“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV) Dear Friends,  One of the most surprising lessons I’ve learned in ministry is that God doesn’t always remove the need for faith. We often pray for enough resources to accomplish everything He has placed on our hearts, but many times He chooses a different path. Instead of providing every dollar in advance, He gives us just enough to take the next faithful step. Why? Because if we always had everything we needed, we might begin to trust our bank accounts more than we trust the One who provides. Scripture reminds us that, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Apostle Paul even wrote that he had learned to be content in every circumstance because Christ was his strength—not his circumstances. At Harvest Youth Ministries, we’ve seen God provide again and again, often at just the right moment. While we certainly wouldn’t complain if He chose to send every resource we need tomorrow, we’re learning that the greater blessing is seeing His faithfulness unfold one step at a time. Perhaps the Lord allows seasons of need because they keep us humble, grateful, and dependent upon Him. Every answered prayer reminds us that this ministry belongs to Him, not to us. Every volunteer, every donated item, every financial gift, e very young person whose life is changed is evidence that God is still at work. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity are part of God’s provision, and we never take them for granted. Please continue praying that we will remain faithful stewards of what He entrusts to us and that we will always have the courage to follow where He leads—even when we can’t yet see how He will provide. We serve a God who has never failed us, and w e are confident He never will. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives... (Matthew 7:7-8) Friends, My kids are participating in the library’s summer reading challenge. Frankly, with my group of kids it isn’t much of a challenge because they all read daily anyway, but we’re here for it. These are fantastic teaching moments for us because when they complete the task, they still have to go into the library and ask for their prizes. Yes, I do, in fact, make them approach the counter and talk to the librarian themselves. My thinking is simple: if you aren’t willing to take that step, the prize remains out of reach. It reminded me of two different interactions I’ve had over the years. The first was with a man named Jeff. I have a huge amount of respect for him and the ministry he was leading. One day, when I was stopping by to chat with him, a man came by asking for some wood pallets that were not being used. Jeff very calmly told him no because the man had skipped a required meeting. Then Jeff explained his reasoning to me: always require something – handouts take away people’s dignity. The second interaction was with a Harvest Helps applicant who asked for some groceries. The situation shared was a tough one. I sent a form from a local food pantry that would allow me to go pick up food for the family and deliver it since transportation was an issue. That was nearly a month ago. I still haven’t received the completed form or any other communication about another solution. We try to ask good questions before making assumptions, and we try to be creative in our problem solving. Perhaps there is an obstacle we are unaware of. Even as I write this, another idea for getting that form filled out has come to mind. We know that need doesn't always translate into action. Fear, shame, hopelessness, and even simple exhaustion can keep people from taking the next step. That's why we want to remove every barrier we reasonably can. Sometimes there are legitimate obstacles, and when there are, we should do everything we can to help overcome them. But sometimes there isn't a barrier we can remove. Sometimes the next step belongs to the person asking for help. Help is a partnership. We do what we can, but the person asking for help has to participate too. That's when Jeff's words come back to me and I really understand the heart of his message. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the number of applications we receive and by the responsibility of trying to meet those needs prayerfully and with the gospel front and center. Then there are the people who desperately need help but never send in the application. And sometimes, we are surprised by the people who won't take that one small, required step to receive what they need. Lord, give us wisdom in it all! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby