Harvest Youth Ministries | 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.

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Harvest Blog

Read about news, updates, thoughts and more!

Gratitude

By Pastor Jim Kilby • December 4, 2025

“[they] did not honor God or give thanks....” Romans 1:21 (NIV) Dear Friends, Lately I’ve been reflecting on how easily our hearts drift when we stop practicing gratitude. Scripture warns us of this. In Romans 1:21, Paul says that when people “did not honor God or give thanks,” their hearts became darkened. Ingratitude isn’t just a moment of forgetfulness — it slowly reshapes the way we see God, ourselves, and the world around us. When we stop giving thanks, our hearts grow restless. Fear replaces trust. Complaining replaces worship. We start to believe we don’t have enough, or worse, that God isn’t enough. Gratitude is the antidote — a spiritual anchor that restores joy, softens our hearts, and brings our focus back to God’s faithfulness. Even one moment of recognizing His goodness can recalibrate everything. We see this all the time in the teens and families we serve. When they identify even a single blessing — an answered prayer, a caring friend, a moment of peace — hope begins to grow again. Gratitude opens the door for God to work in their hearts. And so today, I want to thank you. Your prayers, support, and generosity help us continue sharing Christ’s love with youth who desperately need it. Because of you, lives are being shaped by the hope found in Jesus. Without you, and God’s love, we can do nothing. As we move forward in this season of “Thanksgiving,” may we all choose gratitude daily — keeping our hearts tender, joyful, and attentive to God’s goodness. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Beautiful Things

By Elizabeth Kilby • December 4, 2025

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” (James 1:7) Friends, I was over at the thrift store recently and overheard a customer chatting with the cashier as she checked out. The conversation was full of gratitude as she shared how many times she’s been able to find — and afford — beautiful things there. What a blessing for me to hear! One of the goals of Second Harvest is to provide our community with quality (and beautiful!) items at reasonable, affordable prices. Mission accomplished. Of course, there is always more to it, isn’t there? God has been so faithful this past year to remind me how He loves to give us good and perfect gifts, beautiful things if you will. He delights in showing His love in ways we could never imagine. I’ve seen it when a friend texted, “God said this was the one — do it right now,” after an urgent rent request was posted online. I’ve seen it in gifts of household basics and warm coats stacked high in my office for a momma of eight who is starting over with almost nothing. I’ve seen it in a grocery pick-up that fed a family for a week. I’ve seen it in bus passes, appliances, kitchen tables, shoes… and as I type this, my eyes fill with tears remembering each of these moments and how we were able to say, “And also — Jesus loves you.” YOU made that possible. Thank you for being part of the beautiful things God is giving our community — gifts that reflect the generosity of Jesus Himself. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

Giving Thanks!

By Elizabeth Kilby • November 5, 2025

"Call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted. Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth". (Isaiah 12:4-5) Friends, As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I am filled with gratitude for God’s incredible goodness. It is too easy to get caught up in the rhythm of work and forget to pause and thank Him for what He has accomplished. Your partnership in this ministry makes all the difference. Because of you, so many through Harvest Helps have heard that they are known, valued, and loved by God. This month, we want to lift up in prayer these souls who have reached out for support, and we ask you to do the same. We also pause to consider all the members of our community impacted by the thrift store with access to goods at reasonable prices, employment opportunities, and those God-moments of being salt and light in the most completely unexpected ways. Goodness, I love to hear those stories and I pray they keep coming! Your prayers and generosity allow us to continue this vital work of providing grace and love to those who need it most. Thank you for making a lasting impact. Some More Sticky Notes: I am leaving these off this month, because I want you to see this list of names below of people who have been seen, loved, and prayed for! They know Jesus loves them because meeting needs is a beautiful open door for the gospel. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

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