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Church

May 23, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Guest Services, HCC, Jesus, Outreach, Serve Teams
by Brendon
0 Comments

An Ode to Volunteer

” …. But that misses out the vital middles stage – that those who are declared to be in the right, to be God’s people, are the renewed humans, the people God had in mind when creating his image-bearing creatures in the first place, the people who now, in the present age have a decisive role to play in the coming to birth of the new creation….”

– NT Wright, Into the Heart of Romans pg. 16

 

” All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. THEREFORE, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”  Paul, 2 Corinthians 5: 18-20 

 

Serving is hard. Serving is counterintuitive. Serving is putting others before ourselves. Serving is thinking differently than we typically would. Serving is not always the hot thing to do. Serving doesn’t always lead to a sexy outcome. Serving doesn’t also bring about all the accolades that we might be searching for. 

 

However, serving may not be the things listed above, it is something that we are called to do. Even if we are not serving in a role or on a serve team or at an event. Serving is what we are called to do always. 

 

Rich Villodas, a pastor in New York, said this about Jesus ” Jesus went towards all….”. He was making reference to how Jesus continually found himself around people serving them however was needed. Whether it was teaching, clearing out a temple, healing, relieving from a demon, recovering the sick, waking the dead or drowning a herd of pigs after putting demons in them. Jesus was always serving, wherever he was with whoever was around. 

 

Every week, we have the chance to serve others when we open the doors for worship services on Sunday’s. I know, serving does not only have to happen on Sundays, but there is a lot of opportunity on Sundays to serve others. Some that do are consistent and others not so much. But whether you are there every Sunday or once a month, you are an ambassador of Jesus to those you are serving. You cannot change that fact. 

 

For those that serve, we thank you! For those that will serve, we thank you! For those that have not yet served…..think about it. 

 

Here is one guests story about their encounter on a Sunday morning: 

 

From: 
Date: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 1:29 PM
To: Lead Pastor <leadpastor@harvester.cc>
Subject: Recent Visit

Nikomas Perez,

 

I was happy to attend Harvester this past Sunday with my son on the way to his hockey game. My interest

was piqued at your invite to the Living Room. I enjoyed meeting you and wanted to share how I came about

coming to Harvester. My home church is Oak Bridge but when I cannot attend I love to seek out other similar

Christian Churches just enjoy the service and see how well they welcome visitors. 

 

I had been to Harvester for an event but not a service when I decided to attend on a cold snowy

day in January. It would have been easy to stay in bed, the roads were bad and I wasn’t even sure the

church would be open since some churches were canceling due to the weather. I had to make the trip

to Wentzville anyway so if being early was the only negative I decided to forge ahead. The Harvester

Facilities team had cleared the lot and salted the steps, kudos to them for a job well done. I walked

in as a familiar looking gentleman held the door open and greeted me with a smile. Wearing a hat with

a jacket I didn’t get a great look at who it was but once inside I had to turn back and see who the

familiar face was. Sure enough I recognized Kim Forney! Kim had attended Oak Bridge and knowing 

he had chosen Harvester as his home church I knew I had picked the right church to attend. 

 

Everyone from the parking lot to my seat was cheerful, friendly, and willing to provide any information

that I needed. Knowing a little about the operation of a church, I had to send a note of praise to your

team and all the wonderful volunteers at Harvester. As I mentioned earlier, I brought my son with me

on Sunday and holding open the same door and greeting me with a smile was Kim. Please double his

salary!

 

Thank you Harvester for reflecting Jesus in such an excellent and authentic way!

 

Sincerely,

 

Again, serving is not always the easiest thing to do. But when you do, you make a difference in other people’s lives. 

 

If you need help, let us know. We would love to help get you plugged in to a serve team! 

 

 

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May 21, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus
by Brendon
0 Comments

Dwelling.

Posted on  by Brendon

“ I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt….” – Leviticus 26:11-13a

 

In today’s world, the thought of who you are with is becoming more and more apparent and judged.

 

Oh you hang out with that crowd….

 

Oh, I didn’t expect you to be hanging out with that kind of person…

 

Oh you believe the same thing as them??

 

It’s almost like the people we hang out with or dwell with will determine what everyone will think of us.

 

It’s like the question, what high school did you go to? The answer will determine everything someone needs to think and know

about you.

However, what if we start to think about the people we dwell with. The people that we do life with. The people that influence us the most. The people that can determine what your outcome in life could be like.

 

God makes this statement over all of the Bible.

 

In Genesis we see Adam and Eve had a very personal relationship with God. In Gen. 3 we see it noted that in the cool of the evening, God came to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. But we see that because Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree they were not supposed to, they hid from God. ( Gen. 3:8-9 ).

 

In Leviticus, we see that already, God is wanting to dwell again with his people. God leads them out of Egypt and along the way they fall away from God over and over and will continue to do so. ( Lev. 26:11-12 )

In the prophet Ezekiel’s book, we see that after God brings a valley of dry bones back to life, God make mention to covenant of peace and that God’s dwelling will be with his creation. ( Eze. 37:27 )

 

In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul makes this claim again that God desires to dwell among his people and they will know Him and know that he is their God. ( 2 Corin. 16c)

 

Then again in Revelation, the apostle John writes in Revelation 21, that behold, the dwelling place of God is with his his creation. That He will dwell with them and they will be his people. ( Rev. 21:3 )

 

We can see that God from the beginning of life, to the end of life, has one goal….to dwell or be with close contact with his people.

 

And in seasons of life it is incredibly hard to understand and really embrace this truth. The truth that God really does love you and desires a relationship with you.

 

In seasons of winning: when you have great health in your family or when you get the promotion you worked so hard for or when you move to a new location that brings new life to our heart or when you have a healthy baby come into the world or when you win the lottery!

In seasons of losing: when health is an issue, when you lose your job, when you don’t get that promotion, when you look at your bank account and it is not where you thought it would be, or when you look at your house and see all of the repairs that you are not able to make, or when you look at your relationship with your spouse and it is on the rocks or when you lose a loved one.

 

God still, desires to be with you.

 

Life is hard. Jesus tells us that in John 16:33.

 

Even when we fall away from God.

 

Even when we forget about the things he calls us too.

 

Even when we stop thinking about him.

 

Even when we don’t feel his presence because of what is going on in our life.

 

Even when……..

 

God desires to dwell with you.

 

Whatever season you might find yourself in today, rest in this peace, that God desires you.

 

With all of your shortcomings. With all of our mistakes. With all of our doubts and fears. With all of our thoughts that lead us away from Him.

 

God still and wants desires a relationship with you.

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May 21, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC
by Brendon
0 Comments

Words on a page or words of truth?

This thought has been one burning in my mind for a little while now, because it is a thought that is going to become super important with a middle school daughter. And to be honest this next season of life for her, I am excited for! She is smart and dedicated and strong and powerful. My prayer and thought for her, is what will she do with all of that in her life?

 

So as we begin this thought, I want to say that I believe the Bible, whether you believe it or not, can be boiled down to this:

 

” In the beginning God created……..” Genesis 1:1a

 

Those five words can dictate the way that we read the Bible, interact with the Bible and even allow the Bible to interact with our hearts, minds and souls.

 

” All scripture is God breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God, may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17

The graphic above, you probably have seen floating around your social media feeds over the last few months. It is a graph that shows in detail the cross references of the Bible in its entirety. Not just a few of them but all the references that are used in the bible. As one pastor put it, ” if this was the work on one man, we would think that he is the greatest composer of all time. But in reality, the scriptures were written by over 40 people and over 1500 years of history…” The graph shows that there are  63,779 cross references in scripture.

 

To be honest with you, this thought is one that over my entire life span I have never asked, is the Bible real or is it just a group of made up stories? I have never once asked myself, why do I believe what is written in these pages? Why do I continue to study these scriptures throughout my life?

 

The answer……because I believe the first five words of the Bible are true.

 

I believe that God created the earth and sky and space and heaven and stars and trees and oceans and waters and animals and birds and humans. I believe that when in the garden of eden when humans were left to their own choices, we made the wrong one which brought separation from God who created us to be with him in His creation. I believe that God then set humans, his creation, apart from the rest of creation to be the key piece to reconciling his creation back to Himself. I believe that God used fallen humans to be spokesman for Himself by giving the words of the Bible to men and woman to write down and be taught and remembered and passed down. I believe that God used his creation to send his Son Jesus down to earth to live a life that is worth of emulating and following because that is the way Grace was given to anyone who will listen and believe. I also believe that without the Bible, Christianity would not have a guide that is living and breathing and interacting with minds, bodies, hearts and society….even when society doesn’t know it.

 

The Bible is the story of God and God’s people. God’s people in the Old Testament being the nation of Israel and in the New Testament we learn that the people of God are not just limited to one group but to any and all that will listen and believe and turn back to God. God working through his creation, even though fallen and separated from Him due to sin, to bring his creation back to himself.

 

Does the Bible have some crazy stories inside the covers, absolutely! A man being swallowed by a fish and then being spat out in the exact place that he needs to be, or how about the story of a king that is transformed into a donkey because he makes some dumb decisions, or what about the stories of kings going to war for the soul purpose of covering up the fact he slept with the wrong person. The Bible is full of stories that are crazy to the reader, especially when you read in the book of Judges that a man took his concubine and cut her up and sent pieces of her to all over the world at the time.

 

But here is the key – In the beginning God Created.

 

There are lots of holy texts in the world, whether it is the Qur’an, the Dhammapada of Buddhism, The Tanahk of Judaism, The Rig Veda of Hinduism, the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible and even the book of Mormon.

 

Holy texts can be found in all religions across the world. The genuine question that comes back to any written scripture or literature for a religion is…..

 

Do you believe it?

 

Whatever the holy text is….that is always the baseline question.

 

For me, the Bible in all of the craziness and all of the cross references and even the things that I do not fully understand points me this:

 

A love God, that created everything so that his creation can be perfect with Him. And throughout the 2 canons of the bible, we read God’s story of constantly loving, forgiving, rebuking, teaching, drawing closer, grace-giving and in the end, defeating the power of Sin to give his creation the ability to come and reconcile their relationship with Him. For me, the first five words of the Bible are true. Which means everything else in the Bible, whether I understand them or not, I will wrestle and interact and allow God’s Spirit to work in my life through the study of the Bible and allow me to extend that love and grace that I learn to those around me as I become more like Jesus reaching out to introduce others to Jesus.

 

Might be the least amount of Bible usage to have a thought on the Bible, but scriptures are something that you have to interact with and come to your own conclusion on whether or not to believe it or whether or not you pick and chose and only believe what you want to believe.

 

The Bible is full of hard lessons and ideas to comprehend and demonstrations to follow, but that is also why this journey of following Jesus to be reconciled with God in the work of the Spirit is not one that comes to an end or a finish line. It is a journey that will be forever long and however you run the race, the Bible will never change, just like its heavenly author will never change and just like its main hero will never change and just like the love, grace and mercy that is free to anyone who will listen will never change.

 

The Bible is the written word of God, and God breathed the words into over 40 different people to write the story of how God wants to reconcile his creation to himself. The Bible is the lifeblood of the Christ follower and the authority in which we should live and direct our lives.

 

 

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May 13, 2024
in Alleviation of Poverty, Child Welfare, Church, DTOTD, Global, Guest Services, HCC, Local, Natural Disaster Response, Outreach, packapack, School Outreach, Serve Teams, The Sharing Shed
by Brendon
0 Comments

Faith without works, is dead

 

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you say to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

– James 2:14-17

 

Serving others, out of a humble heart, is not an easy choice that not everyone will make. 

 

In the church, we talk about serving all of the time. And to be honest, we have too. Serving is of vital importance to every church’s existence and operational ability. The church was not created to be a paid enterprise organization that is able to pay every single person that changes a diaper or leads a small group. As crazy as it sounds, the church was created to be a vessel of people that would pour into the people around them and inside the walls of the church building to be able to lead those to knowing and following Jesus.

 

There is one thing about learning about God from an academic stand point, but it is something completely different when it comes to following Jesus’ example of life here on earth.

 

When we see the disciples, which eventually become Apostles in the book of Acts, get called by Jesus, very early on we see the disciples both learning things and unlearning things. The disciples are learning from Jesus about what life could look like and unlearning what they have been taught since they were kids. Jesus also takes the moments to send his disciples out, very often, the disciples are sent out to serve and to preach the good news of Jesus.

 

You see when you begin to follow Jesus, and become his disciple, we find that serving is intertwined with your faith and your deepening understanding of who Jesus is for us and through us.

 

The problem we all face, is that serving has become somewhat of a ‘glamour’ seeking endeavor. Serving has been distorted to be into something that we can brag about. If you read Thought #8, you may be thinking, this sounds a whole lot like hospitality, well because serving and hospitality go hand in hand with our discipleship to Jesus.

You see as we get closer to Jesus, we see that Jesus had a natural rhythm to life that we can emulate. It may not be as deep or as perfect as Jesus’, which is no surprise, it can be lived out in a daily way.

 

” ………….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 came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:43-45

 

Serving is not about your ability to brag about where you serve or how many people you serve. Serving is about the love you have for Jesus overflowing out of our hearts towards others. It could look like this:

 

Having a meal with family friends that don’t know Jesus. (hospitality)

 

Planning a VBS while on a mission trip in Ethiopia. (serving)

 

Wiping the nose of an upset 3 year old at church in the middle of the summer. (serving)

 

Stopping to listen to a hurting friend or coworker. (hospitality)

 

Cleaning the bathrooms at a church that doesn’t have anyone to clean the church on a regular basis. (serving)

 

Reaching out to your neighbor about the doctors appointment they had. (hospitality)

 

Could it be hauling furniture from The Sharing Shed to a family in our community? (serving)

 

As our love for Jesus grows, our hearts for hospitality and serving increase.

 

There is a forward-facing part of serving and hospitality that is undeniable and very real.

 

When we serve someone or a group of people, there is a very real and undeniable focus put on you and the same goes for when you show hospitality to someone or a group. As Christians, we are called to go and make disciples of all nations, of anyone that will listen and accept the good news of Jesus and to lead them to following Jesus and his commands. Which means we will be looked at and unfortunately, potentially judged for our actions.

 

Jesus gave us a new command in John 13 by saying ” we must love one another, like I have loved you…..BY THIS, all people will know you are my DISCIPLES.” – John 13:34 & 35

 

Then again in John 17, Jesus says ” I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of this world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world…..I do not ask this for these only, but also for those who WILL believe in me through their word, that they may be one just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me….” – John 17:15-21

 

To James’ point, can we have faith with out works….yes but it doesn’t mean much. On the flip side of that, can we just serve others with out the faith behind it….sure but that also doesn’t mean much because there is nothing attached to the deed. Sure you could be looked at a good person, but in the discourse of salvation, serving to check a box on a to-do list, doesn’t lead to being a disciple of Jesus.

 

Serving should first and foremost always come from the outpour of love that Jesus has given you and now you attempt to give to others.

 

As much as bible study and worship and small groups and prayer and silence and solitude are important to your discipleship with Jesus, if we neglect to serve also, then we are missing the whole picture of being a disciple of Jesus.

 

The question then is, where will you serve to be able to breath the life and love of Jesus out to others?

 

If you are reading this and are not serving, here is a painted picture worth thinking about: 

 

Here at Harvester Christian Church, there are hundreds of places you can serve…….hundreds really. 

 

Recently I asked just some of the ministries around HCC, what kind of volunteer numbers could they use right now…….150…..Meaning, we could use 150 more people to come and serve the church and the guests that are coming to church each and every week and month. 

 

That number gets even larger when asked what would a dream number of volunteers be….one ministry said 200, another said 270!! 

 

Imagine the kingdom impact we could make as a church if we all took one opportunity to serve in some way….what would it look like, what would it feel like, how would you be used to impact someone else’s life? 

 

Can I challenge you…..take a moment and think about where you would want to serve, just TWO TIMES…what ministry would be it, how would you be serving? 

 

Could it be that you want to help guests find a parking spot with our parking team? 

Could it be opening a door for one of our disabled guests that struggle to open the door themselves? 

Could it be serving behind the cafe counter helping our guests with some donuts to make the environment of Sunday morning warm and welcoming? 

Could it be holding a crying baby until they fall asleep in your arms so that the parents can go and worship? 

Could it be leading a small group of 2nd graders to help them understand how much God loves them? 

Could it be flipping switches on our tech team in that back where if we didn’t have people, our services wouldn’t happen? 

Could it be having conversation with our online guests to welcome them and help them have the best online experience they can? 

Could it be helping a new family walk from Guest Central to Kids Check in to help them feel calm and welcomed as they bring their kids to Harvester Kids? 

 

There are so many opportunities for you to step out, in faith, and serve those coming to Harvester Christian Church.

 

The question is, will you? 

 

If you are interested, let us know or join us for Discover Harvester on June 9th, here is a link – Discover Harvester – 

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March 21, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD
by Brendon
0 Comments

The Lord ______ with _______

” The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.”  – Gen. 39:2

 

Recently, life has been busy. It has been filled with meetings, appointments, sick kids, deadlines, new things, old things, sports, school stuff, homework, cleaning, laundry and so much more. Sound familiar? We all have seasons of life when it just seems out of control. What do I do next? What can I check off my to-do list? Where do I have to get the kids to? Which practice is tonight? And my favorite, how the heck am I supposed to get all of this together when there is so much to do? 

 

As a life group, we have been working through a study of the book of Genesis. If you have not read Genesis in a while or maybe at all, you should! The stories that we are reading and the way that life began, is fascinating. However, there are some stories that stick out more than some. Some of the stories that we read in Genesis are: 

 

Creation

Adam and Eve

The Fall 

Noah 

The Tower of Babel 

Abram / Abraham and Sarai / Sarah 

Isaac and Rebekah 

Jacob and Esau 

Jacob’s 12 sons 

 

The one that is sticking out the most, is the story of Joseph. Did you know that Joseph’s story is one of the longest recorded story in the Bible? There is almost 15 chapters dedicated to Joseph’s story. It is not one that is easy to read. It is filled with ups and downs and twists and turns and dreams and prophecy and scandal and betrayal and death and famine and grace. 

 

Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob, also known as Israel. He was the son born from Rachel which was Jacob’s favorite. So automatically there was a jealousy and anger towards Joseph from his brothers. But Joseph doesn’t help himself. When Joseph was 16, he tells his brothers about a dream that he has about how when in a field, Joseph and his brothers had sheaves of wheat in the fields and his sheaf stood up and the brothers gathered around his and bowed down to his sheaf. The brothers didn’t like that too much…But then Joseph tells his brothers and his father another dream….the second dream was that the sun and moon and 11 stars were bowing down to him. Again, brothers didn’t like it at all, but Joseph’s father was also a little perplexed by it. 

 

We see Joseph’s brothers get even angrier when Joseph receives a coat of many colors from their Father. Joseph’s brothers have enough. They go out to take the flocks out and have them graze. Joseph is sent by Israel to find his brothers and deliver a report back. The brothers have a different plan. They plan to kill Joseph. So not only does Joseph not have his brothers affection, they want to get him out the picture entirely. Unbeknownst to Joseph, when he finally catches up with his brothers, they have a plan to throw him in a cistern and leave him for dead. However, there was grace shown to him and instead of leaving him for dead, the brothers decide to sell Joseph to some traders and he made his way to Egypt where Joseph would eventually be sold to Potiphar. The brothers went back after killing a sheep and covering the coat of many colors in the blood of the sheep. 

The we read in Genesis 39, an interesting statement: 

” The Lord was with Joseph…..” 

Kind of hard to beleive that statement after everything that Joseph has already gone through in his life. Even after this statement is made, we see that Joseph is put in charge of his masters home, but because he is described as handsome in appearance, his masters wife try to force herself on him. It didn’t work. But because she claimed and blamed Joseph for coming after her, his master threw Joseph into prison. In prison, Joseph is seen as responsible and respectable, to the point where he was put in charge of all of the inmates. 

 

Still, Joseph ends up showing that he can perceive and interpret dreams. He does so for one that serve Pharaoh at the time. Joseph ends up being put as second in command in all of Egypt. So the Lord was with Joseph and it showed in how Joseph was seen and loved and trusted. 

 

The crazy part of Joseph’s story is at the end when there is a famine in the land and his brothers come to Egypt to buy food that Joseph was able to save for during the 7 year famine that was interpreted from Pharaoh’s dream. Not only do we see Joseph’s brothers fall before him just like in his dreams when he was 16, we see that Joseph shows grace and love and care for his brothers by sending word to their Father that he is alive and he wants the entire clan to come and live in Egypt. 

 

So what is so important about Joseph’s story? 

 

In the midst of Joseph’s life, the Lord was WITH Joseph. 

 

It is super hard to truly understand and really grasp, but in the midst of our up’s and downs and moutains and valleys and successes and failures…….the Lord IS with YOU. 

 

Whether we know it or not. Whether we can feel it or not. Whether we can see it or not. Whether we believe it or not. 

 

The Lord DESIRES to be WITH YOU. 

 

He is not distant. He is not absent. He is not waiting for the right time. He is not waiting for you to clean yourself up. He is not waiting for you to figure it out. 

 

You do not make God hesitate. 

You do not cause God to doubt. 

You do not cause God to not save you. 

 

God shows from the very beginning of time, that HE WANTS TO BE WITH YOU. 

 

WE see it as truth when we read in the Revelation of John: 

” Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and first earth had passed away……And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying ” Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell WITH them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be WITH THEM as their God.”  – Rev. 21: 1,3 

 

When you face seasons of busyness, know this: The Lord IS WITH YOU. 

 

Keep putting one foot in front of the other and walk with confidence knowing that God desires to be with and IS with you. 

 

It is up to us to live in God’s presence however that may look for you. 

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February 26, 2024
in Alleviation of Poverty, Church, GiveHope, Local, Outreach, School Outreach
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Spring Serving Opportunities 2024

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and all is right with the world! Ok, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. It turns out we are living in a lost and wounded world that is in desperate need of the hope of Jesus. And God wants us to show up consistently in trustworthy relationships with our neighbors in order to share that hope with them. Below you will find serving opportunities, trainings, and events to equip you to do just that. Hover on each event to see the link to register or RSVP for an event. If you have any questions be sure to email Carissa at cfiggins@harvester.cc

Event Description Date Time Location
Local Outreach/Guest Services Gathering #1 Training for Local Outreach Guest Services serving teams focusing on safety 2/29/24 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mission Café- St Charles Campus
Harvest Ridge Pancake Dinner Prepare and Serve Pancakes for Harvest Ridge Elementary Families 3/7/24 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

 Harvest Ridge Elementary

1220 Harvest Ridge Dr.

St. Charles MO 63304
Becky David Elementary Literacy Night Help Becky David students prepare trail mix at Literacy Night 3/7/24 5:45 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Becky David Elementary

1155 Jungs Station Rd

St. Charles MO 63304
Heart & Soul Fellowship Meal

(sign-up link coming soon)

 A “no agenda” time to enjoy a meal with Local Outreach/Guest Services team members and their families 3/10/24 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m Lower Level of Church Offices
Come & See:

Faith Haven House

 A field trip to Faith Haven House to learn firsthand about the ministry 3/14/24 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Faith Haven House

7338 Mexico Rd

St. Peters, MO 63376

Limited parking, carpooling recommended
Come & See:

The Sharing Shed

 A field trip to The Sharing Shed to learn firsthand about the ministry 3/16/24 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. The Sharing Shed

923 E. Terra Ln

O’Fallon, MO 63366
The Sharing Shed Serve Day Volunteers receive donations, clean, and assist clients in picking out basic household items, delivery of items is helpful 3/16/24 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. The Sharing Shed

923 E Terra Ln

O’Fallon, MO 63366
Teacher Appreciation Card and Gift Assembling

 

 Write cards of encouragement and assemble small token gifts of appreciation 3/19/24 1:00-3:00 p.m. Local Outreach Storage Room in Annex- Enter Door 15 on Veterans Memorial side
Kona Ice Days at Barnwell Middle Volunteer at Barnwell Middle to help hand out Kona Ice 3/21/24 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Barnwell Middle School

1035 Jungs Station Rd

St. Charles MO 63304
Election Day

(Sign-up link coming soon)

 Greet voters as they come to HCC as their polling place 4/2/24 Various times all day  HCC Worship Center
Stewards of Children: Darkness To Light Training

(sign-up link coming soon)

 Child abuse prevention training with Child Advocacy Center 4/11/24 11:30-2:00 p.m. HCC Family Life Center

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February 20, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Local
by Brendon
0 Comments

DTOTD – Thought #4 – Grace

” Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God thought our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2

 

Grace. Grace is defined as unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification by the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Grace is central to the message of Jesus and the Bible. God the father from the very beginning of time has given Grace to all of mankind for all sorts of things.

 

I heard it once said like this, ” as we become more and more aware of Jesus in our lives, we become more and more aware that we need more grace than we ever imagined.” It was interesting the first time I wrestled with that statement, because I have never thought about it before. I never thought that once I become part of the kingdom of God, I would need more and more grace. Because of course, once we find Jesus, we are all good to go……I guess I was off a little bit.

 

In the definition of Grace, the word sanctification stands out. The act of sanctification is the idea that as we go through life, searching for God and following his son Jesus, He will sanctify or continually form us into his likeness. So in turn, the idea of Grace is something that is ongoing and essential for our becoming like Jesus.

 

It’s hard though isn’t? The thought that we need to be vulnerable and humble enough to say that we messed up and the only help or saving that we need is the grace of Jesus?

 

Let’s be honest, we live in a culture right now that crucifies anyone that does anything wrong. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of circumstances where someone getting caught or in trouble for something that they did is absolutely the right thing to happen. But what would happen if instead of cancel culture, there is grace culture. A place, a community, a group of people that will listen and forgive and give grace instead of a tongue thrashing and a turn your back away from those that aren’t perfect place. Perfection can never be attained, even though that is what is desired by so many.

 

We seek to be perfect in the way that we look. To be perfect in the way that we dress. To be perfect in the way that we cook. To be perfect in the way that we drive. To be perfect in the way that we parent. To be perfect in the way that people look at us. To be perfect in the way that others treat us. To be perfect in the way that we show ourselves to the world. To be perfect in the way that we play sports. We seek perfection or maybe a better way to think about it, we seek to be better than everyone else in whatever we do or maybe even what our kids do so that we can obtain some sort of status that is unwritten and not given.

 

Grace is the complete opposite of perfection. When we strive to live like Jesus and live unlike the normal, grace is the only thing we can seek out. Grace requires a level of humility that is against the society that we live in. Grace requires a level of a contrite heart that is willing to say, I am not good enough. Grace requires attention to the actions that we take on a daily basis, even the small ones. Grace requires the nurturing space for God to seep into every corner of our lives to take away the bondage that we all live in.

The question with grace…is how will grace shape your life?

 

One of the most common phrases or thoughts that I hear or even have myself, is that I have done so much wrong in my life, how could God ever forgive me and also gift me to do anything good for him?

 

Abram argued with God about what he was going to do to Sodom and Gomorra.

Sarah, laughed at God when he said she would have a baby.

Moses, doubted that God could use him to set the Israelites free.

Jonah, tried to run away from God when God called him to speak to the people of Ninevah.

Saul, the king, lost sight of God in his jealousness of David.

David, committed adultery and murder in the eyes of God.

Peter, denies knowing Jesus.

Paul was a murderer and a zealot to cancel the Christian faith.

 

Through God’s grace…..all of these people were God’s chosen.

 

” but God shows his love for us in this, while we are still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

 

Even when we feel our mistakes, baggage, and sin, holding us back from being called by God and being given grace, God doesn’t look away.

 

Grace is not something earned. Grace is given, freely, every time.

 

As a disciple of Jesus, as we draw closer and closer to our Lord and Savior, allow grace to be given to you in the mountaintop and in the valleys.

 

God gives grace freely.

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January 24, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, GiveHope, Guest Services
by Brendon
0 Comments

DTOTD – Thought 3

” If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you……These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14: 15-17, 25-26

 

Just follow your heart.

 

Have you heard that phrase before? It is a phrase that you can find in all of culture, movies, songs, art and even the news cycles. Just follow your heart.

 

That phrase has led to most likely, heartache, confusion, questions, counseling, divorce, anger, resentment, mistrust, bad financial moves, and maybe even worse but the hurt of your own body.

 

Just follow your heart is a dangerous phrase. It can lead us down so many different paths that we may not know where we end up at the end of it.

 

There is a story in the Gospel of Luke, where the author writes a parable that Jesus used in teaching about Grace and God the Father. The parable goes that the youngest of two brothers went up to his father while he was still living and asked him to give him his portion of the inheritance that he would receive when his father is dead. For some reason, the Father says ok and gives the youngest son a whole pile of money. The youngest son, follows his heart and the bible says:

 

” not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need….” - Luke 15:13-14

 

The youngest son followed his heart and it led him to nothing.

 

We might not all be able to resonate with the youngest son, that followed his heart and it lead him to literally having nothing to his name other than his clothes. But, we probably are able to look back at seasons or years of our lives where we followed our hearts and it led into a place of desolate isolation and regret.

What if there was something or maybe someone that would remind us of who we are, what we are, what we are made to be, the concrete truths that we can stand firm on in our lives…..

 

” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

 

Recently in a discussion about the Farewell Discourse of Jesus in John 14-18, the topic of the Holy Spirit came up and if we would rather have Jesus still on earth or if we understand the power of the Holy Spirit. Conversation ensued and the thoughts came to this:

 

There is a reason Jesus told us that it was better for us for him to go back to Heaven and the Helper come to Us. Because if The Holy Spirit did not come, then we would never be able to break free from anything that our hearts lead us towards.

 

Just follow your heart is not the phrase to lead us to Jesus or even help us become more like Jesus in our every day lives.

 

Allowing the Holy Spirit of Jesus/God to come into our hearts, so that when we have moments of time to make a decision, the Spirit Helps us through those times.

 

There are lots of thoughts and perceptions of the Holy Spirit. Some are right, some are off and some are just downright weird.

 

But for the simple-minded, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God that brings us knowledge and strength and power and healing and grace. The question is whether or not we allow the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts or whether we will continue to just follow our own hearts that are riddled with sin.

 

The Holy Spirit is a Helper.

 

The Holy Spirit is a Healer.

 

The Holy Spirit is a Guide.

 

The Holy Spirit is a Presence.

 

Take a breath and allow the Holy Spirit to come into your lives.

 

 

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January 16, 2024
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD
by Brendon
0 Comments

DTOTD – Thought 2

Posted on  by Brendon

” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

John 1: 1-5

 

In a conversation a few years ago, a co-worker asked me this question:

” Do you or have you ever been in a place where darkness felt heavy?”

It was such an interesting question, based on the fact that he was reading through the book of Exodus and the plagues that enveloped Egypt while God was getting the Israelites free from Pharaoh. He was reading about the darkness plague and how the bible described as this:

 

” Stretch out you hand toward heaven, that there may be a darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.” - Exodus 10:21

 

Have you ever been in a place where you could feel the darkness?

 

My response to the question was yes, because there was a cavern that I went to when I was growing up that put us in a place like this. It was a cavern that you would hike down into the earth to see the opening to what looks like a horrifying wonderland. The stalagmites and stalactites bulged from under the ground and dangled from the roof of the cavern. You would walk back along a creek that ran in to the cavern, in some places feeling a little unsafe as the path would get smaller and smaller but it finally led you to an open area of the cavern that you just looked at in amazement. It was huge and loud and breath taking. The guide you were with would talk about how the people that discovered the cave and the cavern probably had little to light trying to find this big open space and he would turn off a little bit of the light that guided your path. Then he would say that if the people that were finding this cavern were criminals or potentially people that were trying to hide from someone or something, that they probably had no light on……….the last of the light went out.

 

That is a memory and feeling and emotion that I will never forget. The moment the last light went out the darkness caused a sudden case of paralysis that you didn’t want to move anything, even though a second ago you were looking at your feet and your hands, but the darkness caused you to forget where you were and what was around you. And then…..the guide did something that I was not ready for….he didn’t turn the lights back on, but he demonstrated what just a little bit of light could do in the darkness.

He took out a match and lit it. And for the time that the match was lit, one little match was able to light in the darkness a path for you to walk safely back to the entrance of the cavern.

 

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was Light and the darkness has not overcome it.

 

To most people in the world, the darkness that is felt inside of a cavern when the lights are turned off, is the same darkness that they feel on a daily basis.

 

They are lost. They are wounded. They are looking for answers. They are searching for peace. They are searching for a place to belong and a place to love them. To be known and loved and welcomed and cared for. Every heart on the planet, old or young is in a constant journey to find purpose and in some cases…..light for their lives.

 

Some of us will turn to our work. We will sink everything into our work. We will work day and night and never rest because that is where we feel our purpose lies. Some of us will turn to making money. It doesn’t matter what we have to do to make the money, but as long as we continue to make money we find our purpose in making money. Some of us will turn to being a parent. That everything that happens in life will be determined and predicated on the schedule of our kids and that our kids are the most important things happening and our purpose is to do everything for them.

 

Some of us will turn to the bottle. Because we don’t know what our purpose is and the only time you feel anything is when you open another bottle. Some of us will turn to drugs because that is the feeling that you need in life to feel alive. Some of us will turn to sexual encounters because that is what makes us feel alive. Some of us will just sit in darkness and walk through life like living zombies that have no emotion to anything because we are in a perpetual state of darkness……

 

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was light.

 

What if I told you that there is someone who can provide a light that overcomes any darkness. What if I told you that you can connect and listen and learn and love and be loved and be known by this someone who can provide that light. That no matter what is going on in your life or around your life, you are seen and heard. Whether you are perfect, which you aren’t, or you are filled with mistakes and regret and shame, someone looks at you with preciousness and grace and love.

 

Saul was a man in the bible that prided himself on being the person that was going to take down ” The Way” as it was known. The Way was the followers of Jesus that went on after Jesus died, was ressurected, and ascended into heaven. The Way was spreading all over the known world and Saul was zealous enough to go after The Way to kill it. On his way to destroy The Way, kind of feels like a star wars movies as I type this, but on his way to a city called Damascus, Saul encounters something that he was not expecting:

 

” Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice…..” Acts 9:3-4a

 

The Word was Light and the darkness has not over come it.

 

Even a man that is on the hunt to destroy The Way would feel the light that would overcome all darkness.

 

We live in a world right now that feels like there is a lot of darkness. Deceit, lies, political war, physical war, bombings, child trafficking, sex trafficking, suicide, mental illness, physical illness. So many things in our world that, make some of us feel the darkness, just like the Egyptians did during the plague of darkness. Can I invite you to something if you are feeling this darkness….

 

“ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another no did anyone rise from his place for three days……but….all the people of Israel had LIGHT where they lived.” - Exodus 10:22-23

 

Jesus is the light that can overcome the darkness.

 

Jesus desires for you to know him because Jesus knows you.

 

God sent Jesus to the earth to live a life that is worth learning from and then sacrificed him so that we could have a relationship

with God.

 

The light of the world is in the person of Jesus.

 

Jesus is worth a follow.

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December 4, 2023
in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Guest Services, HCC Basketball-Cheer, Local, Outreach
by Brendon
0 Comments

DTOTD – Farewell Message

” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…….And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-5, 14 

 

In a season that is full of lights…lights on houses, lights on cars since it is darker sooner and longer, lights on shoes, lights on shows, lights on trees, lights in motion….there can be a whole lot of darkness.  The Christmas season can bring so many memories, both good and bad and some just indifferent. Whether you love the holiday or despise the holiday or maybe you are just a grinch until you realize that you can’t steal Christmas away and just embrace it. 

 

And even those who gather together to celebrate the birth of Jesus for Christmas, feel this weight that the season brings. So it seems kind of weird that this season, reading the end of Jesus’ life brings a whole lot of peace and life by breathing slowly. 

 

Jesus came into the world in a time of dysfunction and confusion. The people of God, the Hebrews or Israelites haven’t heard from God in over 400 years at this point. Then all of a sudden a star shows up in the sky, a young couple travels back to a hometown that they didn’t know well and find themselves in a manger where the pigs and horses and cows and chickens and any other number of barn animals slept and got out of the cold. But it was in this moment in time when God decided to make a grand entrance and send his son Jesus to the earth. 

 

Over the next 33ish years Jesus would live amongst the creation that he was a part of as we read in John 1. But in Jesus’ 33rd year of life, came the moment where it was time for him to go back to the Father in Heaven. He spends 3 years with a group of disciples that walked with him, breathed with him, learned from him, ate with him, watched him preform miracles and healings and listened to every teaching and got to ask questions to him directly. At the last moments of Jesus’ life, we see Jesus with his disciples but away to pray and he prays these words: 

 

” I do not ask for these only, but also for those WHO WILL BELIEVE in me through their word….” John 17:20 

 

Jesus prayed for you. 

Jesus prayed for you in the darkest moments of his own life. 

Jesus prayed for you before you were born, or your parents were born or your grandparents were born or even your great grandparents were born. 

Jesus prayed for you before you knew him.

Jesus prayed for you knowing you would find dark times. 

Jesus prayed for you knowing you would find light times. 

Jesus prayed for you. 

As we enter into another Christmas season, whether the season is filled with lights and traditions and places to go and people to celebrate and hug or whether the season brings pain and hurt and memories that are hard…..know this……

That Jesus, the light of life, prayed for you. 

That Jesus, the wonderful counselor is here for you. 

That Jesus, the prince of peace will give you peace in the chaos. 

That Jesus, the Mighty King died on the cross for you even while we still sin. 

That Jesus, the Son of God, prayed for you. 

Let those words sink in as you walk or run or crawl through this season. 

 

 

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November 7, 2023
in Church, Guest Services, HCC Basketball-Cheer, Local, Outreach, School Outreach
by Brendon
0 Comments

The Gathering Recap

“ So much time and energy is put into religious concerns-church buildings, church committees, church programs, and activities – that the secular world suffers from pure neglect. But it is in that very world, Christians spend more of their time. If the Christian faith is going to have any kind of impact at all, it must address how believers live in the secular world. Ordinary people must learn to live as disciples of Jesus when they are NOT at church. Perhaps we need a new category of saint – a ‘ secular saint’ who lives passionately for Christ while serving as a banker or teacher or construction worker or artist.”

Gerald Sittser –  Waters From a Deep Well

 

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since we had our Guest Services and Local Outreach team Gathering! But it’s true, the days have flown by and it is time to prep for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

 

If you were able to join us for the Gathering, the quote above was one I explained that stood out to me when I read it but I wasn’t sure why at the time. But as I continued to think about and stew on the quote, it finally dawned on me…..

 

As a Guest Services and Local Outreach team, you are fulfilling this quote.

 

As a team, we welcome guests onto our campus and inside our doors and in our worship center. As a team, we go into the community and serve many different schools, organizations and people of all kind to be the hands and feet of Jesus to each of them. As a team, you are all secular saints. People that do not do ministry full time as a career, but a group of people that have fallen in love with Jesus and are genuinely passionate about Jesus and wanting others to know who Jesus is, all the while being that secular saint in your work places and homes that are in the secular world. The premise that Mr. Sittser speaks of in this quote, is that ordinary people learning to live as disciples of Christ in a secular world is one of the hardest but most fulfilling roles to have in life. And as a team, you are all a part of that premise and are doing amazing at it!

 

Before I get to any sort of information or details about a few things that will be coming in 2024, let me encourage you going into a very busy time of year:

 

” 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 you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-20

 

Jesus speaks these words when he is talking with his disciples as well as disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus says these words also to each and every one of us. That when we are in the craziness of life, the mundane daily tasks, the transportation company that is your vehicle to practice and games and concerts and friends houses, that Jesus is the best place to find rest.

 

My hope for you individually, is that you are able to find rest in Jesus. I hope that you find the rhythms that find you resting in Jesus far more often than you have at any other point in your life. That 2024 can be a year that is a catalyst for a life long journey with Jesus as not just a need or help in dark times, but the source of light and life in your every day.

 

We are going to need it. Because in 2024, there will be two big things changing on an every week level that you need to know about:

 

  1. A new Database – ChMS – Some of you reading this are probably thinking…huh? Why is this important? Well, in years past it may not have been. But this year, mainly for our Guest Services teams, this change to a new database is going to be a pretty large move, due to the additions of:
    1. Self Logins – meaning, you will have access to this database. You will be able to create a login username and password for you to have access to ChMS. Sure, still may not seem like a big deal, but our reach just became massive! Having your own login will allow you to be just as big of a resource as a coach or leader because we all become ambassadors for our teams and our church. Recruiting is a massive task and when all of us have the ability to recruit and contact people, it makes recruiting an easier opportunity.
    2. Scheduling – did you know that there are 8 teams that make up the Guest Services team as a whole?? Parking, Golf Carts, Greeter, Communion tables, Section Hosts, Living Room Guides, Guest Central, First Aid and our Mission Cafe is a huge partner with us. All of those teams have their own schedules right now….that is a lot of schedules to keep track of. In January 2024, we will be moving to using ChMS as our primary way of signing up to serve and keeping schedules. This will also allow ALL members of the Guest Services teams to see who is serving and where. As an individual team, it can seem a little lonely, but when we see the whole picture, we know that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. There will be more talk about the online schedules in the coming weeks.
  2. The Belong Experience, wont Belong anymore – man that sounds so depressing, and it kind of is. But, we are brining our Belong Experience to a close so that we can start something new!
  3. Enter – Discover Harvester – Discover Harvester, starting in April, will be our new space to invite and push new guests and anyone wanting to get more involved with Harvester CC. Just like Belong, Discover Harvester will be where people can learn about who we are as a church, what we believe and how they can get involved. But instead of attempting to do that in one hour, it will be broken down into TWO parts:
    1. Week 1 – this will be very similar to what our Belong Experience is right now. It will be video driven and information based. However with filming new videos, it will also free up a ton more time for table conversations all about Harvester. Think these two things about week 1 – we want people to make a decision for Jesus and then Harvester.
    2. Week 2 – part 2 of Discover Harvester will also be video driven but will be geared and designed specifically to help people have more time to see where it is that God might be calling them to take a next step. Through video stories, table conversations and hosts, week 2 should be a great chance for not only the hosts of the morning, but also the attenders to make a great decision on where God is calling them to be involved with HCC.

 

The last thing about the Gathering that I do not want to over look is this:

 

Our goal for 2024 – is to not get stuck in what was, but embrace what could be.

 

The great theologian, Olaf the Snowman said this in Frozen 2 – ” Oh how I wish this could last forever. And yet change mocks us with our beauty.”

 

Olaf could not be more right. The machine is clicking right now. Things are working and each week, as teams fulfill our team goal of being the most welcoming church anyone can experience.

 

The danger that we run, especially in a season like it is right now, that if we do not begin to change or think about how things get better and move towards that, we get stuck and end up behind the game. And it is much harder to catch up instead of trying to be ahead of the curve.

 

So come along with us for another great year of welcoming guests and being the hands and feet of Jesus to our church, community and world!

 

Oh yea, here are some dates you might want to know:

 

Christmas 2023: all services are full programmed except the 11pm service on the 24th.

  • Friday, December 22nd – 6pm
  • Sunday, December 24th – 8am/9:30am/11am & 3pm/4:30pm/11pm

 

Guest Service and Local Outreach Trainings 2024:

  • Thursday, February 29th – 6:15-8:30pm in the Mission Cafe 
  • Thursday, May 16th – 6:15-8:30pm  in the mission Cafe 
  • Thursday, October 24th – 6:00-8:30 – The Gathering in the Landing 

 

feel free to reach out if you have any questions!! 

Love you guys, thanks so much for serving! 

 

 

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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.