Building Bridges to
Reach and Serve
Impacting Our Community
In the "Great Commission," Jesus commanded his followers to "Go into all the world..." (Matthew 28:16-20). Sadly, most churches and Christian organizations do just the opposite. Most do "outreach" by developing various programs designed to "draw" people to their particular building or group. At Harvest Youth Ministries, we take the "go" in the Great Commission literally. Whether it's creating spaces where teens enjoy congregating, developing and pushing devotionals that strike at the roots of issues in modern culture and point to the Truth's of Jesus' words, we "go" into their world, hold out our hands, provide physical/spiritual help when & where we can, and then we share the Gospel. Harvest Youth Ministries (HYM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 do just that.... to reach-out and serve unchurched young people. Our mission is to offer real hope in a dark world as we meet the practical needs of our neighbors.
Harvest Youth Ministries comes alongside teens and their families as
theywork to break cycles of poverty, unemployment, abuse and more.
Our Mission:
To fulfill the Great Commission by bringing consumable pieces of God’s Word directly into peoples lives and by creating non-threatening environments for investigating the truth of Jesus’ birth, life, and resurrection.
Our Programs
Harvest Blog
Read about news, updates, thoughts and more!
"Be kind and compa ssionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) Dear Friends, I was listening to a podcast the other day that talked about spiritual amnesia. It is the idea that as Christians, we tend to be forgetful. We might forget... ...we have been saved. ...what sinners we were and still are. ...that we STILL need a Savior. ...ways God has shown up and provided. It also lead me to think about something my husband often says when interacting with people in tough situations: they never wanted this. In fact, often times we forget to treat people with dignity because of their situations instead of remembering… …they are someone’s son or daughter. …they once were a coo-ing baby. …they never wanted their life to turn out this way. When we remember people’s humanity - when we can take a moment to picture them as a little child dancing or singing - we can remember to treat them with the respect God says they deserve. Yes, there are usually still consequences for life choices and behaviors, but instead of judgment we can meet people with grace and compassion. Some More Sticky Notes: Ms J- Received access to furniture she needs in her new apartment. Mr W - Received a bus pass to help him care for his two small children while in a shelter. Mr M – Received furniture help for himself and his young daughter Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Dear Friends, Prayer and the Word of God are the lifelines of a Christian’s walk with the Lord. Prayer connects us directly to our Heavenly Father, inviting His wisdom, comfort, and strength into our daily lives. When we open the Bible, God speaks to us through His truth, reminding us of His promises and shaping our hearts to reflect His character. Together, prayer and Scripture create a living relationship with God, allowing us to both speak to Him and hear from Him. As the Psalmist declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) above. When we stay rooted in prayer and God’s Word, we find the strength to stand firm against temptation, clarity when making decisions, and peace in the midst of trials. Scripture equips us with guidance, while prayer keeps our hearts aligned with God’s will. These practices don’t remove life’s difficulties, but they change how we walk through them—reminding us that we are never alone and that God’s Spirit is at work within us. On the other hand, when we neglect prayer and the Word, our hearts can quickly drift. Without the steady voice of Scripture, we begin to lean on our own understanding, which leads to confusion, fear, and discouragement. Without prayer, our burdens weigh heavier because we are no longer laying them at the feet of Jesus. Jesus Himself warned, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as our physical bodies cannot thrive without food and water, our souls cannot thrive without daily communion with God through prayer and His Word. Let us be people who daily seek the Lord—who carve out time to pray, to read, to listen, and to grow. May we be reminded that prayer and the Word are not burdens but blessings, given to us so we may walk in God’s power, peace, and purpose. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) Friends, Yesterday most of my family spent many hours in the car - at least two of those hours winding through back roads in Tennessee. One of the things we did to pass the time was spot churches. I’m fairly convinced there’s one church for every ten people in that part of the country! (We stayed in Crossville, TN, which also made me chuckle…welcome to the Bible belt.). Google told me this: Tennessee has a high concentration of small churches due to its history, demographics, and social structures. Many small churches are deeply rooted in rural communities, serving as vital centers for social, spiritual, and even economic support. The state's strong religious traditions, particularly among Protestant denominations, have historically led to the establishment of numerous congregations, often reflecting the diversity of religious beliefs within smaller, localized areas. Having spent many years in a small church, I can say there’s truth to the idea of the church functioning as a large family. There were always people willing to help with virtually anything - and likewise, we could offer that same willingness to help. The only downside comes when we start to compare ourselves to the churches around us, compete for attendees, or forget that different styles are not salvation issues. In ministry it is also easy to get distracted by the programs offered by organizations and think “we should do that” or “we should be more like them”. God has called Harvest to a specific mission: serving the local community through the Thrift Store, Harvest Helps, and telling our neighbors about Jesus along the way. Thank you for running THIS race with us! Some More Sticky Notes: Ms K - Received groceries for her family so she didn’t have to worry while recovering from surgery. Ms C. - Received car repairs and groceries so she could work and take care of her daughter. Ms S – is a domestic abuse survivor and given to pick out furniture for her new home and clothes for her kids. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby
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