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Harvester Christian Church Tag

June 26, 2026
in Uncategorized, Upcoming Events
by cefiggins
0 Comments

June 2026 HCC STC Local Outreach Newsletter

Devotional: “Is the point the thing?”

The people who have that laser focus to” get the thing done” and get things done quickly have always made me a bit nervous. I usually feel like I am in the way. I definitely don’t feel the sense of urgency, and I know in my own case, everything to try to do things too quickly, something bad typically happens, either I get hurt, or something gets broken. When our priority is to get the thing done, it leaves very little time for discussion and conversation.

My prayer for Good Neighbor Serve Week is for Harvester Christians to look past the description of “getting the thing done. “ Yes, there are meaningful tasks to complete to aid our neighbors, ministry partners, and community partners. Yes, the tasks in the serving opportunity help us build community and encourage one another. But in the larger picture, our obedience to serve and our sacrifice of time to God position us to have discussions with people we may never have had the chance to encounter before. The point isn’t “the thing” we are doing but the people we are reaching in the name of Jesus.

Join me in praying for God to create divine appointments for each person who commits to serve during Good Neighbor Serve Week, to unleash the hope of Jesus to passersby, to someone they are serving with, to a community or ministry partner staff person, or to a client of a program.

Read 1 Peter 3:15

Reflect:

  1. When people observe my life, do they see a hope in Christ that would make them curious enough to ask about it?
    Reflect on whether your attitudes, words, and actions point others to Jesus and demonstrate the hope you have in Him.
  2. How can I prepare to share why I trust Christ, and communicate that truth with gentleness and respect?

Pray

Hey God, as I prepare to serve my neighbors during Good Neighbor Serve Week, help me reflect Your love in all we do. Open my eyes to opportunities to encourage others and share the hope I have in Jesus.

Give me courage to speak when the time is right, wisdom to listen well, and a heart that is full of kindness and grace. Lord, it is my desire to lead people to find and follow you.

Use our entire church to be a blessing in our community, and prepare the hearts of those we meet to experience Your love.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

SELAH Silent Prayer Practice
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
6:00 – 9:00 pm
St. Charles Campus
This is a FREE Event
Click to Register: SELAH Prayer Retreat

Sometimes we just need a break from the constant noise of life—a chance to slow down, breathe, and simply be with God. This evening invites you to slow down, quiet your heart, and become more aware of God’s presence.

We’ll spend our time together practicing silence—not as something awkward, but as a way of listening. Through simple prayer prompts, guided moments of reflection, and unhurried time with God, you’ll be encouraged to release distractions, receive peace, and respond to the Spirit’s gentle leading. Whether you’re new to contemplative prayer or have practiced it for years, you’re invited to come and engage at your own pace.
Contact Maria Roth at mroth@harvester.cc with any questions.

Good Neighbor Serve Week July 13-18

There are so many places to serve during Good Neighbor Serve Week. You can read full descriptions of each serve opportunity by clicking here ==> https://harvesterccoutreach.org/ Registration is filling up, so now is the time to commit and sign up here ==> Good Neighbor Serve Week Registration. You can also sign up to serve in the Worship Lobby starting June 21, where you can grab a Good Neighbor t-shirt to wear while you serve. But if this week doesn’t work for your family, or you are out of town, it doesn’t mean you can’t serve where you are. Click here ==> to check out this list of ways to serve whomever and wherever for the opportunity to unleash hope wherever you might be.

Annual Pack A Pack Drive

Starts June 28th

HCC, you always show up big for our annual school supply drive! This year, HCC St Charles is collecting 200 backpacks for the Boys and Girls Club St Charles Unit Back to School Bash, as well as supplies for families who will come directly to our campus for the Good Neighbor Market. At the Good Neighbor Market, our neighbors will hear the gospel and an invitation to HCC Children and Student Ministry, then “shop” for free school supplies with personal shoppers. The children will experience a fun, uplifting event that helps preserve their dignity, featuring crafts, a photo booth, a visit with Officer Schue and Milly, the therapy dog, and a free Kona Ice. Please bring your Pack A Pack donations to the Mission Cafe between June 28 and July 12. You can also use our Amazon wish list and have your items shipped directly to our campus using this link ==> Pack A Pack Wishlist 2026

Upcoming Serving Events

We are super excited that you can now find all scheduled Local Outreach serving events on the Harvester website by clicking HERE. You can also find them through this monthly newsletter on the Local Outreach blog, the HCC St Charles Local Outreach Facebook group, and the Harvester app. Always feel free to schedule one on one time with me using this link to my calendar.

Good Neighbor Serve Week

July 13-18

Read full description of serving opportunities here ==> https://harvesterccoutreach.org/

Register to serve here==> https://harvestercc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/950/responses/new

The Sharing Shed

Saturday, July 18, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

*Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 15, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

*Wednesday, August 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

*Note the change from fourth Wednesday nights to third Wednesday nights

School Outreach

Backpack Delivery to Boys and Girls Club St Charles, Thursday, July 23, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Boys and Girls Club St Charles Back to School Bash Saturday, July 25, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Good Neighbor Market Thursday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

EWR Cooling Center

On call August 2-8 and August 30- September 5, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Hospitality Volunteers Election Polling Place  Tuesday, August 4, 6:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. Two-hour shifts suggested.

Hospitality Volunteers needed for the American Red Cross Blood Drive, Tuesday, August 18, 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Two-hour shifts suggested.

Register or RSVP at the events at https://harvester.cc/outreach-events

Prayer List

  1. Pray for 8 Harvester families to commit to driving 4 women living at Rise Up Transitional to church on Sundays or Celebrate Recovery on Monday nights
  2. Pray for the children receiving backpacks, that God would use those tangible items to spark curiosity about who He is.
  3. Pray for doors to open at our local schools so we can build relationships with children and families.
  4. Pray for God to provide affordable, attainable, safe housing for our neighbors in need in St. Charles County.
  5. Pray Harvester will walk together as ONE with diverse others in a manner worthy of the calling with which He has called us (Ephesians 4:1)
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June 11, 2026
in DTOTD
by cefiggins
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The Towel and the Apron: Becoming Who We Follow

Scripture Reading:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45

We talk a lot about spiritual growth. We pray for it, we study the Bible for it, we take courses on it, and we gather on Sundays, hoping to take another step closer to looking like Jesus. But if we are honest, it is easy to treat spiritual maturity like an intellectual pursuit—something that happens entirely inside our own heads or within the safe walls of our church community.

But if you look at the life of Jesus, his maturity didn’t look like a closed-door study group. It looked like a towel wrapped around his waist, washing dusty feet. It looked like breaking bread with people society had written off. It looked like intentional, boundary-crossing relationships with people who were culturally, socially, and religiously different from Him.

At Harvester Christian Church, our vision isn’t just to know about Jesus; it’s to encounter Him so we can become like Him to unleash His hope in our community. And one of the most direct, challenging, and beautiful pathways to that transformation runs straight through our changing neighborhoods.

Expanding Our Definition of “Neighbor”

When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story specifically designed to shock his listeners by making a cultural and religious outsider the hero.

Today, God is bringing the nations to our doorstep. Kevin Hamilton and I met with All Nations this week, whose goal is to create opportunities for followers of Jesus to develop personal relationships with refugees and immigrants, showing the love of Christ. All Nations shared data showing that the largest share of immigrants and refugees in the 63303 zip code is from India, Mexico, and China. Our neighborhoods are increasingly filled with people who may not look like us, speak our native language, or share our cultural background. Some have traveled across the globe or fled difficult circumstances to find a home here.

When we step out to serve these neighbors, our spiritual formation hits hyperdrive:

  • We trade comfort for compassion: It is easy to serve people who are just like us. But when we stretch across language barriers and cultural differences, we mimic the radical hospitality of God, who crossed the ultimate divide to reach us.

  • We practice humility: Serving someone from another country, culture, or value system requires us to listen first, learn their stories, and lay down our assumptions.

  • We see the image of God in diversity: Every single person walking the Earth today reflects a unique facet of God’s creativity. By engaging with different communities, our view of God grows larger and more vibrant.

Serving as a Bridge to the Gospel

We don’t serve simply to check a good deed off a list, nor do we treat people as transactional projects. We serve to build genuine relationships.

Jesus’ ministry often followed a beautiful pattern: He met practical, tangible needs, built authentic relationships, and always invited people into the Kingdom of God. He did not stop at the humanitarian level. He loved people so much that he always shared hope. Our service opens doors that words alone cannot. When we help a newcomer navigate a new city, assist with English practice, say hello in a park, or simply share a meal, we earn the right to be heard.

Relationship-based evangelism isn’t about having all the answers or slick arguments. It’s about letting the love of Christ flow through your actions so naturally that it sparks a conversation. When our neighbors see the church serving them without strings attached, it puzzles them in the best way possible, prompting them to ask why we care. And that is exactly when we get to share the hope of Jesus.

Taking It to the Streets

The HCC family knows that our mission field is from the QT on Jungermann to the Middle East. It’s the baseball fields in Cottleville to Ethiopia. It is my neighbor down the street in St. Peter to our neighbors in Athens. You just need to open your eyes to the mission field right outside your front door.

This week, ask God to break any fear of the unfamiliar in your heart. Look for opportunities at Harvester or in your daily routine to connect with someone from a different background. A smile, a shared meal, or a helping hand can be the first step in a relationship that changes a life for eternity.

Reflection & Discussion Questions

  1. Reflect: Think about your current daily routine. Do you naturally interact with people who don’t look or speak like you? How can you intentionally expand your circles?

  2. Identify: What are some common barriers (fear, language, awkwardness) that hold us back from building relationships with any of our neighbors, whether they are from other countries or not? How can Christ’s love help us overcome them?

  3. Commit: What is one practical way you can build a relationship with a neighbor this week (e.g., inviting someone over for coffee, volunteering with a local refugee or international ministry, or simply introducing yourself to someone new)?

Prayer:

Jesus, your heart is for every tribe, tongue, and nation. Forgive us for the times we stay in our comfort zones and serve only those like us. Give us the courage to cross cultural boundaries, the humility to learn from others, and the love required to build lasting friendships. Use our service to build bridges of trust, so that we might have the privilege of sharing your Gospel with our neighbors. Amen.

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May 18, 2026
in Outreach
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Powerful Acts of Being A Good Neighbor

Powerful Acts of Being A Good Neighbor

 

Sometimes it is the simple, small acts that make the biggest difference. Below are a few examples of what these acts of service and acts of neighborliness may look like. We encourage you to pick one and see what happens as doors open and new conversations begin simply because you showed up to unleash hope. These are just a few examples. There are many ways to love your neighbors well. When people ask why you are doing this simply tell them that God loves you and that is reason enough to want to love them. If your neighbors turn down your offer, don’t worry. You are being obedient to the greatest command no matter what. Before any activity pray God will use these acts for His glory and trust that is what will happen.

 

  • Read a good book about neighboring to get you inspired. Try Dave Runyon’s book, “The Art of Neighboring.”

 

  • Read Melody Warnick’s book, “This Is Where You Belong” and try out one of her ideas for learning to love where you live.

 

  • Make a post of chili, soup or cookies and share… take some of your homemade treats to a neighbor and simply tell them you were thinking about them and wanted to bless them today.

 

  • Beautify a corner of your neighborhood, plant flowers, help to clean, and pick up trash. If planting flowers, pot some and share.

 

  • Do a family or group “Care Scavenger Hunt” to find ways of encouraging people in a define time frame. Then come back to share stories.

 

  • Visit a local school, first responders location or hospital and take a thank you package to show appreciation for all they do for our community

 

  • Put $20 cash or a gift card in your pocket specifically for the purpose of helping someone. Pray for wisdom in knowing who it should go to on that day.

 

  • Reach out to old friends and tell them you would like to commit to praying for them at a certain time each day of the week for a month.

 

  • Purchase a gift card to a local fast food restaurant. Use it to pay for someone’s meal or item unexpectedly.

 

  • Write notes of encouragement and share them. They can be anonymous or not.

 

  • Babysit for free for an evening so a couple can go out that rarely has the chance.

 

 

  • Text 10 people and share something with them that you appreciate about them

 

  • Make a busy bag for a family that has young children

 

  • Keep water, socks, granola bars in your car to share in the moment when you see a need.

 

  • Organize a prayer box in your neighborhood. This is a simply a place for people to drop off a prayer at anytime and know it will be prayed for.

 

  • Give an overly generous tip

 

  • Give out pre-paid card or quarters at a local laundromat

 

 

  • Leave a gift care with the check out clerk to be used for the next person in line (groceries, restaurant, gas station, etc)

 

  • Offer a helping hand to rake a neighbor’s law, clean rain gutters

 

  • Give thank you cards to those in your neighborhood who contribute in big and small ways.

 

  • Find out who served in the Armed forces in your neighborhood and brainstorm something you could do that would show appreciation for them service.

 

  • Host “Sunday Sundaes”. Invite your neighbors over for sundaes on a Sunday.

 

  • Offer to walk your neighbors dog(s). They might welcome the break and you might have a chance to meet more neighbors.

 

  • Bring cut flowers to a shut-in in your neighborhood.

 

  • Start a neighborhood garden and bring the produce to your neighbors. You might want to put it in the front yard, so the neighbors watch the vegetables and flowers grow.

 

  • Start a neighborhood lending library. You can build a book box on a pole for the neighborhood or in a public place in your apartment building.

 

  • Look for needs in the neighborhood and ask if you can lend a hand.

 

  • Host a neighborhood book club. You can host in your house, garage, or a local space like the library, community center, or a church basement.

 

  • Go for a walk and bring a small trash bag to pick up trash along the sidewalk.

 

  • Use sidewalk chalk to write an inspiring message on the sidewalk in front of your home.

 

  • Ask an elderly neighbor or parent with young children if you can pick up items for them while you’re at the store.

 

  • Compliment a neighbor on a feature of their home or garden.

 

  • Make yourself available by spending more time in the front yard.

 

  • Host a garage sale with special discounts for your neighbors.

 

  • Organize a blitz neighborhood cleanup.

 

  • Leave a bottle of bubbles, flowers, or a coloring book on the neighbor’s doorstep.

 

  • Ask a neighbor if there’s a chore you can help them do.

 

  • Set up a reverse lemonade stand with free drinks for neighbors.

 

  • Host a weekly or monthly coffee bar in your garage for the neighborhood to gather people and get acquainted.

 

  • Go to a library event featuring a local author or speaker. Invite a neighbor to go with you.

 

  • Join your local HOA or neighborhood association. Or, if you can’t lead, find ways to support and thank them for their efforts.

 

  • Offer to teach a skill you have to local neighbors. Skills like baking, writing, public speaking, budgeting, sewing, water color, and fixing a lawn mower are just a few ideas of skills many people (including young people) would love to learn.

 

 

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April 29, 2026
in Upcoming Events
by cefiggins
0 Comments

April 2026 Newsletter

April 2026 Newsletter

HCC St Charles Campus-Local Outreach

Devotional: Trading Our Certainty for Christlikeness

I think and pray about neighborhoods a lot. When I am driving around meeting with our various community and ministry partners, I get to see all kinds of neighborhoods of different ages, different builders, and different preice points. Think about a neighborhood where every house is painted the exact same shade, every yard trimmed to identical lines, every porch decorated with the same furniture. At first glance, it might look neat—even impressive—but after a while, it begins to feel lifeless and a little creepy. There’s no personality, no story, no evidence of the unique people who live inside those walls. Sameness may create order, but it rarely creates connection.

Unity in the Kingdom of God was never meant to look like that kind of sameness—it was always meant to look like surrender. Somewhere along the way, it becomes easy to confuse being right with being righteous, to elevate certainty over Christlike character. But God did not set us apart because we mastered arguments or held the correct opinions; He set us apart through His Word, which reveals His heart, not our superiority. The invitation of Jesus has never been to prove a point, but to embody a posture—one marked by humility, love, and a deep trust that God is fully capable of being God without our control. And when we begin to loosen our grip on needing to be right, we may discover that what the world has been waiting for isn’t our correction—but our compassion.

Unity does not mean uniformity. It is not about who is right and who is wrong. We are sanctified, set apart, not by being right and everyone else is wrong. We are sanctified by God’s word and His truth. That scripture reveals God’s heart towards us, not our certainty in being right.  It is a posture of humility and love. A posture that is not about us but allowing more and more people to encounter Jesus, not being a blockade. Does the God of all the universe, in all of His omnipotence, really need me to try to control His creation? Does God, in His omniscience, rely on me to define what is true and what is false on His behalf? Have I fallen into the trap that somehow God, the same God who is omnipresent,  needs to be defended in case someone sneaks up behind Him and takes Him down? I am weak, and He is strong. I need forgiveness and redemption. He is the Forgiver and Redemptor. I do not need to waste words, thoughts, and energy on things that seem holy as dictated by the world. I have been called to Love God with all my heart, and all my soul, and all my mind. Secondly, I am commanded to Love my neighbor as myself. We must be careful not to confuse our role with God’s rule. Jesus’ holiness did not push people away. His purpose was not to intimidate or condemn but to gently call all people to something greater than they had ever known.

If we are honest, we have all fallen short of this glory of God and conformed our faith into something we saw on the news or social media, or from some group. 2 Timothy 4:3-5 says there will be a time when we gather around teachers who say what our itching ears long to hear, and it turns us away from the truth to myths. Myths that convince us to force our faith on others through policy or party, or marginalize people for not believing how we believe as Christ followers.  John 17 reminds us that the world will not believe because we are the most correct. The world will believe because we are the most loving. There is a point in our spiritual transformation that we must surrender the fear of being wrong. We must repent from the motivation of “getting it right.” At some point, we all have to admit that we are the barrier keeping others from finding and following Jesus. Join me in humbling myself and repenting of the need to be right with all certainty and surrender to becoming more like Christ.

  1. Ask God to create in you a new heart and renew a right spirit in Him. Repent of the times you have unknowingly or knowingly been a barrier to someone’s faith rather than a door that leads them to Jesus.
  2. The early church was visible to the whole world, and they had favor with all people (Acts 2:47). Dietrich Bonhoeffer shares that the growth of the church came from those who shouted “Hosanna,” not “Crucify.” How is God possibly calling on you to shift your speech to others, the words you choose to listen to, to the social media posts you like or post to focus on John 17 unity rather than creating dividing lines with non-believers?

Prayer Focus

We believe prayer is where outreach begins. Before we go, we ask God to move.

  • Our Community — That individuals and families in St. Charles County would experience stability, provision, and the hope of Jesus
  • Our Ministry Partners — For endurance, wisdom, and encouragement as they serve on the front lines every day
  • Our Church — That more people would step into serving as a next step in following Jesus. Pray that barriers are removed that keep people from finding ways to serve and signing up to serve outside the walls of Harvester.

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, help me see what You see. Break my heart for what breaks Yours, and give me courage to step in.

📅 Upcoming Opportunities

If you do not see these serving opportunities in the app, or if it is not clear how to sign up, please email Carissa at cfiggins@harvester.cc

Leadership Pathway

Our Local Outreach Crew Leaders recently completed a Leadership Orientation that is a requirement for all HCC Leaders at all campuses. So what do they do now? The first special Leadership Seminar will be led by Don Sanders on two important topics to help us grow as leaders. It will also be a great chance to connect with other leaders at Harvester too! Reminder, this is just for HCC Leaders who have completed the Leadership Orientation.

May 2nd
O’Fallon Campus
9 am-11 am

SCHEDULE:
8:45-9:00 – Arrive/Snacks & Coffee
9:00-9:10 – Welcome & Intro
9:10-10:00 – Session 1:  Thinking Critically as Leaders
10:00-10:05 – Break
10:05-10:55 – Session 2:  Caring Compassionately as Leaders
10:55-11:00 – Closing & Dismissal

We want all our leaders to be there! Here is the link to RSVP.

The Sharing Shed

Join us and serve on one or more of these dates! This regular serve crew serves clients of The Sharing Shed by receiving household donations, cleaning, organizing, and personally shopping with clients.

  • Saturday, May 16, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 6, 9:00 am -11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, June 24, 9:00 am-11:00 a.m.

Broken & Beautiful Pen Pal Ministry

Ongoing Need- Volunteers are needed to join our Pen Pal Ministry to women incarcerated in prison. A minimum of one email a month to encourage and help women draw closer to Jesus. Training is required.

School Outreach Pray & Prep

  • Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Join us for any of these serving opportunities in the Annex to pray over our local schools, students, and teachers each month. The remainder of the time is spent preparing teacher appreciation gifts and handwriting cards of encouragement. Enter through Door 10 of the Annex.

School Partnerships

Ongoing Need – We are waiting on some details from the schools, but pencil in these events and dates for now. 

  • May 6 Teacher Appreciation Lunch at Harvest Ridge 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
  • May 6 Teacher Appreciation Lunch at Barnwell
  • May 12, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Hackmann Rd Early Childhood End of the Year Celebration at Ollie’s Fun Center-St Peters.
  • Kona Ice at Barnwell Middle School, Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Serve at one or both times! 2-3 Volunteers needed to assist students in purchasing Kona Ice, handing out napkins, and being a friendly face at the school
  • May 18, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Senior Clap Out and Ice Cream at Becky David Elementary

HCC Food Pantry and Food Backpack Ministry – Ongoing

Stamp Out Hunger

  • Saturday, May 9. Volunteers are needed to receive non-perishable food items from letter carriers. Donations will need to be sorted, weighed, and organized in the food pantry.
  • May 20 Last deliveries of food backpacks to schools for the school year.

SAVE THE DATE!

Good Neighbor Serve Week Coming July 13-18
Start praying now about how you—and your family or group—can be part of this powerful week of impact. We are lining up over 20 different serving opportunities! I am actively recruiting leaders to lead each serving opportunity, so let me know if you are interested in learning more!

 

Ministry Partner Spotlight: Safe Families for Children

If you haven’t already, read about our ministry partner, Safe Families for Children, as we continue to bring awareness to Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness Month.  Click this link to read this article by our Communications Volunteer, Christina Bollinger.

More Ways to Stay in the Local Outreach Loop 

  • In the Harvester app: Log in to the app. At the bottom right-hand corner, click “Resources.” On the next screen, click “Volunteer Toolbox.” Click on any group you are assigned to see the calendar and message 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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March 26, 2026
in Upcoming Events
by cefiggins
0 Comments

March 2026 Newsletter


 HCC St Charles Campus-Local Outreach

March 2026 Newsletter

Bloom Where You Are Planted

🌿 Devotional: Faithful in the Everyday

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” — Colossians 3:17

God has uniquely positioned each of us to help people find and follow Jesus—right where we are. Where you live, where you work, where your kids practice soccer or hockey are beautiful, divine appointments to share the love of Jesus.

Sometimes we think impact requires something big or extraordinary. But throughout Scripture, we see that God works powerfully through ordinary people who are simply faithful.

In Luke 8, Jesus describes a seed that grows not because it was impressive, but because it was planted in good soil and remained rooted.

This is still the invitation for us. Let’s be people who show up. As Americans living where we live, there is not much we can sacrifice to Jesus that is truly a sacrifice. What activity, time commitment, or scheduling conflict can you sacrifice to just be available for your neighbors? Let’s be people who stay faithful. Let’s be people who trust that God is continually growing something, especially when we don’t see anything popping through the soil yet.
This is how hope is unleashed.

Where has God planted you in this season?
And what would it look like to take one faithful step this week?

🙏 Prayer Focus

We believe prayer is where outreach begins. Before we go, we ask God to move.

  • Our Community — That individuals and families in St. Charles County would experience stability, provision, and the hope of Jesus
  • Our Ministry Partners — For endurance, wisdom, and encouragement as they serve on the front lines every day
  • Our Church — That more people would step into serving as a next step in following Jesus. Pray that barriers are removed that keep people from finding ways to serve and signing up to serve outside the walls of Harvester.

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, help me see what You see. Break my heart for what breaks Yours, and give me courage to step in.

📅 Upcoming Opportunities

I have been meeting with each of our ministry and community partners to create meaningful serving opportunities for our church family. Keep an eye out for those details soon, such as serving a meal to our unhoused neighbors at The Salvation Army St Charles or helping prep for an event at The Sparrow’s Nest. There are simple, tangible ways for you to step in and make a difference in April and May. If you do not see these serving opportunities in the app, or if it is not clear how to sign up, please email Carissa at cfiggins@harvester.cc

Easter April 3-5:

Invite friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers! HCC St Charles will spend an extended time reflecting on Jesus sacrifice on the cross during our Good Friday service starting at 6 p.m. HCC members are encouraged to join us for Saturday Easter Services at 3 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. to free up space on Sunday Easter Services for our friends and neighbors who may be attending church for the very first time.

Tuesday, April 7 HCC Election Volunteers:

Hospitality Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts to greet our neighbors as they come to HCC St Charles to cast their vote.

Thursday, April 16, 6:30 p.m HCC Foster/Adopt Ministry FAM Gathering:

HCC members who foster, are thinking about fostering/adopting, have fostered in the past, or have adopted, and Family Friends are invited to a relaxed evening to get to know each other and encourage each other. Child care is available. Click here to register.

The Sharing Shed

Join us and serve on one or more of these dates! This regular serve crew serves clients of The Sharing Shed by receiving household donations, cleaning, organizing, and personally shopping with clients.

  • Saturday, April 18, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, April 22, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 16, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Broken & Beautiful Pen Pal Ministry

Ongoing Need- Volunteers are needed to join our Pen Pal Ministry to women incarcerated in prison. A minimum of one email a month to encourage and help women draw closer to Jesus. Training is required.

School Outreach Pray & Prep

  • Wednesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
  • Monday, April 27, 2026, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Join us for any of these serving opportunities in the Annex to pray over our local schools, students, and teachers each month. The remainder of the time is spent preparing teacher appreciation gifts and handwriting cards of encouragement. Enter through Door 10 of the Annex.

School Partnerships

Ongoing Need – We are waiting on some details from the schools, but pencil in these events and dates for now. 

  • Kona Ice at Barnwell Middle School Friday, April 17 or Friday, May 15, 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Serve at one or both times! 2-3 Volunteers needed to assist students in purchasing Kona Ice, handing out napkins, and being a friendly face at the school
  • April 23 Multicultural Night at Barnwell Middle
  • April 25 Spring Fling at Becky David
  • May 6 Teacher Appreciation Lunch at Harvest Ridge
  • May 7 Teacher Appreciation Lunch at Barnwell
  • May 12 Hackmann Rd Early Childhood End of the Year Celebration at Ollie’s Fun Center-St Peters.

HCC Food Pantry and Food Backpack Ministry – Ongoing

Stamp Out Hunger

  • Saturday, May 9. Volunteers are needed to receive non-perishable food items from letter carriers. Donations will need to be sorted, weighed, and organized in the food pantry.

SAVE THE DATE!

Good Neighbor Serve Week Coming July 13-18
Start praying now about how you—and your family or group—can be part of this powerful week of impact. We are lining up over 20 different serving opportunities!

 

Volunteer Spotlight: Brittany Martin

In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we thought it would be appropriate to share the serving story of one of our Harvester Christians who lives day in and day out raising children with special needs and passionately serves in the world of disability ministry.  Click this link to read on to be blessed and inspired by this fine example of obedience in Loving God and Loving Others!

Ministry Partner Spotlight: Joni & Friends MO

If you haven’t already, read about our ministry partner, Joni and Friends Missouri, as we continue to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Click this link to read this article by our Communications Volunteer, Christina Bollinger.

 

Your Next Step

You don’t have to do everything, but you are invited to do something. Serving is not just about filling a need. It’s part of how we grow as followers of Jesus. Ask to shadow other HCC volunteers at these events. Consider committing to a monthly serving opportunity. Invite a friend or your small group to serve with you

When we serve together, we don’t just meet needs—we help people find and follow Jesus.

❤️ Closing Encouragement

We are not here by accident. We are sent. We are sent into our specific neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities. Let’s be a church that sees the need—and steps in to fill the need with faith, courage, and love. Don’t wait for the church to make an event or program. Find joy in being obedient to what God is calling you to do today.

More Ways to Stay in the Local Outreach Loop 

  • In the Harvester app: Log in to the app. At the bottom right-hand corner, click “Resources.” On the next screen, click “Volunteer Toolbox.” Click on any group you are assigned to see the calendar and message 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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March 18, 2026
in Volunteer Spotlight
by cefiggins
1 Comment

Volunteer Spotlight: Brittany Martin

In honor of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we thought it would be appropriate to share the serving story of one of our Harvester Christians who lives day in and day out raising children with special needs and passionately serves in the world of disability ministry.  Read on to be blessed and inspired by this fine example of obedience in Loving God and Loving Others!

In today’s Volunteer Spotlight, we’re featuring Brittany Martin, who serves with Kindred, a ministry that was completely created and is completely led by two HCC volunteers. Kindred exists to support mothers of children with special needs. God created His people for community. Throughout Scripture, we are called to gather together, encourage one another, bear one another’s burdens, and point each other to the hope found in Jesus. For many moms raising children with special needs, finding a supportive community can be challenging. As a mother to several children with special needs herself, Brittany Martin understands how isolating the journey can feel and how meaningful it is to be surrounded by women walking a similar path. This is why she and Taylor Jones started the ministry of Kindred.

 

Looking back, Brittany can see how God was preparing her for this calling. During high school and college, she worked with youth ministry, learning to listen attentively, pray earnestly, and walk alongside the girls she served. Today, that experience helps her to care for the women of Kindred as they navigate challenges, celebrate milestones, and encourage one another. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, Brittany also worked professionally as a lead designer for a local megachurch. These creative gifts help her and co-leader Taylor craft gatherings that feel welcoming and thoughtful, spaces where moms feel seen from the moment they step onto the sidewalk, even before entering the building.

 

While mothers of children with special needs are no strangers to multitasking and complex logistics, these women are willing to rearrange schedules, coordinate specialized childcare, and even travel long distances so that they can attend their biweekly meetings. Their commitment to show up for themselves and others reflects how deeply these spaces are needed. Regardless of spiritual backgrounds, the women of Kindred continue to return because they experience something unique, which many describe as “life-giving.” While the gatherings are thoughtfully curated, Brittany says, “It is not the content or the aesthetic that gives life and peace to the women who attend, it is Jesus.” Some who were initially hesitant, or who have experienced hurt in church settings in the past, have begun asking about attending Harvester with Brittany and Taylor. A few have even come and experienced a complete change of heart about the church. This is the result of Kindred unleashing the hope of Jesus, creating a space where meaningful conversations, encouragement, and genuine care naturally draw women closer to Him.

 

Serving in this way has also stretched Brittany personally. As an introvert, she says Kindred has pushed her to step out in faith and dig into Scripture so she can speak words of life to and pray with women navigating a variety of circumstances. Though the ministry requires time, effort, and sacrifice, she has discovered a deeper joy through it.”The biggest sacrifices tend to lead to the most meaningful rewards,” Brittany reflects.”The story of the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7 is a beautiful example of this. Sometimes we feel like that small jar of oil, barely enough, running on empty, and convinced we don’t have even a drop to give to someone else. But when we offer what little we have to the Lord and choose to use our time and energy for something that glorifies Him, He multiplies it. He fills what feels empty and gives us more than enough to pour into others, until those around us are overflowing too.”

+++++++

Interested in learning more about Kindred? Check out their website by clicking this link==> https://www.kindredmoms.com/

 

Blog by: Christina Bollinger, HCC Local Outreach Communications Volunteer

 

 

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February 26, 2026
in Upcoming Events
by cefiggins
0 Comments

February 26 Newsletter

Unleashing the Hope of Jesus in

St. Charles County

Devotional: Love That Moves

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” — 1 John 3:18

February is often centered around love. Cards. Candy. Flowers. But Scripture reminds us that love is not simply something we feel — it’s something we do. Jesus didn’t just speak about compassion. He lived the fullest meaning of compassion: TO SUFFER WITH. He moved toward people. He touched the untouchable. He fed the hungry. He welcomed the outsider. He made love visible.

As a church, that is our calling too. When you move dusty furniture on a cold Saturday morning, you are making Jesus’ love visible. When you deliver packed food backpacks to school staff who may be too busy to even acknowledge you, you are making Jesus’ love visible.  When you serve overnight at the Warming Center with folks who may not experience the same reality as you,  you are making Jesus’ love visible. When you organize what seems like the same school supplies for the 50th time, you are making Jesus’ love visible. When we act and live and serve as one saved by the blood of Jesus, we make the love of Christ tangible for the world to see. You are putting hands and feet to the gospel.

This month, ask yourself:

  • Where is God inviting me to move toward someone and suffer with them?

  • What would it look like for my love to be visible?

  • Who needs to experience hope through action?

Love is more than a feeling. It’s a response to the love we’ve already received in Christ. Let’s be people whose love moves.

Prayers

Please join us in praying for:

  • Our unhoused neighbors to find safety and security and a compassionate community.

  • The ministry partners who serve families facing food insecurity

  • School staff and administrators navigating mid-year challenges

  • Volunteers who faithfully show up and serve behind the scenes

  • New leaders emerging within our outreach crews

Prayer:
Father, thank You for loving us first. Give us eyes to see needs around us and the courage to respond. Strengthen our ministry and community partners. Protect the vulnerable. Raise up compassionate leaders within our church. May everything we do unleash the hope of Jesus in our community. Amen.

📅 Upcoming Serving Opportunities

Date
Event/Program
Leaders
Ministry
3/1
Warming Center Celebration/Reflection Lunch
Mike Coumerilgh
Michael True
Emergency Weather Response
3/2
LO/GS Gathering #1- Safety Focus
Brendon & Carissa
All Local Outreach & Guest Services
3/5
Monthly Pray & Prep
Katy Pursell
School Outreach
3/7
Operation Restoring Calm Exercise
Leader Needed
Natural Disaster Response Team
3/21
Sharing Shed
Lisa Rogers
Alleviation of Poverty
3/24
City Life Serve Day in Food Pantry & Food Backpack Ministry
Carissa Figgins
Susan Nash
Food Pantry and Food Backpack Ministry
Ongoing
Food Pantry
Jane & Steward Topper
Denise & Ken Sabo
Linda Beeler
Food Pantry
Ongoing
Food Backpacking
Shelly Swart
Susan Nash
Food Backpack Ministry
Ongoing
Broken & Beautiful Ministry Pen Pals
Leader Needed
Mental Health Support
3/25
YAM Sharing Shed
Stephanie Lake
Alleviation of Poverty
4/1
Monthly Pray & Prep
Katy Pursell
School Outreach
4/7
Election Polling Place
Leader Needed
Local Outreach
4/18
Sharing Shed
Lisa Rogers
Alleviation of Poverty
4/24-4/20
Carissa on Vacation
4/27
Extra Pray & Prep
Katy Pursell
School Outreach
4/30
LO/GS Gathering #2- Discipleship Focus
Brendon & Carissa
All Local Outreach & Guest Services
SAVE THE DATE!
Good Neighbor Serve Week is July 12-18th!
Look for more information this spring!
Mark your calendar now!

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight

Do you have a serving story to share? When we highlight your story, it isn’t about drawing attention to you — it’s about honoring God and helping others see how they might step into serving too. If you’d be willing to share how God is working through your local outreach involvement, we’d love to connect with you.

New to Local Outreach?

Not sure where to start?

  1. Pray about where God may be leading you.

  2. Click here to take the SHAPE assessment and familiarize yourself with your spiritual gifts.

  3. Explore current serving opportunities.

  4. Try one opportunity and see how God works through it.

  5. Consider stepping into leadership if you sense God nudging you.

There is a place for you.

💬 Final Encouragement

Serving our neighbors isn’t a one-time event that we check off when we are done. It’s a rhythm of life that honors what Jesus did for all of us. It’s choosing compassion when it’s inconvenient. It’s showing up consistently. It’s believing small acts can create eternal impact. Thank you for being a church that doesn’t just gather — but goes.

Together, we are unleashing the hope of Jesus in St. Charles County.

With gratitude,
HCC St Charles – Local Outreach Team

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December 22, 2025
in Uncategorized, Upcoming Events
by cefiggins
0 Comments

December 2025 Newsletter

HCC Local Outreachers! Man oh man! Have you unleashed the hope of Jesus this year inside and outside the walls of Harvester! The days and weeks have been jam-packed from food pantry to school outreach to serving with our Community and Ministry partners such as Faith Haven House, The Sharing Shed, and The Sparrow’s Nest. Your financial giving allowed monthly support to those partners and more, including Bad Boyz Jail Ministry, Boys and Girls Clubs of St Charles County, Child Advocacy Center, EWR Warming & Cooling Centers, Joni & Friends, REACH St Charles, Safe Families, as well as so many individuals and families right in our own backyard. You can read more about the impact of your serving by clicking this link to read our Annual Impact Report (August 24-September 25)

Food Pantry Donation Pick Up Drivers Still Needed

Are you a college student without morning classes on Wednesdays or Thursdays? Do you have a flexible work schedule? Stay-at-home parent or recently retired? We are STILL in need of regular and substitute donation pick-up drivers for the HCC Food Pantry. You need about 2 hours a week to pick up donations using the HCC Food Pantry Van, deliver back to the pantry, unload, weigh, and sort. I know there are just FOUR new people looking for their place to serve in 2026. Email Sherry B today to talk through what this might look like for you! sbollinger@harvester.cc

School Serving Choice Survey

HCC St Charles Campus Local Outreach serves about 10 of our local schools through events and the food backpack ministry. Our primary investment is in the schools that are neighbors to the HCC St Charles Campus. These include Hackmann Rd Early Childhood, Barnwell Middle School, Becky David Elementary, and Harvest Ridge Elementary. In 2026, we want our School Outreach Crew Leaders to know exactly who they can call on to serve at the schools. We also want them to know who they are discipling and equipping to serve. We are asking anyone who has ever served with School Outreach or who is now thinking about serving with School Outreach to complete this School Serving Choice Survey. We are requesting that you choose the primary school you would like to serve at to build consistent trusting relationships, as well as a secondary school. You will still be included in the large School Outreach group and can serve anywhere you like. But for the purposes of communicating specific serving opportunities, building a serve community, and providing information, our School Outreach Crew Leaders have requested please CLICK HERE to complete the survey by January 30th.

Our School Outreach Crew Leaders invite any School Outreach Volunteer who has ever served at a single school outreach event, Pack A Pack, Good Neighbor Market, food backpack ministry, are invited to the School Outreach Volunteers Fellowship Lunch on January 4 for the very purpose of getting to know each other and building a serving community. You can find the event to RSVP here in the School Outreach Calendar. In the event RSVP there is an additional sign-up genius link to indicate what you will bring to the Fellowship. See you then!

January Serving Opportunities

Click on any date to see more details

Sunday January 4 School Outreach Volunteers Fellowship Lunch

Wednesday January 7 Pray and Prep

Sunday January 11 EWR Training

Saturday January 17 The Sharing Shed

January 18-24 HCC On Call for EWR- try this QR code to view the EWR Schedule & Plan!

 

Tuesday January 27 Broken and Beautiful Pen Pal Training (sign up coning soon)

Wednesday January 28 YAM Serves at The Sharing Shed

YAM Serve With Friends January Options

February Serving Opportunities- sign ups coming soon

Wednesday February 4 Pray & Prep

February 15-21 HCC On Call for EWR

Saturday February 21 The Sharing Shed

Wednesday February 25 YAM Serves at The Sharing Shed

YAM Serve With Friends February Options

 

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December 9, 2025
in Outreach
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Annual Impact Report September 2024 – August 2025

HCC Local Outreach – St. Charles Campus

Annual Impact Report
September 2024 – August 2025

A Message from the Local Outreach Team

This year we have seen God’s faithfulness as we served our neighbors across St. Charles County. From cooling centers in the heat of summer to back-to-school breakfasts, from partnering with ministries like Faith Haven House to loving our neighbors in practical ways—we have been the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you for your willingness to unleash hope to lead people to find and follow Jesus.

— Carissa Figgins, HCC Local Outreach Pastor

By the Numbers

  • 293    active Local Outreach volunteers
  • 3873  serving roles filled
  • 194    Local Outreach events hosted in our community
  • 41       new volunteer sign-ups through August 2025

Ministry Highlights

School Partnerships

  • Sent individualized handwritten notes and small gifts to every teacher and staff person at Barnwell Middle School, Becky David Elementary, Hackmann Road Early Childhood, and Harvest Ridge Elementary. This often prompted staff and teachers to call the church to personally thank us, and in many instances, attend Sunday morning services.
  • Hosted First Day of School Breakfasts for teachers and staff at multiple campuses
  • Delivered approximately 3300 Food Backpacks to local school children experiencing food insecurity in 8 local schools between September 2024 and May 2025
  • Provided back-to-school supplies to over 750 students through the Good Neighbor Market, Pack A Pack, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of St Charles County
    • Recipient testimony- Me and my son attended the good neighbor market for that back to school bash and he definitely enjoyed the time. It was a great experience and we will definitely continue to be a part of the program. I can’t thank them enough for all the help we got.-Ebony
    • FHSD employee testimony- Their volunteers show up with genuine care—helping to organize and distribute school supplies, stock and deliver weekend food backpacks, and fulfill holiday gift wish lists for students who might otherwise go without. Their generosity doesn’t stop at material needs; they’ve provided financial assistance for families facing urgent crises, lifting burdens that would otherwise distract from learning and well-being. Because of Harvester’s partnership, our school has not only met physical needs but also fostered a stronger sense of connection and trust between school, home, and the broader community. Their investment has turned moments of struggle into moments of hope, reminding our students and families that they are seen, valued, and supported.

Bad Boyz Jail Ministry

  • HCC supports the Bad Boyz Jail Ministry correspondence Bible courses for the locally incarcerated.

Boys and Girls Clubs of St Charles County

  • Received the Boys and Girls Club 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award
  • Harvester Christian- O’Fallon campus had its first serving opportunity as a campus at the O’Fallon BGCSCC Back To School Bash in July 2025.
  • HCC financial gifts have helped the BGCSCC to provide hot meals to kids who attend their after-school program.

Child Advocacy Center of Northeast Missouri

  • Financial contributions allowed a child a voice to start the process of healing through forensic interviews.
  • HCC volunteers helped to create a warm, safe environment for children of Lincoln and St Charles County to enter the CAC.

Faith Haven House

  • HCC Volunteers served as house monitors. They built relationships with the residents to help stabilize.
  • HCC volunteers provided meals, shared hobbies, and deep-cleaned the facility.

Joni & Friends-Missouri

  • HCC hosted church network meetings to provide encouragement, motivation, collaboration, and resources for local church Disability Ministry leaders and key volunteers.
  • Financial contributions allowed Joni & Friends-Missouri to expand their Disability Awareness training to Christian colleges, schools, and businesses.

REACH St Charles

  • HCC giving helped to feed our neighbors who are facing food insecurity.
  • HCC volunteers repaired REACH St Charles deck and served in food pop-up experiences. 

Safe Families- Bethany Christian Services

  • Hosted 2 Spring Trainings to recruit more HCC Host Families and Family Friends
  • Provided ongoing financial support for operations

The Sharing Shed

  • Added to additional monthly serving day for HCC Young Adults Ministry (YAM)
  • HCC Volunteers and financial gifts have aided in The Sharing Shed becoming a cornerstone for local agencies and churches to help families recovering from abuse, mental health challenges, and homelessness.

The Sparrow’s Nest

  • HCC volunteers helped to clean and sanitize the Children’s Center. Volunteers also helped to organize the resource closet.
  • HCC financial contributions assisted The Sparrow’s Nest in moving into a larger child care facility sooner than originally anticipated.

EWR Cooling & Warming Centers

  • Opened cooling centers during excessive heat days in a pilot partnership with the EWR Network and two other St Charles County churches.
  • Provided a total of 113 beds as a warming center to our unhoused neighbors as a death prevention program.
  • Provided meals, safe spaces, and biblical hospitality to those in need

Food Pantry

  • Between September 2024 and August 2025 served over 18,000 people.
  • 41% increase in people served from August 2025 to November 2025

Seasonal Outreach Events

  • Good Neighbor Challenge: Over 104 volunteers completed 21 projects in schools, neighborhoods, and local ministries

Equipping the Saints

  • Hosted three volunteer trainings with Guest Services focused on safety, crucial/difficult conversations, and discipleship.
  • Provided resources for Christians to advocate with local policymakers on issues of housing and dignity

Volunteer Stories

“I felt moved to give my time to help with EWR last winter. It seemed like it was going to be “a simple way” for me to help out. Little did I know, God was moving in my heart before I even showed up. I’ve since helped during the Cooling Center, building relationships with our unhoused neighbors. I now feel God calling me to continue to serve the people who are so often overlooked and shoved aside. Even though I feel my “resources” are limited, I know He has given me a spiritual gift that allows me to be a friend and a shoulder for folks to lean on. I can love them in the way He loves and help them find resources that can help.” — Becca, Warming Center volunteer

“When my wife and I came to Harvester, we were specifically looking for outlets to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to exercise our ‘become like Jesus’ muscles. EWR provides exactly that as a healthy foundation, allowing me to practice what is preached.” — Mike C, Emergency Weather Response Crew Leader

“I thought I was simply volunteering to pack bags of food for kids in need, but the Backpack Food Ministry has proven to be much more than that. Explaining the purpose behind the food backpacks to the middle schoolers who also serve in this ministry and leading their group in prayer before we start packing has shown me that this is more than a simple humanitarian effort. It is a small way for me to be a part of the larger purpose of leading people to find and follow Jesus.” — Ronda, Food Backpack Ministry volunteer

“I signed up to serve because I thought local outreach was about helping others and giving my time to make a difference. I have learned it’s also about letting God change my heart, growing in leadership, humility, and seeing His love move through genuine connections.”-Katy, School Outreach Prayer Crew Leader

Financial Stewardship

Generosity fuels outreach.

  • 71% of HCC Local Outreach budget went outside Harvester Christian Church’s walls.
  • $72,000 given to community and ministry partners.
  • Gifted over $28,000 to local schools through Food Backpack Ministry, Teacher/Staff Appreciation, School Maintenance, and Financial Aid.

Thank You for Being the Church that Unleashes Hope

We are so grateful for each prayer, gift, and hour you have given. The Gospel is not just preached—it’s lived out in acts of generosity and justice.

Looking Ahead – September 2025 to August 2026

  • Launch new volunteer leadership roles to multiply impact
  • Increase advocacy efforts on affordable housing and homelessness prevention
  • Equip 100% of volunteers to take their S.H.A.P.E. Assessment to serve where they are gifted
  • Recruit 68 new volunteers for local outreach service, 17 new leaders, 7 coaches with an emphasis on emerging generations and intergenerational mentorship.
  • Equip and empower volunteers in Next Door Spiritual Influence to lead their neighbors to find and follow Jesus.

Join Us

You have a place in Local Outreach.
Whether you can serve once a month, once a week, or for a single event, your gifts matter.

HCC Local Outreach – St. Charles Campus
Leading people to find and follow Jesus through generosity and justice.

 

Read More
December 4, 2025
in Outreach
by cefiggins
0 Comments

We may not be able to meet in person to pray over our schools, administrators, teachers, staff, students, and families this month, but we can definitely continue to pray without ceasing.

Take a moment and use this prayer guide to join all of our School Outreach volunteers in prayer today!

Harvester Christian Church | December 2025 Pray & Prep Prayer Guide

Use these short prompts to guide focused, powerful prayer together. Pray boldly, believing God is working in and through His people to unleash hope in our community.

Schools & Students

  • Pray for God’s protection and peace over every school in St. Charles County.
  • Ask that students would find safety, belonging, and encouragement within their school communities.
  • Pray for students struggling with anxiety, loneliness, or instability at home—that they would know God’s presence and care.

Teachers & Administrators

  • Pray for wisdom and endurance for teachers carrying heavy workloads and emotional burdens.
  • Lift up administrators making difficult decisions—may they lead with integrity and compassion.
  • Ask God to fill Christian educators, especially those teachers and staff who are Harvester members, with courage to reflect Christ’s love daily.

Families Impacted by the Government Shutdown

  • Pray for families facing financial hardship due to the government shutdown.
  • Ask for God’s provision for those waiting on SNAP benefits or other supports.
  • Pray for the church to be a steady source of help, hope, and generosity in this season.

Workers Affected by the Boeing Strike

  • Pray for peace and resolution between leadership and workers at Boeing.
  • Ask God to meet the needs of families missing paychecks and feeling anxious about the future.
  • Pray that believers within Boeing would be lights of hope and reconciliation.

Mental Health & Emotional Well-Being

  • Pray for students, teachers, and families struggling with depression, stress, or burnout.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to bring comfort and healing to minds weighed down by fear or hopelessness.
  • Pray that the church would be a safe place for honesty, healing, and prayer.

Cold Weather & Homelessness

  • Pray for warmth, shelter, and safety for families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
  • Ask for resources and volunteers to be abundant at warming centers and shelters.
  • Pray for God to open our eyes to the unseen and invite us to respond with compassion.

Food Insecurity

  • Pray for our neighbors facing hunger and uncertainty about their next meal.
  • Ask God to multiply the food resources of the Harvester Pantry and community partners.
  • Pray that every act of generosity would open a door for the gospel.

Harvester Volunteers

  • Pray that every volunteer would serve with joy, boldness, and love that points people to Jesus.
  • Ask that God would give divine appointments—moments to share the gospel and unleash hope.
  • Pray for unity among teams as they serve together in humility and purpose.

More Laborers for the Harvest

  • Pray Luke 10:2—that God would send more workers into His harvest field.
  • Ask God to stir hearts within Harvester to step into service, mission, and compassion.
  • Pray for bold faith and open hands to go wherever He leads.

Thanksgiving & Vision

  • Thank God for the opportunities He has given Harvester to serve our neighbors.
  • Pray for continued vision to see our city the way God sees it.
  • Ask that through every act of service, St. Charles County would experience the hope of Jesus.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” — Luke 10:2

Read More
October 27, 2025
in DTOTD
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Praying for the Harvest


Luke 10:2 – “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

In Luke 10, we see Jesus selecting 72 disciples to preach in cities he was going to visit. They were told to heal the sick and announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. Before sending the seventy-two out on mission, Jesus invited them into intercessory prayer. David Platt defines intercession as a form of “desperate prayer” through which believers partner with God to accomplish His will on Earth. This is where we can stand in the gap between God and people. Jesus reminds the crowd that the work of ministry doesn’t begin with our mouths, our hands, or our minds.

It begins on our knees.

The harvest has always belonged to the Lord, and our first act of partnership with Him is to pray for those He will send — and to be willing for that prayer to include us. When Jesus looked out over the crowds, He didn’t see inconvenience. He didn’t see interruptions. He didn’t see a to-do list. He saw a harvest — people ready to experience the love and hope of God. And His first instruction wasn’t “Go.” It was “Pray.”

At Harvester Christian Church, when we lift a desperate prayer for “our One,” we are joining Jesus in His heart for the lost. We’re not just praying for opportunities to serve; we’re asking God to open eyes, soften hearts, and prepare both the laborers and the harvest. Every time you pray for a neighbor, a co-worker, a teacher, a student, or a family in need, you are cultivating spiritual soil that the Holy Spirit can grow something eternal in.

Intercessory prayer isn’t a small task — it’s the spiritual groundwork of every movement of God. When you pause to pray before serving in the pantry, before walking into a school, or before greeting a guest at an outreach event, you’re aligning your heart with the heart of the Harvester — Jesus Himself.

Our call is to see the harvest as He sees it. It’s not a burden to be carried; it’s not task to be scheduled into our lives; it’s a promise to be fulfilled. And when we pray for the laborers — for others and for ourselves — we are saying to God, “Use me, too.”

Reflection Questions

  1. When you think of “the harvest,” who in your life comes to mind as your One—the person God has placed on your heart to pray for?

  2. When you think of ‘the laborers,” who in your life do you need to invite to join you in service to others inside and outside of Harvester?

  3. How might you intentionally include intercessory prayer in your serving rhythm—before, during, and after you serve?

  4. What would it look like for you to say “yes” if God answered your prayer by sending you into the harvest field?

Intercessory Prayer

Hey God, 
You are the Lord of the Harvest. Thank You for allowing us to see what You see — a world full of people who are loved, seen, and ready to know You. When we were still powerless ourselves, you died for us, the ungodly. Because we have been reconciled, we boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ that as many others as possible will come to know the love of Jesus.  Stir in us a holy compassion for the lost and a deep burden to pray for those who labor in Your name. We lift our fellow workers in the harvest — every volunteer, every servant, every neighbor who carries Your light into dark places. Strengthen them, protect them, and fill them with Your Spirit. We desperately pray for our Ones — those who are far from You but not far from Your heart. Prepare the soil of their hearts to receive the good news of Jesus. Open doors for us to speak truth, to show love, and to live lives that point directly to You. And Lord, if the answer to our prayer for more laborers is us, give us the courage to go. Send us where you will. Use our hands, our words, and our presence to bring in the harvest that You have already prepared.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Read More
July 30, 2025
in HCC, Local, Outreach, packapack, School Outreach, Serve Teams
by cefiggins
0 Comments

Local Outreach July 2025 Newsletter

Hey oh!!!

What a wonderful summer we have had so far with the Good Neighbor Challenge! It has been encouraging to see committed volunteers regularly serving their neighbors. We have also seen new faces stepping out in faith and trusting God to learn more about what it means to Love God and Love Others. It has been great to see our O’Fallon campus crews come together through serving our neighbors! August will continue to be jampacked, but before we jump there, let’s take a look back on what God did through all of us in July.

July ReCap

We started the month with daily Good Neighbor Challenges. If you signed up, you know these came as daily texts with a scripture and prayer to help us focus on the art of neighboring. It also included a basic Love Your Neighbor challenge. Some of mine included dropping a note at a neighbor’s house and letting them know how much I appreciated the effort they put into their yard and garden. Another one was dropping off some produce from my garden, and a recipe for the zucchini. I also went on several prayer walks to different places around St Charles County where I regularly spend time.

Then we jumped right into Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities with Pack A Pack, Boys and Girls Club Back to School Bashes. To date HCC has provided over 600 backpacks to the Boys and Girls Club and shared 40 more with our Troy campus. Shoutout to Gina and David Aubuchon serving for the first time as Event Crew Leaders at the O’Fallon Unit, and Ronda Grigg serving again as the Event Crew Leader for the St Charles Unit. We had a new serving opportunity this year of card-making. Local Outreach writes and sends out hundreds of cards every year to our local school teachers and ministry partners. It was a blast to see HCC members using their spiritual gifts of creativity, encouragement, and hospitality. Nancy Picker and her bible study regularly make cards and we didn’t know it. They didn’t know that we write and send cards. It was a blessing to come together, make new friends and connections, all to glory God to our neighbors.

In addition to many more Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities in July, such as serving our community and ministry partners of REACH St Charles, the Child Advocacy Center, Love the Lou, we are also providing a worship service for the first time to the Boulevards Memory Care on July 30. We are also hosting a Blood Drive on Thursday, July 31 from 1-5 p.m. Donors are still needed. You can register to donate here or just walk in. Check below for more Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities coming up in August.

 

HCC Cooling Center

In the middle of all these serving opportunities, HCC Local Outreach was activated as a Cooling Center as part of the county-wide Emergency Weather Response Team. HCC is on call this summer July 27-August 2 and August 17-30. When the temperature is forecasted as a heat advisory of 100 degrees for two plus days we will open the Annex Lobby for our unhoused guests. We provide snacks, water, and Gatorade. But the biggest thing I have seen our volunteers provide this week is just conversation. Our guests have enjoyed just normal human interactions rather than crisis interactions. We have prayed every day to be a place of peace and to be people of peace. The Holy Spirit’s presence has been so evident. If you would like to learn more of serving with our Emergency Weather Response Team either during the day this summer or overnight this winter, just send me an email at cfiggins@harvester.cc.

Our Spiritual Gifts to Guide Our Serving

Pastor Nick mentioned the opportunity to take a Spiritual Gifts Assessment in a recent sermon. The S.H.A.P.E. test helps pull out what your spiritual gifts, heart abilities, personality, and experiences are. I am a sucker for any type of personality test, leadership test, or what shade of nail polish test, so I was really looking forward to seeing the results of this spiritual gifts assessment. I knew my gifts were centered in pastoring, equipping and empowering others, visioning, and empathy. What surprised me with the S.H.A.P.E. test was the names of the spiritual gifts. I realized I had been leaning more on the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) rather than my actual gifting. My top gift was Mercy. In general, this gift is the ability to empathize with and compassionately respond to those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, and then move to practical acts of service and support. I knew this area is my happy spot- the place I feel the closest reliance on God and the place where I find the most fulfillment. But the term mercy caught me up. That took me on a deeper dive into scripture that mentions mercy. I loved the reminders of receiving God’s mercy, and freely giving out mercy were lovely. I encourage you to sign in to the S.H.A.P.E. test with your Harvester account so your results are linked to your profile. Then you always have access to it, but it’s also incredibly helpful for all ministries to search for certain gifts and experiences to guide you towards serving opportunities that honor the Holy Spirit’s gifts in your life. You can find the link to S.H.A.P.E. here.

 

Upcoming Serving Opportunities– Just a note: it’s very important to sign up for events and not just show up. In many situations, there is a specific number of roles available, but in some situations, serving opportunities have to change location, time, or date. When you register for a serving event, we have everyone’s contact information in one spot, and we can effectively communicate to you serving opportunity details. If you need help accessing groups, schedules, or sign-ups, let me know, and we can sit down, and I can walk you through that either on your laptop or your phone.

Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities– Click here to see the Good Neighbor landing page. Complete the top part of the form to be able to scroll through serving opportunities on pages 2 and 3. Below are the remaining Good Neighbor Serving Opportunities. Italized opportunities need the most volunteers.

Thursday July 31, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Donate blood in HCC Worship Lobby

Friday August 1, 5 pm. – 7 p.m. The Sparrow’s Nest Children’s Center

Saturday August 2, 9 a.m.- 11 a.m.  Faith Haven House

Sunday August 3, 7 p.m. St Charles Campus Prayer Walk

Monday August 4, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Barnwell Middle School Spruce Up

Tuesday August 5, 4:30 pm.-6:30 pm. Harvest Ridge Elementary Spruce Up

Wednesday August 6, Harvest Ridge Elementary Back to School Bash

Thursday, August 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Love the Lou Tornado Relief

Friday August 8, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 pm. Good Neighbor Market

Saturday, August 9, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Welcome Jasper Apartment Residents to the Neighborhood

Sunday, August 10, REACH St Charles Pop Up

Monday, August 11, 7:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. Harvest Ridge Elementary Back to School Breakfast for Teachers

Tuesday August 12, 3- 6 p.m. Francis Howell North High School Immunization Clinic

Upcoming School Outreach Serving Opportunities- If you have expressed interest in or have served at a school event, you are in the School Outreach group. You can access the calendar and sign up for that group. If you are interested in serving at a school event, please email jhohensee@harvester.cc, and she can add you to that group. 

Monday August 11 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Pray & Prep, card making and card writing for schools

Friday August 15 7:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. Becky David Back to School Breakfast for Teachers– FULL

Friday August 15 11:30 a.m. Barnwell Back to School Lunch for Teachers

Saturday August 16 9 am. -11 am. The Sharing Shed

Sunday August 17- Saturday August 30 HCC on call as Cooling Center, shifts 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday August 24 1 p.m.Local Outreach/Guest Service Potluck Lunch in lower level of offices – more information coming

 

 

 

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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.