Outreach Team: