Harvest House

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40, NIV) Friends, I heard a story once about a woman who served the “at risk” community around her because her own child was caught up in substance abuse but would not accept any help from her family. It broke this woman’s heart to think of her own child on the street, so she tried to love others well and make a difference in other people’s lives. She hoped that, somewhere, someone would love her daughter well, too. That story came back to me recently after a conversation at the thrift store. Someone tried to donate a couch with large rips and missing cushions, explaining to Aaron that a poor person would certainly want it. I understand the sentiment behind that. If you have very little, something is better than nothing, right? But it made me think about something we don't always consider when we talk about serving people in need: the people we serve are somebody's sons and daughters. They're somebody's family. We would never want our own child to be defined by their circumstances—to be told, directly or not, that because they're struggling, they should be grateful for what most people would turn down if given the option. I know that ruffles some feathers, and I hope you hear my heart in this, because Harvest is SO grateful for the generosity of so many people in this community. The store and ministry would not exist without the people who clean out their closets, donate their furniture, drop off household goods, volunteer their time, and give financially. The retelling of that conversation was such a great reminder for our team of who we are serving and why. We want to treat people with dignity and respect—not simply because they are in need, but because they are people. Someone’s son or daughter. Someone’s child. Someone’s family. And maybe that is what I keep coming back to from the story of that woman. She knew what it felt like to wonder where her own child was and whether someone would love her well. So she chose to love someone else’s child well. That is a beautiful picture of what we hope Harvest Helps can be: not simply meeting a need, but seeing the person behind the need. Because every person who walks through those doors is someone’s son or daughter, someone’s family—and ultimately, someone Jesus tells us to see and serve as though we were serving Him. Celebrations! Ms K received a bicycle to get to work! Mr. R received a bus pass and groceries to help while his family deals with illness. Ms H received a bus pass to get to work! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) Dear Friends, Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to give Him their firstfruits—the first and the best. The issue has never been the amount, but the heart. By giving God the first portion, we acknowledge that He is our highest priority and trust Him to provide for our every need. Jesus also taught that our giving should never be motivated by recognition or applause. In Matthew 6, He instructed His followers to give quietly, seeking the approval of our Heavenly Father rather than the praise of people. He also taught us not to give, to get something earthly in return. The greatest reward is not found in earthly recognition, but in knowing that our gifts have honored God and advanced His Kingdom. As I think about Harvest Youth Ministries, I am humbled by the faithfulness of so many of you. Some have supported this ministry for nearly thirty years. Because of your generosity, many men, women, and young people have come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Hungry families have been fed, safe housing has been provided, jobs and life skills have been developed, and countless lives have been touched by the love of Christ. None of this would have been possible apart from God’s blessing and your faithful partnership. While we are deeply grateful for every gift, we know your generosity is ultimately an offering to the Lord—not to Harvest Youth Ministries. Most of what you have accomplished will never be fully known on this side of eternity, but God sees every act of faith and every sacrifice made for His glory. Thank you for honoring God with your first fruits. Thank you for giving Him your best. Most of all, thank you for your faithful partnership in changing lives for eternity. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby