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

" 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

Compassion is one of the first things the Holy Spirit will bring into your life when you truly give your life to Christ. The desire to forgive, and even the super-human ability to actually do it will also come your way. Unfortunately, the opposite character traits seem evident in far too many of the lives of those who claim to know Jesus. The reality is that being controlled by our fleshly and worldly emotions is easier for us because we feel like we're more in control. When God truly takes over, you'll be more inclined to be like Jesus or Stephen (the first Christian killed for his faith), actually praying for the ones who were in the process of killing them. In another example, instead of holding on to hate for believers who abandoned him, the Apostle Paul had a similar prayer for those who wronged him. Have you found this attitude becoming more prevalent in your heart? "At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them." 2 Timothy 4:16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The purpose of a cheerleader is to motivate the crowd, so that together they can motivate the team. But what happens when the cheerleader becomes more interested in promoting the cheerleading squad than helping the team? Or what happens when a teacher forgets that teaching was something they once loved to do and morphs into someone who likes to look and sound important. What happens when a Christian forgets their first love and begins promoting "self" over Jesus? The answer is that the Body of Christ (or the team, or the students) is placed behind the personal motives of the very ones who were called to serve in the first place. Whether it's parents putting their wants in front of their children's needs, or pastors pursuing their own desires over the needs of God's children, Satan's work is fulfilled whenever we take our eyes off of our Lord and place them on our own desires. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, WHO BETRAYED HIM." Matthew 10:1-4 (Emphasis mine) I don't know about you, but I don't want "Who betrayed Him" ever written behind my name. Makes you think about the way you serve, doesn't it? Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some churches are loud during their services, and others are more reserved. Some have loud clapping and "amens" every few seconds, and some worship in silence. I believe the Scriptures allow for a wide range of styles. What's troubling to me is that many who are quite comfortable speaking the name of Jesus and praising Him among other believers during a church service rarely mention His name outside the building. I ask you to consider that all the singing and clapping in the world means little to the Lord if those outside your worship services never hear a peep. "When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews IN PUBLIC DEBATE, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ." Acts 18:27-28 (Emphasis mine) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I notice that when my children were young, and many of the young people I minster to, both have a similar mode in the way they pray. They often either stick to tried and true prayers or wrote sentences (like, "thank you for this day"), or they rip off a list of the material "stuff" they're thankful for. While I don't believe either is necessarily a problem for a young Christian, surely the wisdom of a few years will teach them that muttering the same ole sentences without giving them much though or only being thankful only for material things is not true prayer. Real prayer is just that--REAL! God can handle our honest prayers, and He deserves that we give some serious thought to what we're thankful for. Like our health, our families, His grace, our pastors and teachers, etc... Can you imagine what would happen if you tried that type of communication with other loved one's in your life? They'd know immediately that you were just giving them your absolute minimum. So, may I pray that today your prayers will be even more meaningful to Him, and also to you! "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:7 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I once found myself between two teenage boys who were dead set on beating each other to a pulp. After they were separated sufficiently , I had a chance to talk with them each about what had happened. One of them had said something to the other one that he thought was disrespectful. The response was a quickly escalating verbal battle that was only seconds from becoming physical. Noticing that the young man who felt he was disrespected still seemed set on getting revenge on the other young man, I sat and talked with him for quite a while. His words mirrored those I've heard from so many before. His pride was wounded and he intended to make the other person pay in order to get his "respect" back. When I pointed out that beating this other boy senseless would have likely gotten him a jail sentence and a law suit, he exclaimed "If that's what it takes, so be it! I need to keep my pride!" Actually, as Christians the last thing we need is our "pride"... it's humility we desperately need. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate