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February 2025

February 27, 2025
in Child Welfare, HCC, Local, Ministry Partner, Outreach, Safe Families for Children, Serve Teams, Volunteer Spotlight
by cefiggins
2 Comments

Volunteer Job Description: Family Friend

Volunteer Job Description: Family Friend

Purpose:

  • Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
  • Harvester Christian Church is dedicated to caring for the least of these. One of the ways we do this is by providing support and encouragement to Harvester Christians who have made the decision to be Safe Families, Foster Families, or Adoptive Families. Safe Family Friends play a crucial role in encouraging and strengthening these families through various means of support.

Key Responsibilities:

Prayer Support: Commit to praying regularly for Safe Families, Foster Families, and Adoptive Families within the Harvester community.

Practical Support: Provide practical assistance such as:

  • Dropping off diapers or essential supplies.
  • Preparing and delivering occasional meals.
  • Offering babysitting services for a few hours to give parents a break.
  • Providing transportation to appointments or school.

Emotional Support: Offer encouragement and a listening ear to families, providing a sense of community and understanding.

Flexible Assistance: Be available for other support tasks as needed, ensuring families feel supported and valued.

 

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the mission and values of Harvester Christian Church through membership.
  • Completion of Belong and/or Discover Harvester class (highly recommended, though not required).
  • A heart for serving and supporting Safe Families host families, foster or adoptive families in need.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to handle sensitive situations with confidentiality and compassion.

 Time Commitment:

  • Flexible and variable based on the needs of the families and the availability of the volunteer.
  • Regular check-ins with the Safe Family/Foster/Adopt Crew Leader to ensure families’ needs are being met effectively.

Training and Support:

  • Initial orientation and training will be provided to familiarize volunteers with the role and responsibilities.
  • Complete Core Training and Sexual Abuse Prevention Training through Safe Families for Children
  • Ongoing support and resources will be available through Harvester Christian Church.

Benefits:

Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith through acts of service and prayer, fulfilling the call to love and support others as Christ loves us.

Community Connection: Build meaningful relationships with other volunteers and families within the Harvester Christian Church community.

Personal Fulfillment: Experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from making a positive impact on families who are caring for children in need.

Skill Development: Enhance your skills in areas such as caregiving, communication, and organization.

Flexibility: Enjoy a role that offers flexible hours and tasks that can fit into your personal schedule.

 

Reporting To: Crew Leader for Safe Families/Foster/Adopt

By serving as a Family Friend, you will be making a tangible difference in the lives of families who have opened their hearts and homes to children in need. Your support, whether through prayer, practical assistance, or emotional encouragement, helps to build up the body of Christ and strengthens our community.

 

Contact:

For more information or to sign up, please contact

Carissa Figgins

Local Outreach Pastor

cfiggins@harvester.cc

 

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February 27, 2025
in Church, HCC, Local, Outreach, Serve Teams, Volunteer Spotlight
by cefiggins
1 Comment

Volunteer Job Description: Administrative Ministry Volunteers

Volunteer Job Description: Administrative Ministry Volunteers

Purpose:

  • Local Outreach is in need of administrative volunteers. Administrative Ministry Volunteers play an essential role in the life of the Local Outreach, contributing to the effective administration and coordination of ministry tasks and activities. This is a wonderful opportunity to use your skills to serve the community and support the mission of the church.
  • Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

Key Responsibilities:

Database Entry: Maintain and update Local Outreach databases with accurate and timely information.

Sorting and Organizing Supplies: Manage and organize ministry supplies, ensuring everything is in order and accessible.

Event Preparation: Assist in preparing for events, including setting up materials, coordinating logistics, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Copying and Printing: Handle copying and printing tasks for various ministry needs.

Administrative Support: Provide general administrative support to the Local Outreach team, including answering phones, responding to emails, and other tasks as needed.

 

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the mission and values of Harvester Christian Church through membership.
  • Completion of Belong and/or Discover Harvester class (highly recommended, though not required).
  • Strong organizational and administrative skills.
  • Proficiency with basic office software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).
  • Attention to detail and accuracy in completing tasks.
  • Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and discretion.
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Time Commitment:

Flexible hours based on volunteer availability and ministry needs.

Regular commitment preferred (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly).

 

Training and Support:

  • Initial orientation and training provided to familiarize volunteers with their roles and responsibilities.
  • Ongoing support and resources available through the Local Outreach team.

Benefits:

Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith through acts of service and contributing to the mission of the church.

Community Impact: Play a vital role in supporting the church’s outreach efforts and making a positive difference in the community.

Personal Fulfillment: Experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from using your skills to support ministry activities.

Skill Development: Enhance your administrative and organizational skills in a practical setting.

Networking: Connect with other church members and volunteers who share a commitment to serving the community.

Flexibility: Choose volunteer hours that fit your schedule, allowing you to serve in a way that complements your personal and professional commitments.

 

Reporting To: Outreach Ministry Coordinator

 

Contact:

For more information or to sign up, please contact

Jillian Hohensee

Outreach Ministry Assistant

jhohensee@harvester.cc

 

By serving as an Administrative Ministry Volunteer, you will be making a significant contribution to the effective operation of Local Outreach activities and events. Your dedication and skills will help build up the body of Christ and support the church’s mission to serve the community.

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February 27, 2025
in Church, HCC, Local, Outreach, School Outreach, Volunteer Spotlight
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Volunteer Job Description: School Outreach Crew Member

Volunteer Job Description: School Outreach Crew Member

Position Title: School Outreach Crew Member

Vision: To meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of students, teachers, staff, and/or families while building trusting relationships that lead them to find and follow Jesus.

 Purpose:

  • Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
  • To support local schools through various service projects, encouragement of teachers, and maintenance activities. Volunteers will also participate in monthly meetings for prayer and preparation of upcoming needs.

Key Responsibilities:

Participate in at least one school support activity per month. Activities may include:

  • Supporting school events
  • Encouraging teachers through thank you notes, small gifts, or other forms of appreciation
  • Providing maintenance assistance as needed
  • Prepping food for the Food Back Pack program
  • Sorting and organizing backpacks and school supplies

Attend monthly meetings at Harvester Christian Church to:

  • Pray for the schools, teachers, students, and upcoming activities
  • Prepare supplies for upcoming service projects
  • Handwrite thank you notes to teachers and staff
  • Assemble gifts for teachers and staff

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the mission and values of Harvester Christian Church through membership
  • Completion of Belong and/or Discover Harvester class (not required but highly recommended)
  • FHSD Background Check (not required but highly recommended
  • A heart for serving the community and supporting local schools
  • Good organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to work well in a team and follow instructions

Time Commitment:

  • At least one service activity per month at a local school
  • One monthly meeting at Harvester Christian Church for prayer and preparation

 Benefits:

  • Opportunity to make a positive impact on local schools and the community
  • Fellowship and connection with other church members
  • Spiritual growth through prayer and service

 

Contact:

For more information or to sign up, please contact

Carissa Figgins

Local Outreach Pastor

cfiggins@harvester.cc

 

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February 27, 2025
in Local, Outreach, Serve Teams
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Volunteer Job Description: Emergency Weather Response (EWR) Crew Member

Volunteer Job Description: Emergency Weather Response Crew Member(EWR)

Vision: We envision the area churches in St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren County will provide safe overnight sleep to protect our homeless neighbors from dangerous inclement weather.

Purpose:

  • Harvester Christian Church is a part of a county-wide initiative called Emergency Weather Response (EWR) that is activated if the temperatures are predicted to be 20 degrees or below overnight. We are part of a network that opens its doors as a Free Warming Center 1-2 weeks a year to provide our homeless neighbors safe sleeping accommodations for the night. Each night of activation, teams of 3 volunteers serve 4 or 8-hour shifts between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. to provide hospitality to these homeless neighbors.
  • Ephesians 4:11-12: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

 

Key Responsibilities:

Hospitality: Welcome and assist homeless neighbors as they arrive, ensuring they feel safe and comfortable.

Monitoring: Supervise the warming center throughout the night, maintaining a peaceful and secure environment.

Support Services: Provide basic amenities such as blankets, hot drinks, and snacks.

Assistance: Help with setting up and cleaning the warming center before and after use.

Coordination: Communicate with other volunteers and team leaders to ensure smooth operation during shifts.

 

Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the mission and values of Harvester Christian Church through membership.
  • Completion of Belong and/or Discover Harvester class (highly recommended, though not required).
  • Compassion and a heart for serving the homeless community.
  • Ability to work in a team and communicate effectively.
  • Flexibility to serve during late-night and early-morning hours.
  • Willingness to undergo any necessary training or background checks.

 

Time Commitment:

Flexible shifts of 4 or 8 hours between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during activation periods from November to March.

Harvester Christian Church is expected to provide volunteers to serve 1-2 weeks per year during activation periods. 2024-25 Schedule TBD

 

Training and Support:

  • Initial orientation and training are provided by the EWR Network typically in early November to prepare volunteers for their roles.
  • Ongoing support and resources are available through Harvester Christian Church and the EWR initiative.

 

Benefits:

Spiritual Growth: Deepen your faith through acts of service and compassion, living out Christ’s call to serve the least of these.

Community Impact: Make a tangible difference in the lives of our homeless neighbors during extreme weather conditions.

Personal Fulfillment: Experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from providing critical support to those in need.

Skill Development: Enhance your skills in hospitality, crisis management, and teamwork.

Flexible Scheduling: Choose shifts that fit your availability, allowing you to serve in a way that complements your schedule.

 

Reporting To: EWR Crew Leader

 

Contact:

For more information or to sign up, please contact Carissa Figgins

Local Outreach Pastor

cfiggins@harvester.cc

 

By serving on the Emergency Weather Response Team, you will be providing essential support to our homeless neighbors during extreme weather conditions. Your dedication and compassion will help build up the body of Christ and demonstrate the love of Jesus to those in need.

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February 26, 2025
in Outreach
by Brendon
0 Comments

February 2025 Newsletter

February Edition: What’s Coming in HCC Local Outreach & Beyond

 

I don’t know about you but I just turned the calendar to January 2025 only to see that February 2025 is upon us! So much has happened in the last 7 days from the global and national levels to the last 24 hours at the local level. I feel the tension in my shoulders and jaw. I am confused and weary about what to do and what to say. Even with that fear and stress, I do know that God is still in control, God is on His throne and He has not left us to our own devices.

So before I start listing all the places you can serve or pray over the next weeks and months, let me remind you first and foremost of God’s love for you. Sit with that for a moment. Without moving into guilt or shame, think about how you and I do not deserve this love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Then I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit how you can cooperate with Him to share that same love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in your family, in your neighborhood, in the workplace, on social media, with strangers, with friends, inside the church and especially outside the church. In this new year, God has graciously opened up another door for us to unleash the hope of Jesus through justice and generosity. I cannot wait to see how you will approach his gentlemanly invite.

 

Local Outreach Updates:

 

God was glorified when HCC hosted the (EWR) Warming Center on January 19-25. We were activated four nights and provided a total of 115 beds to our unhoused neighbors. I couldn’t believe it when I saw three of them on Sunday morning in services and chatting with Warming Center volunteers! We will start planning to provide a cooling center this summer when the temperatures are not safe for humans to be outside for extended periods of time. Let me know if you would like to be a part of that planning.

Our Safe Families/Foster/Adopt Serving Group is really coming together. This group is made up of HCC families who already serve as Host Families with Bethany Christian Safe Families or who are Foster/Adoptive Families. The group also includes Family Friends who may provide physical needs such as formula or clothing but they can also help provide meals, transportation, or babysitting to our HCC families.

Food Pantry and Food Backpack Volunteers are just beasts! They have continued to serve in ridiculous weather situations. Talk about discipleship at the cost of comfort. Thank you so much for your dedication and commitment!

 

 

FOR THE ONE VISON NIGHTS: We’re just over two weeks away from launching our FOR THE ONE Campaign, and we want to make sure you’re in the loop about this!! This campaign is all about boldly reaching the lost in our region through our third campus in O’Fallon and updates at our Troy Campus. To help everyone catch the vision and understand how we can all be part of it, we’re hosting three identical Vision Nights in February:

  • Tuesday, February 11th @ 6:30 PM (STC)
  • Wednesday, February 12th @ 6:30 PM (Troy)
  • Sunday, February 23rd @ 6:30 PM (STC)

Childcare will be provided for all three nights, and you only need to attend one. Please take a moment to sign up for the Vision Night that works best for you by clicking the link. Give a listen to Pastor Nikomas to calling all of Harvester Christian Church to reach out FOR THE ONE

 

 Upcoming Service Opportunities

 

 

School Outreach Monthly Pray & Prep
Monday 2/3/25 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. HCC St Charles Campus Annex Door 10
Join us each month to pray for our local schools, teachers, staff, families, and children. We also use this time to assemble simple appreciation gifts and write thank you notes to local school staff. RSVP here

 

The Sharing Shed
Saturday 2/15/25 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. 923 East Terra Ln. O’Fallon, MO 63366
Our HCC Sharing Shed crew serves every 3rd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Volunteers are needed to receive donations, clean them. and occasionally help deliver the items or serve as personal shoppers to Sharing Shed Clients. Volunteers are especially needed who can lift and deliver heavy household items. Sign up Here

 

LO/GS Spring Training
Thursday 3/13/25 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe
This training is for anyone serving in Local Outreach, Food Pantry, or Guest Services. We will be focusing on safety. SCAAD will be here to demonstrate basic lifesaver CPR. We will have a brief training from our Security Team on what to do in the event of an emergency. We will also have tips and tricks on how to de-escalate and manage difficult conversations. RSVP here

 

Safe Families Training #1 & #2
Safe Families Core Training Monday 3/24/25 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe
Host Family Training Monday 3/31/25 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Cafe

Bethany Christian- Safe Families is hosting two in-person trainings at HCC on March 24th and March 31st from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Mission Cafe.
For anyone wanting to serve as a Family Friend either for Safe Families or to support HCC families, you need to complete Safe Families Core Training on March 24th. Click this link to sign up for Core Training. For anyone wanting to serve as a Host Family for Safe Families, you will need to complete the Core Training on March 24th and the Host Family training on March 31st. Click the previous link to sign up for Core Training. In addition click this link to sign up for Host Family Training.
The Sexual Abuse Prevention Training for Family Friends and Host Families will need to be completed online. Email Madison Witte to enroll in the Sexual Abuse Prevention Training.  Feel free to email Madison Witte from Safe Families, mwitte@bethany.org, for any additional information about what Safe Families is, what a Host Family does, or the critical importance of a Family Friend.

 

 

Prayers

Pray for one specific neighbor to be curious about your faith.
Pray for God to provide an opportunity for you to share a message of hope and love.
Pray for God to raise up a HCC member to serve as the Hackmann Rd Early Childhood Crew Leader.
Pray for HCC members to form a consister serving crew at Hackmann Rd Early Childhood.
Pray for God to raise up a HCC member to serve as the Becky David Crew Leader.
Pray for the health and healing of so many of our Local Outreach and Food Pantry volunteers.
Pray Local Outreach volunteers will not slip into humanitarian tasks but will boldly unleash the hope of Jesus through justice and generosity.

Resources for you to grow in your faith and Become more and more like Jesus through service

 

More Ways to Stay in the Loop

  1. Like and Share posts from HCC Outreach- St Charles Campus Facebook Page
  2. Like and Share posts from HCC Food Pantry
  3. Subscribe and follow HarvesterCC Outreach Blog
  4. In the Harvester app: Log into the app. At the bottom right hand corner click “More.” On the next screen click “Groups.” Click on any group you are assigned to see the calendar, and messaging about needs, events, or serving opportunities. If you would like to be added to any group such as Food Pantry, School Outreach, EWR Warming Center, Safe Families/Foster/Adopt, Natural Disaster Food Backpack Ministry, Elections, or Sharing Shed, please email our Ministry Coordinator Jillian Hohensee at jhohensee@harvester.cc
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February 19, 2025
in DTOTD, Jesus, Mental Health
by cefiggins
1 Comment

The Darkness Has Not Overcome- DTOTD

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5

Before this particular winter season, I like to think I created the hashtag #Ihatecold. Before this year I despised winter. Not even joking, winter has always brought on intense panic for me. Before this season winter has always been a race for survival for me. I think I have felt truly threatened by what I perceived as the power of winter. The lack of yellow sunlight, the lack of warmth, the perceived prison of the indoors, the perpetual grayness, and the phrase “weather permitting” have always made me feel like I am suffocating as I will truly not survive another winter. My brain plays tricks on me that I really might not survive and depression and anxiety have ruled the day in the winter months. Even if we have crazy days of spring pop up like they leave me feeling yanked around and psychologically messed with. The darkness, and the lack of light, in the past have given me a feeling of fear that I had convinced myself I needed to fight off, not succumb to, to overcome myself. Instead of winter being a season of rest and a time to slow down, I have been frenzy not to let it “get me.” New journals, new self-help strategies, new bright-colored clothing, new light therapy, a new therapist anything I could think of to outrun the darkness. It has always been exhausting and it has rarely worked as winter deepens, the days are short; darkness claims more hours than light. In this season, it is too easy for me to feel the weight of the shadows—both physical and spiritual. The world can feel heavy, cold, and uncertain for me. 

However…

Over Christmas, I found a book that has drastically changed my perspective and mindset about winter. How to Winter: Harness your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, and Difficult Days shares themes of anticipating winter, looking forward to the times of rest, allowing a sense of wonder and awe to lead how we view the world, and most importantly for me, to embrace the darkness of the season. This has been a key mind shift for me to not only survive winter but also reflect on my own walk with the Lord. I am not talking about embracing the darkness that Satan tempts us with. But more in how the author shares in this passage. “No other strategy embodies the spirit of shifting your wintertime mindset as completely as finding joy in the darkness: faced with something we have no power over, we can push back and complain or we can collaborate with the night to transform darkness from oppressive gloom to cozy wonder. “

When I read this part of the book, I was reminded of our decision to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as we find and follow Jesus. My spirit was convicted that I once again had walked right into one of Satan’s oldest and stupidest lies: that I am alone and must overcome alone with my strength and understanding.

But John 1:5 reminds us of a powerful truth: the light of Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

In the stillness of winter, the bare trees and silent cold may convince us that we will wait forever for warm sunny days,  but waiting does not take away our joy. Just as creation rests during this time and waits to grow again, so we, too, are called to joyfully wait on the Lord because He is coming. I have always struggled with The Waiting. I feel I need to be doing something proactive. But Waiting is not a passive act; it requires a reaction of trust, surrender, and hope. It requires strength to let go and become weak. It is an invitation to lay down our burdens and let God take control.

So often, we want to fight our battles in the darkness, relying on our own strength, reasoning, or plans. We may feel we need to keep our battles in the darkness because no one else understands what we are going through or we can’t believe we are in this particular darkness again. Yet, our finite understanding can only be seen so far. Living life this way allows Satan to steal our joy. The battles we face—be they against fear, uncertainty, anxiety, or grief—are not ours to fight alone. As we read in Psalm 27:1 The Lord is our defender, our light, and our salvation. 

I am wondering if you are like me and need to be reminded to take heart in knowing that Jesus is not intimidated by the darkness. He is not overwhelmed by the despair the winter seasons bring into our lives. He stepped into it, bringing a light that the shadows cannot extinguish. When we feel overwhelmed or unsure or overcome by the vastness of the darkness around us and in us, we can rest in and be joy-filled with His promise in Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

As we enter hopefully the last part of this winter, let’s be brave together and wait in the darkness with a joy that really makes no sense for Jesus to rescue us. Once again, let’s surrender our struggles to the One who sees the end from the beginning. Let us trust in His light, and choose joy that illuminates the path even when it feels hidden. His light is not just for overcoming but for guiding, warming, and restoring. I pray the light of Christ fills and refills your heart today. I pray you feel His presence in a new way today and that it reminds you that darkness never has the final word. Be brave and joyfilled and rest as you wait in the darkness for your defender.

Prayer:

Hey God, thank You for being the light that shines in the darkness. In seasons of waiting, help us to trust in You and surrender our battles with the darkness into Your hands. Remind us that Your light is stronger than any shadow we face. Teach us again and again to rest in Your promises, knowing that You are our refuge and our strength. Be our defender, our source of joy, and our hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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February 13, 2025
in Church, HCC, Jesus, Local
by cefiggins
1 Comment

Valentine’s Day Prayer

Hey God,

You are the God of love, the One who first loved us and calls us to love others in the same way. Thank You for the example of Jesus, who showed us what it means to love without condition, to serve with humility, and to give without expecting in return.

Lord, soften our hearts toward our neighbors. Remove any barriers of pride, fear, or indifference that keep us from seeing them as You do. Help us to love not just in words, but in action—to listen with compassion, to serve with joy, and to give generously of our time, resources, and kindness.

When it is difficult to love, remind us of the grace You have shown us. When we are tempted to turn away, strengthen us to lean in. Let our love reflect Your heart, so that our neighbors may come to know You through our lives.

May our homes, churches, and communities be places where love flourishes, burdens are shared, and hope is unleashed. Teach us to love as You love, for Your glory and the good of those around us.

In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen.

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From the HCC Outreach Team:

Thanks so much for stopping by the Harvester Christian Church Outreach Team’s blog! We hope you find this resource helpful, insightful and encouraging as we strive to Unleash the Hope of Jesus back into our world!

This resource belongs to Harvester Christian Church in St. Charles, Mo.