Harvest Blog

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 Friends, What are your favorite kinds of emails? I’d say phone calls, but I hardly ever answer them anymore, so emails it is! My favorite? The kind that share good news—especially the kind that say, “I know you and everyone you told about me were praying. I just wanted to keep you updated.” In the September newsletter, I asked you to pray for Ms. A and the situation she was facing. While things aren’t fully resolved, progress is being made! Bills have been paid, work has been found, and food is on the table. Knowing that people have been praying is a beautiful testimony, and I’m so grateful the Harvest community is part of it. Thank you. Please continue to pray for Ms. A and the others we’re currently working with. Specifically, pray that their needs are met in ways that help them see God at work! To borrow some words from Paul: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3–6, NIV) Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

“faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17b (NIV) Dear Friends, One thing I've always appreciated about the book of James is that he doesn't dance around the issues! He reminds us that following Jesus Christ involves much more than what we believe, what we say, or even how often we pray. Genuine faith produces genuine action! In James 2:15–16, we're given a powerful illustration. Suppose someone is without adequate clothing or food, and we offer them kind words and wish them well, but do nothing to meet their needs. James asks a simple question: What good is that? Think about it. We can tell someone God loves them. We can assure them we're praying for them. We can even invite them to church. Those are all wonderful things, but what happens when the person standing in front of us is hungry, hurting, frightened, or wondering how they're going to make it through another day? That's when faith needs to roll up its sleeves! We believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayer and the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Over the years, we've had the privilege of leading many people to Christ. But we've also learned that sometimes people need to experience God's love before they're ready to hear about it. Through Second Harvest Thrift Store , we provide affordable necessities and opportunities for job training. Through Harvest House , we offer encouragement and practical support to people facing difficult circumstances. And through Harvest Helps , we assist individuals and families struggling with financial and other immediate needs. Sometimes ministry means providing clothing or household necessities. Sometimes it means helping someone financially. Other times, it simply means listening to a hurting person and reminding them that they haven't been forgotten. That's what Harvest Youth Ministries is—a ministry that doesn't just talk about compassion but puts it into practice. A ministry that doesn't simply recognize needs but responds to them. And a ministry that gives God the glory for every life touched. Putting the love of Christ into action, together! Pastor Jim Kilby

“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

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2, NIV) Dear Friends, Recently I overheard a conversation that has stayed with me. A Christian parent was explaining to a group of people that they had encouraged their grown child to move in with their significant other for a few years before getting married. Their reasoning was that couples should "make sure it works" before making a lifelong commitment. What struck me wasn't that someone in the world would give that advice - it was that someone who faithfully attends church and professes to believe the Bible had concluded that God's design for marriage no longer makes sense in today's culture. It reminded me how easy it is for all of us to accept the parts of Scripture we like while quietly setting aside the parts that challenge us. We don't usually reject God's Word outright' we simply allow the culture around us to redefine what we think is reasonable. At Harvest Youth Ministries, this is one of the greatest spiritual battles facing this generation. Every day, young people are told that truth is relative, feelings determine what is right, and God's standards are outdated. They need more than motivational messages - they need adults who are willing to lovingly and courageously point them to the unchanging truth of God's Word. Out mission has never been to make the Bible fit our culture, but to help people discover that God's ways are always right, even when they aren't popular. Thank you for making that possible through your prayers, encouragement, and faithful financial support. Together, we are helping young people build their lives on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ rather than the shifting opinions of the world. As you pray for Harvest Youth Ministries this month, please pray that we will never compromise God's truth for the sake of cultural acceptance. Pray that the young people we serve will have the courage to stand firm in their faith, and that each of us will be known not for following the latest trends, but for faithfully following Christ Jesus. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV) Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 4:2, ESV) Friends, If you have been around a while, you may know there are a few things that irritate me. Some of them are things I catch myself doing! One big one is the phrase, “let’s pray really quick” before meals, meetings, or ministry. Why do we say this? Why is it so easy to treat talking to the God of the Universe as a box that should be checked off before we move on to the “real work” of doing whatever we’re doing? I am realizing prayer isn’t something we do before ministry. Prayer IS ministry. Recently, a woman reached out because she is struggling with housing after a work injury. We got details about her immediate need so we could know what steps to take, then followed up with another message, not about the housing situation, but about her. I asked how she was doing and how we could be praying for her. It was an intentional move because sometimes, people need to know they are cared for physically before they are ready to be cared for spiritually. Her response was striking. She said it was the only time she had been asked how she was during this time. The need was housing. The need was also to be seen and cared for. It can be so easy to get focused on “doing the work” that we forget to see the person in front of us. While her physical needs must be met, her soul also needs tending. Let’s never move prayer to a “really quick” before we start moving our feet. Let us pray as we begin, as we move, and as we finish, making prayer an essential part of ministry and life. Without God involved, what are we doing anyway? Please pray for Ms. A with me. She has a long recovery ahead of her, an unstable financial situation, and a deep desire to get back on her feet. Celebrations! Ms A received help with rent this month while she is working on recovering from an injury. Ms K received a voucher for clothing for job interviews, and we are working on a bicycle! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

“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