God’s Bountiful Harvest; Fruits of Our Labor Through Him
The 2019 God’s Harvest 2nd Annual Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction was a huge success! There was a tremendous turnout by those in our community, our donors, our local businesses, family, friends, and honored guests. The evening was a celebration of what God has done through our ministry during the past 12 months – which was more than we could have expected and 100% of the credit goes to Him!
We want to thank everyone who supported us by purchasing tickets, hosting tables, making donations, donating items, volunteering time, and for sponsoring this event. Your contributions made this event possible and Tony and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for that.
Tony was the keynote speaker and his speech brought many in the audience to tears. But, in reality, it wasn’t only Tony’s testimony that moved hearts at the event, it was the men from the facility who came as our special guests and what God has done in them during the past year.
We were blessed to be given permission from the halfway house where we bring our ministry each week to bring 25 men who were given specific volunteer duties that evening during the event. They had the opportunity to speak with the guests at their tables, share their testimonies and their hopes for the future, as well as what God is doing through them in our Discipleship Group Training. They also did cardboard testimonies across the stage that evening to music. Those cardboard testimonies brought the audience to their feet in a standing ovation.
What are cardboard testimonies? Cardboard and a permanent marker. These materials, simple though they are, let the personal story of the teller shine through. The telling of the story is called a cardboard testimony. The person giving the testimony credits his or her new life to changes brought by a relationship with Christ. Watch the video below to some we did inside the prison system with the men.
All glory and praise are HIS and we are grateful for His provision. It is through generosity that we always learn to depend on God, and we give of our finances not because they are ours to give but because of our dependence on God to provide.
The need only point to this verse as to how God provides when we rely on Him for all that we need: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33
Though we are the “face of the ministry” there are so many people who are part of this ministry as frontline volunteers and support staff. Without their critical participation, we could not do all that we do, including pulling off an event the size and scope of God’s Harvest.
We want to take time to thank those who joined us prayerfully, financially, as volunteers, and as sponsors, making it possible for Tony and me to now serve full-time with Team Expansion in our field of mission inside the prison system, as well as supporting the loved ones of the incarcerated and their families. Two of our new supporters joined us as Community Impact Sponsors, corporate sponsors who came beside us as monthly partners. We will be sharing more about these Sponsors in next month’s newsletter!!
Learn more about how your company can partner with us by clicking here. You can be a vital part of us helping to raise the remaining 15% monthly recurring donation commitments we need to be 100% funded for the upcoming year.
There’s No Such Thing As A Coincidence
Once you become a follower of Jesus and put your hope, faith, and trust in God, you know that what others call “coincidence” or “luck” is really God’s provision and grace. Tony and I believe that when we make our requests known to God and come humbly before Him in prayer, God answer prayers in His timing and if it is of His Will, not ours.
Through those answered prayers, the Lord provided financial support, 35 new volunteers, PLUS 25 men were allowed to be brought from the facility to join us as our special guests as well as being volunteers at the event. Much of our answered prayers came at the final days and even the final hours leading up to the event… right up to the moments before the doors opened when we turned the rest over to Him knowing God would provide exactly what was needed. And He did!! You don’t need luck when you have God!
We also want to thank two incredible women who helped make the night run smoothly, Debbie Robbins, our Mistress of Ceremonies, and Sue Woods, a.k.a. Kim for the night. Both of these amazing ladies boldly stepped in and took the lead and ran the event. Kudos to both these remarkable women who are walking the path with us.
We could fill this article with the names of all the people who helped make the night such a wonderful experience for our guests and their friends. Beginning with Doug Lucas, President of Team Expansion, who wrote the facility requesting permission to bring the men out on a service project, to the ladies at registration area, to the folks who set up and ran the silent auction, to the ladies who did an amazing job decorating the venue for us. There were so many people who believe in our mission and what God is doing here that stepped in and stepped up to make the night so wonderful. This event was months in the making and we are overwhelmed and deeply touched by everyone who helped make the night a great success.
Next Year’s Harvest
Stay tuned for details on the 3rd Annual God’s Harvest Event next October 2020. The overwhelmingly positive feedback we received on this year’s event made it an easy decision to hold the event again next year. We know that as God is calling us to do more as we step into the next season of His ministry and continue to walk with the men outside of incarceration!! It’s a blessing to be called, a blessing to serve, and a blessing to have folks like you come beside us in so many ways.
A Vision For The Future
As we look ahead to next year’s event, we are also looking ahead to what we want to accomplish in the next year. Tony’s vision of having property and continuing to walk with the men outside of the prison system will draw the attention of a great need in this country as we work toward reducing recidivism.
Reducing recidivism starts with what God is giving us the opportunity to do… to positively impact our community and raise up workers (the incarcerated) that will multiply the Kingdom, just like Paul did with Timothy… equipping them to be disciples who make disciples who make disciples.
We want to continue teaching them to be fishers of men outside of incarceration; and to be men of honor, men of integrity, and men their families can count on.
We want to prepare them to go into the free world fully equipped to handle what Satan throws their way by strengthening their faith and teaching them God’s way of living – SEEK HIM FIRST – and all this (the rest of what they want – getting a job, staying sober, getting back with their families) will be given to you.
We want to provide an environment to grow spiritually first and foremost.
That vision doesn’t happen with the two of us, it happens when all of us commit – physically, financially, prayerfully – to this effort. We look forward to you being part of another amazing 12 months that God will lead us all through.
