Harvest House
Help Us, Help Her
Harvest House, located in Dayton, Ohio, is a mentoring program for young women in challenging situations. Our goal is to come alongside them as they face various life challenges. The young ladies meet with a staff mentor where they receive the attention and care they need to set individual goals based on their unique situation and hopes for the future. Our team then works closely with them to help achieve those goals.
Harvest House consists of ongoing mentoring and support while YOU work to meet YOUR goals. This is a highly individualized program designed to meet people where they are. To date we have helped in a variety of areas including job security and training, transportation needs, schooling including college level and GEDs, child care and parenting training, and much more!
We align our program with solid Biblical teaching. This program is offered free of charge.
Mission: Preparing disadvantaged young women to take on the world with new hope and life skills.
Vision: Harvest House will transform the lives of young women through God's love.
Sometimes a non-conventional approach to healing allows young women a restart they need to carry hope (and a light) out into the world.
Rather than try to make a one-size-fits all program that kind of works for the masses, we have tried to create a very individual approach that meets the specific needs of the young people we are working with. We help with both practical needs as well as mentoring, goal setting, and a little bit of mom-ing.
Harvest House Blog
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. (Proverbs 14:20-21, NIV) Friends, “I’m not sure how they let themselves get in that position in the first place.” If we haven’t all said it out loud, we’ve probably all thought it at some point about someone. I know I have. The Lord has been graciously working on my heart to respond with mercy instead of judgment, but it’s been a long process. Part of that change has come from seeing just how many people truly need help — and how deeply grateful they are when someone simply listens, sees them, and cares. These verses struck me today because sometimes what hurts even more than hardship is loneliness. Worse than feeling like the world is stacked against you is feeling invisible. For many of the people we serve, poverty isn’t just about money. It’s a cycle that is incredibly hard to break. The mom who doesn’t have transportation can’t hope to get a job without a bus pass. The dad trying to provide can’t work without childcare in place. The payday loan that fills empty bellies tonight comes back next month with crushing interest, digging the hole deeper. Our goal is simple: to see people as people. To serve them as dearly loved children of God. To make sure they know they are seen and valued. Breaking cycles of poverty also breaks cycles of loneliness and shame. A moment of kindness restores dignity. It builds trust. And sometimes, it opens the door to an entirely new future. Thank you for being the kind of community that moves toward people instead of away from them. CELEBRATIONS!!! Ms C – Food help for two sisters and their combined 8 kiddos. Ms J – Help with an AES bill so there aren’t disconnect threats. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV) Dear Friends, My wife and I recently had the opportunity to take a cruise on a Windstar ship. One phrase stayed with me throughout the trip — their motto: “180° from normal.” It’s meant to describe a travel experience that intentionally moves away from the typical and embraces something different. As I reflected on that phrase, I couldn’t help but think about how perfectly it describes the life Jesus calls us to live. Following Christ has never been about blending into the patterns of the world around us. In fact, Scripture consistently reminds us that believers are called to live differently — to think differently, to love differently, and to respond differently. Where the world encourages self-promotion, Christ teaches humility. Where culture often celebrates division, Jesus calls us to reconciliation. Where fear and scarcity dominate the headlines, we are invited to live with faith, generosity, and hope. In many ways, authentic Christian living is meant to be 180° from normal. At Harvest Youth Ministries, we witness this transformation regularly. We see young people discovering their identity in Christ instead of in labels placed on them by others. We see volunteers showing up faithfully, choosing service over convenience. We see supporters like you investing in lives not for recognition, but because you believe in God’s work of restoration and healing. These moments may not look “normal” by the world’s standards — but they reflect the upside-down, Kingdom-centered life Jesus modeled. Thank you for being part of this mission. Your prayers, generosity, and encouragement help create spaces where young people encounter a different way of living — one marked by grace, purpose, and transformation. Together, we are helping raise up a generation that is unafraid to live 180° from normal. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby
" Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, NIV) Dear Friends, As followers of Christ, we are called to be His hands and feet, reaching out to those in need with love, compassion, and generosity. Whether through small acts of kindness or larger gestures of service, every opportunity to help others is a chance to reflect God's love. Sometimes, we may feel that our efforts are insignificant, but even the smallest act - an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a listening ear - can be used by God in powerful ways. He calls us to be faithful in whatever way we can, trusting that He will multiply our efforts for His glory. At Harvest Youth Ministries, this is at the heart of what we do through all of our various ministry outlets. We believe that serving others is not just an action but a lifestyle that demonstrates the love of Christ. Whether it's through providing practical help, offering a shoulder to lean on, or simply being present for someone who is struggling, we embrace every opportunity to make a difference. But our work doesn't stop at meeting physical needs - we also seek to pray for people and share the gospel whenever God opens the door. True help is not just in what we can do for others, but in pointing them to the One who can truly transform their lives. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us, "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." This is literally the verse that inspired me when we founded this organization. Let us continue to walk in faith, always looking for ways to bless those around us and bring the hope of Christ into their lives. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." May we always be ready to serve, pray, and share the good news, trusting that God will use us to make an eternal impact for His kingdom. As always, thank YOU for the part you plan in providing financial help, or just rooting us on in the heavenly realm! Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby
