Harvest Blog

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, NIV) Dear Friends, During a worship service last week, I sensed the Lord was talking specifically to me. Every time I tried to pass it off as silliness, the same message came back, again, and again, and again. So, I whispered, "Is this for me, Lord?" The feeling I received was overwhelming. I haven't stopped thinking about it since. As believers, we are called to walk closely with the Lord, being sensitive to His voice and direction. Yet in our busy lives, it can be easy to miss His whispers. How do we cultivate a heart that is tuned to the Holy Spirit? God primarily speaks through His Word. The more we immerse ourselves in Scripture, the more clearly we recognize His voice. The psalmist reminds us, " Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105). We also need to create space for stillness. The Holy Spirit often speaks in the quiet moments. In 1 Kings 19:12, Elijah hears God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper. When we quiet our hearts through prayer and reflection, we make room to hear the Lord's guidance. Also, we've got to consider that prayer is not just all talking to God. It is also listening. When we pause and ask the Lord to speak, He often places a thought, a Scripture, or a sense of direction on our hearts. Jesus tells us in John 16:13, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth." So we need to be still at times, and wait as the Holy Spirit nudges us in various ways - through conviction, a sudden thought, or even through other believers. It's important to test what we hear against Scripture and seek confirmation in prayer. When He speaks, James 1:22 tells us to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only." Then, when we sense the Lord's leading, we step out in faith. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 Friends, This week, I had the joy of taking my oldest daughter to the BMV to get her temporary driving permit. As we walked in, I told her she was in charge—she had to tell the clerk what she needed, answer their questions, and handle the process herself. She looked at me in (joking) panic and blurted out, “What if I forget my name?” I assured her I wasn’t going anywhere, and if needed, I’d be right there to remind her. She did great, and now… well, be a little extra cautious on the roads! This moment, while hilarious, reminded me of something deeper. My daughter had confidence because she knew I was there with her. She wasn’t alone. But what about the people who don’t have that? I recently spoke with a woman who shared how she’s been abandoned—estranged from family, let down by friends, and dismissed by people who once cared. She feels unseen, unheard, and forgotten. Walking with someone through life isn’t always easy. It’s often messy, uncomfortable, and even inconvenient. But that’s what makes it matter. People don’t just need someone when life is good—they need someone who will stay when things get hard, when mistakes are made, and when the road feels impossible. Who in your life needs to be reminded they’re not alone? Maybe send them a quick text. And remember, we’re here to walk with you too! Some More Sticky Notes: Mr. W - Needed electric bill paid to keep lights on for himself and his two teen children. Miss J - Local 16 year old who requested we send her a Bible! Ms. C - Emailed asking for prayer while she was in the hospital! Blessings, Elizabeth 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 play in providing financial help, or just rooting us on in the heavenly realm! Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 1 2:3 Friends, I am so excited to share with you an email I recently received. Here’s the text: I just wanted to thank you and the church for this amazing bed! It’s much appreciated, please thank the church. If the church ever needs some volunteer help please let me know or if you are aware of any safe women who may be living in their cars, trying to avoid truck stops/shelters etc… who might be in need of a clean, safe place to shower, please feel free to pass on my email/phone number and my home is open to them. I dont have much to give or offer but I do have that! :) I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to cry. It reminds me of the account of Mary taking her most precious possession and sharing it freely with Jesus. The woman who sent the email? Her most precious possession is arguably a safe place to live and call home. Her willingness to hold it loosely, to open it up to other women who also need someone to see them and love them – goodness that gets me! Thank you for being a part of these stories. God is so GOOD! Some More Sticky Notes: Miss B: We are helping her with some apartment applications so she can get into a stable living environment! Miss R: We were able to help her put down a deposit for a new apartment for her family. She and one of her kiddos is disabled and so having the extra funds really helped stretch their very tight budget! Unnamed Man: The staff at the thrift store was able to gift a homeless man find some warm, dry shoes this past week! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

"Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’" John 4:35 (NIV) Dear Friends, Why did we name our ministry “Harvest” Youth Ministries? It’s more than just a name…. it’s who we are, and it’s our mission. In a world often weighed down by uncertainty and darkness, the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines as a beacon of hope. The word "Gospel" means "good news," and it is indeed the greatest news humanity has ever received. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him, offering forgiveness, peace, and eternal life to all who believe. The Gospel is not only good news for individuals but also a call to action for all believers. Jesus speaks of a plentiful harvest, saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Luke 10:2). The harvest represents those whose hearts are ready to receive the message of salvation, to turn from darkness to light, and to find hope in Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be workers in this field, sowing seeds of faith and truth through our words, actions, and love. When we share the Gospel, we become part of God’s divine plan to gather this great harvest, bringing more people into His kingdom. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:14-16 that we are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. As we reflect His light, we are to let it shine before others, pointing them to the source of our hope and joy. This calling is not a burden but a privilege, as we join in the mission of spreading the good news. Let us sow faithfully, pray fervently, and trust that God, the Lord of the harvest, will bring forth an abundant harvest for His glory. In this work, we are reminded that the light of Christ will never be overcome by darkness, and the good news will continue to transform lives for eternity. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:16-17, NIV) ) Friends, I love sticky notes. And fun pens. And organizational systems. Goodness, they make my heart sing. If you didn’t know that about me, now you do! My sister recently gave me a whole stack of sticky notes. I have learned not to give them to my children because they end up on every surface of the house. So, this pack of neon colored possibilities just stared at me from my desk drawer. I also love prayer. I didn’t use to love it because I saw it as a “have to” task list item I wasn’t very good at until a couple years ago. And why, why am I sharing this with you? Glad you asked. I am wall papering my office in sticky notes. Every need filled with Harvest Helps, any mentoring situation with Harvest House, any email / text / please pray is going on a sticky note and onto the wall. At this rate though, I may need a different system. I just wanted to share some of these with you: Miss O: Lives in transitional housing and was given clothing, household, and hygiene items. She accepted them with a hug and a thank you. There was a note tucked in the bottom of the box reminding her she is seen and loved by the Lord! Miss S: She was in a car accident and totaled her car but still needed to get to work to pay the bills. She asked for a one month bus pass so she could get to work for the immediate future and then she could get her own pass next pay day. I’m hoping to meet up with her soon for coffee. Miss C: She recently moved into a sober living house and needed items to make her room there feel more like home. She also needed clothing. I asked if I could add her to my prayer list and she said she would be so grateful!  Those are just three. As we move into the new year, I can’t wait to continue to tell you about the sticky notes filling up my walls. As Aaron often says, each of them is a dearly loved child of God and I am so excited by meeting needs, we get the opportunity to speak truth into their lives! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. (1 Thessalonians 2:8) Friends, I usually try to use the space in these newsletters to share a ministry win, a current struggle, or something that conveys the heart of what Harvest Youth is working toward. This month though, I thought I'd take a quick detour and share a family update. Your support allows our family to continue to serve with Harvest and I thought a personal update was in order! Aaron and I have both served with Harvest for over 20 years. It is incredible to me how God took people who were socially awkward and extremely introverted and grew us into people who don't mind standing in front of people to share the good news of the Gospel. We have both been working hard in our "areas" of ministry. Aaron has really taken the focus of the thrift store to serving our community and being the public touch point of Harvest. I have been working on growing Harvest Helps and figuring out best practices for making sure this ministry is serving our community well. And something must be going right - we now have national non-profits sending clients our way for help! Our kids (all 8 of them!) are thriving this year! They all had roles in their homeschool group's Christmas play and made the cutest angels, shepherds, Mary, and speakers. They are all also involved in AWANA and it has been so fun to see them memorize scripture and being to learn how to apply it! Talk about making my momma heart happy! I was able to take a few of them with me recently to pick up a food donation and then deliver it to another local mom and it was exciting to involve them. They know we work for a ministry, but for them to see what that (sometimes) practically looks like was so fun! It's also a blessing to have boys with some muscle to help me move the heavy boxes! We have been in a season of refining. I think God has been using some medical issues for Aaron and me to cause us to remember to slow down and turn to Him. (And I'd love prayers for complete healing!). But more than that, I am overjoyed God continues to show up, in the most unexpected ways, and just continues to show me over and over how good He is. Thank you for letting me ramble, brag on my kids, and share my heart. God is so good and I am thankful we are on this journey with you. Please feel free to send me an email (Beth@HarvestYouth.org) if there are any ways we can serve or bless you and yours. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV) Dear Friends, As the new year begins, I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness in every season of our lives. The year behind us was filled with blessings, challenges, and opportunities to grow in our walk with Him. In the words of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians (above), this is a season to reflect, to release, and to renew. We can let go of the weight of past mistakes, the fear of the unknown, and even the pride in past accomplishments, choosing instead to focus on the hope and promises that lie ahead. The new year offers a blank canvas for God to paint His purpose in our lives. As Isaiah reminds us, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19).” No matter how uncertain the road may seem, God is already making a way for us. He is the God of new beginnings, breathing life into the dry and weary places, and calling us into deeper trust in His plans. This is a time to prayerfully seek His guidance and commit to living out His will with courage and faith. As we move forward, let us set our hearts on the eternal things of God. The distractions and busyness of life may try to pull us away, but we are called to live with intention and purpose. May we encourage one another to grow in faith, love our neighbors deeply, and reflect Christ in all that we do. Let us enter this year filled with expectancy, knowing that the God who has carried us this far will lead us into greater things for His glory. May this year be a time of renewal, restoration, and spiritual fruitfulness as we walk in the grace and love of Christ. Together, let us press on, trusting that His mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness never fails. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby