Harvest Community Church

Come June 3rd, we will be hosting two Sunday services at our new location.  Help us by letting us know what service you think you will be attending.  Thanks!!

Here are some recent pictures of the facility as we work at DOMINATING!  What do you think?

Moving some stage walls

More walls to move

Working on the new stage design

Nursery with new paint and carpet

More Nursery

Pastor Lee's Office

Pastor Micah's Office

Pastor Brian's Office

Reception Area

Weed Removal

BIG, BIG news around Harvest.  If you hadn’t heard we have a home.  I real place to call our own.  A few weeks ago the Lord gave us a great blessing in providing us with a new building that will give us a 24/7 presence in our community. Here is a quick look at our new home…

3065 S. Ellsworth (Between Guadalupe and Elliot)

The ability to move into an existing church building with an extended lease opportunity is a God moment that we have been praying for, but at the same time one we hadn’t imagined to happen at this time in the history of our church.  In many ways this has been a dramatic movement of God.

The building is a great tool that God has provided for us to be a continuos light in our community.  A community that in many ways is ruled by darkness.  That is why we are kicking off a campaign we are calling DOMINATE.

Dominate.  Why Dominate?  In Matthew 5, Jesus calls His followers to be the light of the world, a city on the hill that cannot be hidden.  Light is a dominating force.  Anytime it comes in contact with darkness, light dominates and wins.

This campaign is about two things: First, reaching as many people with the good news of Jesus as physically possible; secondly, we want to maximize this opportunity, this facility to further the Kingdom of God.  Simply said…we want to dominate our city with the Gospel message.

Our campaign goal is to raise $50,000 to realistically take on this project of maximizing this facility.  One way to think of our new facility is that the bones are good but it is in need of a facelift (painting, landscaping, flooring, and signage).  The leaders of Harvest feel that this facility will only strengthen our ministry.  It will give us a 24 hour/ 7 days a week presence in the community; a place that we can bring people into, a place where we can build them up, train them, and then send out…any day of the week.

My prayer and request is that you would join us in this journey.  Stack hands with us in the mission that our God has for us.  Let’s be a dominating force!!!

And incase you were wondering our first services at our new home will be on June 3rd at 9:00 and 10:30.

In the weeks leading up to Easter we went spent four weeks talking about what it means to live contagiously for Christ.  I hope those thoughts haven’t left just because Easter is now behind us and life has gotten busy.  In the end, contagious living comes down to a mindset.  Below are several thoughts on what “makes up” the mindset of someone who lives contagiously for Jesus.

1. Sunday Mornings are a time to do ministry- Do you know that every single week at Harvest someone brings a friend our family member with the hope that they will connect with Jesus in a new and meaningful way.  That idea alone should change how we greet others, how we worship, and the words we use.  Andy Stanley, had a great teaching point when he said that the sermon begins in the parking lot.  In other words, everything we do on a Sunday impacts the life of one who is searching and seeking the truth.  As the church we need to make sure we are speaking the same language from the car to car experience.

The Sunday gathering is not merely a place to be ministered to, but a place to get in the game and participate. If we can’t do it on Sunday when we’re on our home turf, what chance do we have during the week out in the world?  In the end, this mostly comes down to mindset. And each of us needs to have a mindset ready to care for people, pray for people, and be a practical example of Jesus to them.

2. Be willing to show up early- If you want to impact the life of one of our guests…show up early (that means at least 10 minutes). At Harvest there are three types of people that show up early…Older attendees, workers, and new people. When guests arrive at the church- how great would it be if they walked onto the campus and saw a bunch of genuinely joyful people that were excited to connect with friends but were also excited to worship Jesus together?  Wouldn’t it be awesome if they were greeted by a number of Christ-filled people that wanted to say hello and get to know them?

If I was a guest, I know that is what I would want.

And I know, I know…it takes kids forever to get moving in the morning, especially when you want them to hurry ( I have two young kids myself). But every week kids do it for school and if we are honest, you do it for work. Why? Because showing up early to those things is important to you. Shouldn’t the opportunity to love on guests to our church (people who are likely exploring the faith) be just as important?

3. Be genuine- I often wonder how certain politicians have such a strong and passionate following.  And then it hit me…they are really, really good…and I would even go as far as saying they are masters at making people feel important. In other words, they make others feel like they are the only person in the room.  They have a genuine interest in the lives of others!

If a politician will do that, how much more should God’s people do that? Isn’t it simply the essence of Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor as yourself”?

If you want to make a real impact in the life of another…take genuine interest in their life.  Ask them sincere questions, slow down, and listen!!!  Let them know they matter.

I have to admit that this is personally tough for me…especially on Sundays when I’m trying to meet lots of new people, care for those in our church family, and think through the elements of my sermon and the service. It’s tough. But I’m trying to get better.

I’d love it if we had 300 other people trying as well. I think the love of Jesus like that would turn our church and our community upside down!