Volunteer Spotlight: Lance Rogers
Welcome back to the Harvester Christian Church Outreach blog! In today’s Volunteer Spotlight, we are highlighting Lance Rogers who serves The Sparrow’s Nest.
The Sparrow’s Nest is a Christ-centered ministry that comes alongside young families to educate, equip, and empower both parents and children. Through its Children’s Center, The Sparrow’s Nest provides no- to low-cost, high-quality childcare in a safe and nurturing environment along with intentional family support. Children receive early intervention, developmental assessments, and age-appropriate therapeutic activities that support healthy development. The ministry also offers a Parent Participation program where parents engage in weekly programming that may include case management, parenting education, and connection to additional community resources based on family needs. 
Overall, The Sparrow’s Nest seeks to create a safe and supportive environment where children and parents can grow and develop into the individuals God created them to be, while walking alongside families facing economic challenges with practical help and Christ-centered encouragement.
We had the opportunity to hear from Lance Rogers, President of The Sparrow’s Nest, and learn more about why this ministry holds such deep significance for him and his family.
Lance shared that he and his wife, Lisa, first felt called to serve after hearing Carissa Figgins speak at HCC about the ministry’s mission to support young mothers and families.
Lance shared that his connection to The Sparrow’s Nest is rooted in his convictions about faith, family, and the sanctity of life, formed through personal family loss and shaped by the example of his mother, who was widowed at a young age and raised two boys on her own. These experiences continue to inform his compassion and deepen his desire to support mothers and children in meaningful ways.
Serving has also impacted his relationship with Jesus. Lance shared that for many years, personal burdens were something he carried quietly, but through Christ, he has found the courage to hold onto hope and share it with others. Serving has reminded him that faith is meant to be lived out in community.
When asked what encouragement he would give to someone considering serving, Lance pointed to simple obedience, following the nudge of the Holy Spirit, stepping out in faith, and being present for those in need. He reminded us that God has already given each of us unique gifts and is faithful to use them when we make ourselves available to Him.
Through committed leadership and compassionate care, The Sparrow’s Nest continues to walk alongside young families, offering both practical help and tangible hope.
To learn more, visit: https://thesparrowsneststl.org
To get involved: https://thesparrowsneststl.org/take-action/
Two of our Good Neighbor Serve Week projects will support The Sparrow’s Nest. More information will be coming.
Please pray for The Sparrow’s Nest and the families they serve, and consider how God might be calling you to use your gifts to unleash the hope of Jesus in your community.
Blog written by Local Outreach Communications Volunteer: Christina Bollinger
My name is Mike Coumerilh. My family found HCC in the summer of 2021 while Nikomas and the rest of the leadership were laying out the vision for us to encounter Jesus, become like Jesus, and unleash the hope of Jesus – something that resonates with us so much. Hearing this from the leaders confirmed to us that we belong right here, right now. And while we have plugged ourselves into multiple places here at HCC, I most recently volunteered to help with EWR, the Emergency Weather Response Team when Harvester was a warming center this winter for our unhoused neighbors. I believe we need to have a love of the Word (theologically sound preaching), a love for the Church (serve the local body), and a love for the world (reach and evangelize the lost). HCC clearly and intentionally makes room for each one of these. My focus for these last few years has been to do more to love the world. And volunteering for EWR does exactly that. Even though HCC has offered to be a ‘host’ church these last three years for EWR to shelter the homeless overnight, it had yet to be cold enough during our week to activate. This year was different. We activated four of the seven nights, including the first three consecutive! For my part, I volunteered to be available to stay overnight to ensure things went smoothly, to provide some sense of consistency each night, and hope the peace was kept. Given that I also have a full-time day job to report to each day, it was nothing short of supernatural to be able to go those more than 72 hours with less than 6 hours of sleep in total and still function at a normal level! There were some difficult moments, for sure. But God has promised to provide for ALL our needs (Philippians 4:19), especially where we are weak and lacking – and He truly did during that week. I may not have formal training in conflict resolution, but in Mark 13:11 Jesus instructs us in a slightly different context to “not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (ESV). I experienced exactly that multiple times throughout the week. There were also so many enjoyable and lighthearted moments all week long! The feeling you get when those whom you have been serving are walking out the door, pause to turn around, look you in the eyes and thank you with a gratitude from deep within their heart is incomparable! THAT is a warming center I want to be a part of!
Literally. For about a week before we activated, I hadn’t shaved (but even that wasn’t THAT significant, LOL). And while I was there, I tried to avoid wearing anything that made me look like I never wear the same shirt twice. I dressed down and left my clean clothes at home. If I’m going to have a chance to listen to someone’s story or talk with someone about the LORD, I don’t want them to be distracted with thinking about the “good life” I must be living!
